What safe driving rules are on the Wisconsin permit test?

Wisconsin's safe driving questions come from its own statutes and the Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles handbook. QuizLane covers 4 Wisconsin-specific safe driving items, drawn from 4 distinct source sections, alongside 10 questions on rules that apply in every state.

How many safe driving questions are on the Wisconsin permit test?

Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles does not publish a per-topic breakdown. The test as a whole has 50 questions and you need 40 correct (80%) to pass, so safe driving is worth studying alongside every other topic rather than in isolation.

Are these official Wisconsin DMV safe driving questions?

No. These are original study questions written against Wisconsin law and the official handbook, each carrying the section it came from. They are not endorsed by Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles and are not copies of the real exam.

Do I need an account to practice Wisconsin safe driving questions?

No. Practice starts immediately as a guest. An account is optional and only saves your attempt history across devices.

If a Wisconsin motor vehicle is required to be equipped with safety belts, the operator generally may not drive unless:

The operator is properly restrained in a safety belt

Only child passengers are belted

Only rear-seat passengers are belted

While driving a motor vehicle in Wisconsin, composing or sending an electronic text message or email is:

Allowed with one hand on the wheel

Wisconsin generally requires a motorcycle helmet for:

Persons who hold an instructional permit or who are under 18 years of age when operating or riding on a motorcycle

All motorcycle operators at any age

Wisconsin's inattentive driving statute prohibits driving while engaged in an activity that:

Interferes or reasonably appears to interfere with the ability to drive safely

WISafe driving

Wisconsin safe driving practice questions

4 questions below test Wisconsin’s own safe driving law, each with the statute or Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles handbook section it came from, plus 10 more on safe driving rules that apply in every state.

The Wisconsin permit knowledge test has 50 questions in total and needs 40 correct (80%) to pass.

Practice safe driving All Wisconsin topics

Wisconsin law

4 questions on Wisconsin’s own safe driving rules

These differ from the rules that hold nationally — they are the ones that catch out drivers who studied another state’s handbook.

1. If a Wisconsin motor vehicle is required to be equipped with safety belts, the operator generally may not drive unless:
- AOnly child passengers are belted
- BOnly rear-seat passengers are belted
- The operator is properly restrained in a safety belt
- DThe vehicle is under 30 mph
Answer: The operator is properly restrained in a safety belt. Wis. Stat. §347.48 requires that if a motor vehicle is required to be equipped with safety belts in this state, no person may operate that motor vehicle unless the person is properly restrained in a safety belt (and passengers who are required to be restrained must also be properly restrained).
Source: Wisconsin Statutes — §347.48
2. While driving a motor vehicle in Wisconsin, composing or sending an electronic text message or email is:
- AAllowed only on freeways
- BAllowed if under 25 mph
- Prohibited
- DAllowed with one hand on the wheel
Answer: Prohibited. Wis. Stat. §346.89 prohibits driving any motor vehicle while composing or sending an electronic text message or an electronic mail message.
Source: Wisconsin Statutes — §346.89
3. Wisconsin generally requires a motorcycle helmet for:
- AOnly freeway riding
- BAll motorcycle operators at any age
- Persons who hold an instructional permit or who are under 18 years of age when operating or riding on a motorcycle
- DOnly passengers
Answer: Persons who hold an instructional permit or who are under 18 years of age when operating or riding on a motorcycle. Wis. Stat. §347.485 provides that no person who holds an instructional permit under §343.07(4) or who is under 18 years of age may operate or ride upon a motorcycle on any highway unless wearing protective headgear meeting 49 CFR 571.218 standards with the chin strap properly fastened.
Source: Wisconsin Statutes — §347.485
4. Wisconsin's inattentive driving statute prohibits driving while engaged in an activity that:
- Interferes or reasonably appears to interfere with the ability to drive safely
- BInvolves talking to passengers
- CUses the vehicle radio
- DIs only illegal if you crash
Answer: Interferes or reasonably appears to interfere with the ability to drive safely. Wis. Stat. §346.89(1) provides that no person while driving a motor vehicle may be engaged or occupied with an activity, other than driving the vehicle, that interferes or reasonably appears to interfere with the person's ability to drive the vehicle safely.
Source: Wisconsin Statutes — §346.89(1)

Sources for the Wisconsin items above

Applies everywhere

Safe driving rules that hold in every state

A sample of the national safe driving bank. All 10 are in the practice run, combined with the Wisconsin items above for 14 questions in total.

1. What is the best way to set a safe following distance?
- AFollow closely so other drivers cannot merge
- BMatch the vehicle ahead bumper-to-bumper
- CStay one car length behind at every speed
- Use a time gap and add more time in poor conditions
Answer: Use a time gap and add more time in poor conditions. A time-based gap adapts to speed. Increase it for rain, darkness, heavy vehicles, motorcycles, or limited visibility.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Space management — following distance
2. To reduce glare from an oncoming vehicle's headlights at night, you should look:
- AInto your rear-view mirror
- BDirectly at the oncoming headlights
- Toward the right edge of your lane
- DDown at your dashboard
Answer: Toward the right edge of your lane. Shifting your gaze to the right edge line keeps you oriented in your lane while the bright lights pass out of your direct vision.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Night driving — glare
3. How far ahead should you normally be looking while driving?
- AOnly at the vehicle directly in front
- BAs far as your headlights reach, at all speeds
- CJust past the hood of your car
- About 12 to 15 seconds of travel ahead
Answer: About 12 to 15 seconds of travel ahead. Looking well ahead gives time to spot hazards and react smoothly instead of braking or swerving at the last moment.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Safe driving — visual search

Practice all 14 safe driving questions

Safe driving rules in other states

Safe driving law is set state by state — compare how another state handles it.

IndianaIN · 4 questions IowaIA · 4 questions KansasKS · 3 questions MichiganMI · 2 questions MinnesotaMN · 3 questions MissouriMO · 2 questions NebraskaNE · 5 questions North DakotaND · 5 questions

Confirm current Wisconsin rules

Statutes and handbooks change. Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles is authoritative for Wisconsin safe driving rules and for the permit test itself.

Visit Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles

Common questions

About Wisconsin safe driving rules and this practice set.