Minnesota Driving Rules and Safety Flashcards

A collection of vocabulary-style flashcards covering Minnesota traffic laws, road signs, licensing requirements, and defensive driving techniques.

Lane sharing

A law where motorcycles may ride between cars at stoplights or share lanes with slow-moving traffic.

School bus stop distance

The minimum distance of $20$ feet a driver must stop from a school bus with its red lights flashing.

Divided highway school bus exception

A road condition where you are not required to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights when traveling in the opposite direction.

Work zone speeding fine

A fine of $300$ for speeding in a work zone when workers are present.

DVS employee interference

In Minnesota, interfering with the work of a Driver and Vehicle Services employee is legally classified as a Crime.

Online pre-application window

Must be completed $30$ days before a driver's license office visit to avoid a paper application.

Minnesota instruction permit age

The minimum age of $15$ years old required to obtain a permit.

Instruction permit validity

A period of Two years.

GDL supervising driver age

The minimum age of $21$ years old required for a supervising driver for a permit holder under $18$.

Instruction permit holding period

The Six months a driver under $18$ must hold a permit before taking a road test.

Provisional driver's license age

The minimum age of $16$ years old required to qualify.

Under 21 Class D license qualification

Requires holding a provisional license for $12$ consecutive months without violations.

Provisional license upgrade credit

A $3.50$ credit granted toward a license fee for upgrading from a violation-free provisional license.

Vanessa's Law

Regulates that an unlicensed teen convicted of a DWI can first apply for a license at age $18$ years old.

Basic Speed Law

The requirement to drive at a speed that is reasonable for current weather, traffic, and road conditions.

Passing speed maximum

A maximum speed increase of $10\,mph$ allowed when lawfully passing another vehicle on a $55\,mph$ highway.

Minnesota alley speed limit

The standard speed limit of $10\,mph$ unless otherwise posted.

Urban road speed limit

The standard speed limit of $30\,mph$ on urban or town roads in Minnesota.

Unsignaled intersection yield rule

If two vehicles arrive at the same time, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the Right.

Red road sign

A sign color that prohibits and commands.

Yellow road sign

A sign color that warns of potential hazards.

Yellow-green road sign

A sign color indicating pedestrian, bicycle, or school crossings.

Green road sign

A sign color used specifically for guidance and exit information.

Brown road sign

A sign color indicating historic, cultural, or recreational sites.

Triangle road sign

A shape indicating that you must Yield.

Pentagon road sign

A shape indicating a school zone or school crossing.

No Passing Zone sign

A sign located on the left side of a two-way highway to warn of the start of a restricted zone.

Slow-Moving Vehicle Emblem

A sign required for vehicles with a maximum speed of $30\,mph$.

White dashes

Pavement markings indicating that lane changes are permitted for traffic moving in the same direction.

Solid white line

A pavement marking indicating that a driver should not change lanes.

Double solid white lines

Pavement markings indicating that lane changes are prohibited.

Scan (SIPDE)

The 'S' in the SIPDE system, meaning to aggressively search for potential hazards.

Identify (SIPDE)

The 'I' represent in the SIPDE system.

Predict (SIPDE)

The 'P' represent in the SIPDE system.

Decide (SIPDE)

The 'D' represent in the SIPDE system.

Execute (SIPDE)

The final step in the SIPDE system.

Three-Second Rule

The standard following distance for a vehicle in ideal conditions.

Anti-lock brakes (ABS) emergency operation

The process of pressing down on the brake pedal and continuing to steer.

Headlight usage requirement

Must be used whenever you cannot clearly see more than $500$ feet ahead.

Hydroplaning

A process at higher speeds where tires lose all contact with the road and 'float' on water.

Hydroplaning speed threshold

Speeds as low as $35\,mph$ in heavy rain.

Submerged vehicle float time

A period typically lasting $30$ to $60$ seconds.

Minnesota DWI alcohol concentration limit

The legal limit of $0.08$ percent for arrest.

Commercial vehicle alcohol limit

The legal alcohol concentration limit of $0.04$ percent.

Implied Consent Law

The requirement to submit to a blood, breath, or urine test if an officer has probable cause to believe you are impaired.

Underage Drinking No Tolerance suspension

A $30$-day suspension for a first-time violation and $180$ days for a second violation.

Octagon road sign

A shape used exclusively for the Stop sign.

Orange road sign

A sign color that warns and controls traffic within construction zones.

Minnesota headphone law

It is illegal for a driver to wear headphones in Both ears simultaneously.

Knowledge test passing score

A score of $80$ percent required to pass the Minnesota written driver's license examination.