# MSN's driving test **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 1, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531 "2010-06-01T18:20:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531/21 "2010-06-01T23:24:26Z")
I took half of the test before deciding that I hated taking the drivers test the first time and that the benefit of already having a license is that I never had to deal with that shit again. WOOHOO. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531/22 "2010-06-01T23:26:51Z")
At least we didn’t have to parallel park! ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531/23 "2010-06-01T23:45:25Z")
I got a 95; I missed the DUI one as well, for reasons others stated. There aren’t always “stiff penalties.” I know several people who’ve been arrested after refusing to take a sobriety test, and by the time they’re tested down at the station, their blood alcohol level has dropped below the legal limit. I’m not saying it’s RIGHT but I’m saying it happens. So that question’s a bit rigged. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531/24 "2010-06-01T23:47:12Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Since it didn’t give detail about the scenario I was picturing driving in the right lane of a two lane freeway and someone driving by on the left. I didn’t think I needed to slow just because someone was driving by. Also 95%, for the same reason. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531/25 "2010-06-02T00:10:02Z")
The DUI one sucks (as, again, others have said). Aside from that one, I was annoyed by the one which says you can merge back into your lane once you see the bumper of the car you passed-that may be the legal requirement, but I always believe in giving a slightly larger margin of error (esp. when we’re discussing the left rear view mirror, where Things May Be Larger Than They Appear), and also just as a point of courtesy. Plus I may want to see they bloke’s face and whether he’s yakking on a cell phone or turning around and yelling at his kids in the back seat, or something. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531/26 "2010-06-02T01:20:46Z")
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**Author:** ![Joe\_Kerrman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/45deac/32.png) [@Joe\_Kerrman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Kerrman)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531/27 "2010-06-02T01:59:43Z")
I got a 90. I didn’t read all the choices to the question about crossing the double yellow line (OK to turn into a driveway or parking lot, I said never). But I challenge the other one, saying what to do when someone tries to pass you on the left. I do a lot of inner city/suburban expressway driving. So EVERY TIME someone tries to pass me I should slow down? That’s idiotic. Traffic needs to maintain a steady flow or it’s going to be more mucked up than usual. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531/28 "2010-06-02T02:01:33Z")
> [@Tahssa](#): > > 85 > > I got #7 wrong too and I think the right answer is stupid. Everytime someone wants to pass me I should slow down a little bit? The guy behind me wants to pass me because he doesn’t think I’m going fast enough so I should slow down so he can pass and now I’m going slower than I first was and the a-hole behind that first guy now wants to pass me because I’m going slower than originally and that just sets up the chain of events where I will be driving in reverse on the freeway and that my friend is dangerous therefore the test is wrong and I actually got that quesion right. I agree 100%. Unless there’s oncoming traffic, why should I slow down? Nobody’s ever passed me because I was going too slow, but because they wanted to go too fast. But I usually do slow down anyways, just in case. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531/29 "2010-06-02T02:17:52Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > \ NERD!!l ---
**Author:** ![Obeseus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbce88/32.png) [@Obeseus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obeseus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531/30 "2010-06-02T02:24:44Z")
1. Spaced it on #3. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531/31 "2010-06-02T02:34:30Z")
100% here. I toyed around with my answer to #16, but eventually picked the right one. > [@Joe\_Kerrman](#): > > So EVERY TIME someone tries to pass me I should slow down? That’s idiotic. Traffic needs to maintain a steady flow or it’s going to be more mucked up than usual. Okay.. as someone who passes people on average once or twice per day, I’d like to weigh in on this. Someone is behind you on a two-lane road (one road in each direction) and would like- for whatever reason- to pass. You come up on a section where there’s a broken yellow line. They swing into the oncoming lane, speed up, and begin to pass you. You have three options: 1. Speed up. 2. Stay at the same rate of speed. 3. Temporarily slow down (we’re talking about easing off the gas, not necessarily applying brakes). 1 is an asshole move, so please don’t do it. The problem with 2 is it extends the period of time the person is in the oncoming travel lane, which _may_ result in one of two things (oncoming traffic show up, or you get to the end of the passing zone) that can end in the passing car swerving back into your lane, possibly causing an accident. 3 is the correct answer because it allows the person to pass in the shortest period/distance possible, which is the ideal situation. Granted, the _ideal_ ideal situation is everyone slows down a bit, but sometimes that’s not always possible. My route to work, for example, includes several stretches of road where farm equipment is a routine sight.. if traffic wasn’t able to pass, it would be backed up for _miles_. Now, if you’re on a two-lane-in-each-direction road, you shouldn’t bother slowing down.. that would just be silly. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531/32 "2010-06-02T02:38:12Z")
For emphasis… 1. On a road with two or more lanes heading in the same direction, you should: Drive in any lane. Drive in the left lane. Stay in the right lane except to pass. None of the above. Stay in the right lane except to pass. So move over, asshole! ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531/33 "2010-06-02T02:45:23Z")
100% the only one I wasn’t sure about was the DUI. I was pretty sure that you can refuse an alcohol test (but can get in trouble for it) so that’s what I chose. I liked that the included the motorcycle question. Treating bikes like the are as wide as a car is what “Cycles have equal rights” means. ---
**Author:** ![Carnacki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Carnacki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnacki)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531/34 "2010-06-02T03:23:45Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > For emphasis… > > 1. On a road with two or more lanes heading in the same direction, you should: > Drive in any lane. > Drive in the left lane. > Stay in the right lane except to pass. > None of the above. > > Stay in the right lane except to pass. So move over, asshole! 100 times yes! Some people have this misconception that there are slow lanes and fast lanes. There are not. There is 1 driving lane, and the rest are passing lanes. If you look to your right and you’re not passing anyone, you are in the wrong lane. **bobkitty** has a good point about a driving issue, but question #7 was worded horribly. The correct answer cannot possibly be the correct answer on a multi-lane freeway, and the question didn’t indicate the type of road. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531/35 "2010-06-02T03:34:25Z")
100% here as well 🙂 Excellent driver, I’m an excellent driver… Gotta go, Wapner’s on in an hour… ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531/36 "2010-06-02T04:08:16Z")
100%, but with as much time as I’ve spent driving professionally I’d be pretty ashamed to get anything less. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531/37 "2010-06-02T04:14:00Z")
I missed the DUI one for the simple reason that I have never and will never drive under the influence so it’s not really something I’d need to know. I’d never have a reason to refuse. Besides, I’d need the breathalyzer to prove I’m not drunk after my natural clumsiness causes me to fail all the other tests - walk in a straight line, yeah right. I missed the passing one because of the same reasons other people had. I think we all misunderstood that one. I rarely RARELY get passed on any road with 1 lane going my direction so I automatically assumed they meant when someone is driving in the left lane of a highway or multi-lane road. If someone is trying to pass me on a single lane road (single in either direction I mean), of course I’d give them room and slow down. I don’t wanna die. I missed the fog lights one. I always use whichever lights make it easiest for me to see. In most cases, that means I use the normal lights. I rarely use my high beams and I’m not even certain I know what fog lights are and if they’re not for fog, what are they for? ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531/38 "2010-06-02T04:20:55Z")
95%, said you should drive in fog with low beams. In my limited fog driving experience, putting your high beams on blinds you enough that it’s harder to drive due to all the reflected light. This was about as hard as my actual driving test in Ohio, and what amazed me was that I remember that I took it with people who had failed the test 3 or 4 times - and the passing requirement was only IIRC 60 or 65! People couldn’t even get 12 or 13 questions that were that easy right. After multiple tries! I figure if you fail that test twice you should probably just never be allowed to drive. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531/39 "2010-06-02T04:27:31Z")
> [@congodwarf](#): > > I missed the fog lights one. I always use whichever lights make it easiest for me to see. In most cases, that means I use the normal lights. I rarely use my high beams and I’m not even certain I know what fog lights are and if they’re not for fog, what are they for? They’re for driving in fog. They’re the lights you see mounted real low on the car, below the headlights. Often times you’ll see them tinted yellow. They light up the area just above the road. Driving with high beams in dense fog is just about impossible, fog lights are the opposite. But they’re aren’t standard on most cars and often times they are an aftermarket part, so it’s not something required (by law) for driving with. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531/40 "2010-06-02T04:31:21Z")
I’m confused then. I am pretty sure I put low beams. I definitely didn’t put high beams and I have never used a fog light (and now I know why). I must have mis-clicked because I got it wrong. I don’t do aftermarket. The only aftermarket thing I ever got was a remote starter when I lived in Way Upstate NY, during the winter, with a night shift job. Two of my 3 cars didn’t even have AC. These fog lights sound intriguing though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msns-driving-test/541531.md?page=3)