SA theory test speed limits practice questions

Question 1

You are driving on a suburban street in South Australia with no speed limit signs. What limit applies?

• 40 km/h
• 50 km/hCorrect answer
• 60 km/h
• 70 km/h

The default limit in a built-up area is 50 km/h. Some streets are signed differently, so read the signs.

Rule cited: The Driver's Handbook (South Australia), topic: speed limits

Question 2

You are on a rural road outside a built-up area with no speed limit signs. What limit applies?

• 80 km/h
• 90 km/h
• 100 km/hCorrect answer
• 110 km/h

The default limit outside built-up areas is 100 km/h. Only signed sections carry a higher limit.

Rule cited: The Driver's Handbook (South Australia), topic: speed limits

Question 3

You are passing a school bus that has stopped to let children off. What is the maximum speed allowed as you pass?

• 10 km/h
• 25 km/hCorrect answer
• 40 km/h
• 50 km/h

In South Australia you must not exceed 25 km/h when passing a stopped bus that is picking up or setting down children, in either direction.

Rule cited: The Driver's Handbook (South Australia), topic: school buses

Question 4

You are passing a stationary police car with flashing blue and red lights on the roadside. What is the maximum speed allowed as you pass?

• 10 km/h
• 25 km/hCorrect answer
• 40 km/h
• 60 km/h

South Australia requires drivers to slow to 25 km/h when passing a stationary emergency or roadside service vehicle displaying flashing lights, and to give the people around it room.

Rule cited: The Driver's Handbook (South Australia), topic: passing stationary emergency vehicles

Question 5

What does the number on a speed limit sign mean?

• The maximum legal speed in good conditionsCorrect answer
• A recommendation you may exceed briefly
• The speed you should try to hold at all times
• The average speed expected along the road

The posted limit is a ceiling. Rain, gravel, glare, traffic or an unfamiliar road all call for a lower speed.

Rule cited: Australian Road Rules r 20, as adopted in South Australia

Question 6

What blood alcohol limit and speed rules apply to a learner's permit holder in South Australia?

• Zero blood alcohol, and a maximum of 90 km/h everywhere
• Zero blood alcohol, and the same posted speed limits as other driversCorrect answer
• 0.02 blood alcohol, and the same posted speed limits
• 0.05 blood alcohol, and a maximum of 80 km/h

Learner's permit holders must be at zero blood alcohol. The posted signs set the speed limit for them, as for every other driver.

Rule cited: The Driver's Handbook (South Australia), topic: learner's permit conditions

Question 7

You are on a 110 km/h road at night and your headlights on low beam light about 50 metres of road. What should you do?

• Use high beam continuously regardless of other traffic
• Hold 110 km/h because that is the limit
• Drive at a speed that lets you stop within the distance your lights showCorrect answer
• Follow another car closely and use its lights

Overdriving your headlights is a common cause of night crashes on country roads, especially where wildlife is about.

Rule cited: The Driver's Handbook (South Australia), topic: night driving

Question 8

A temporary roadworks sign shows 25 km/h. What applies?

• Any speed if no workers are present
• The permanent limit, since roadworks limits are advisory
• 40 km/h, the standard roadworks limit
• The 25 km/h limit, which is legally enforceable while the sign is displayedCorrect answer

Roadworks limits apply whenever the signs are up. Loose surfaces, changed lane layouts and workers on foot make them necessary.

Rule cited: The Driver's Handbook (South Australia), topic: roadworks

Question 9

How does driving faster change the distance you need to pull up in an emergency?

• It has little effect once you are above 60 km/h
• It increases the distance by the same proportion as the increase in speed
• It increases the distance sharply, by much more than the change in speedCorrect answer
• It only matters on a wet road

Reaction distance grows with speed and braking distance grows far faster than that, so a small speed increase adds a lot of stopping distance.

Rule cited: The Driver's Handbook (South Australia), topic: speed and stopping distances