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South Dakota driver handbook guide

South Dakota driver handbook guide.

Use this guide to navigate the 13 chapters in the handbook edition behind Roadwise’s South Dakota course. Read the source, look up a rule in the study app, or work through 59 companion lessons.

Read the handbook in Roadwise Open source PDF
Handbook chapters
13
Source PDF pages
69
Companion lessons
59
Licensing agency
DPS

A way through the handbook

Start with the application and licensing material that applies to your age and license type. Then work through the driving rules, signs, and safe-driving chapters. A rule is easier to remember when you can explain what it asks you to do in a real road situation.

For a quick refresher, use the chapter list below. For a deeper study session, follow a companion lesson and its checkpoint questions. The page numbers refer to this course’s source edition and may differ from the newest agency edition.

Chapter list

  1. Move Over Law Source p. 2
  2. Chapter 1: The Driver's License Source p. 5
  3. Chapter 2: Be in Shape to Drive Source p. 15
  4. Chapter 3: Before You Drive Source p. 20
  5. Chapter 4: Basic Driving Source p. 26
  6. Chapter 5: Rules of the Road Source p. 28
  7. Chapter 6: General Driving Source p. 35
  8. Chapter 7: Safe Driving Tips Source p. 45
  9. Chapter 8: Emergency Situations and Avoiding Crashes Source p. 54
  10. Chapter 9: Sharing the Road Source p. 58
  11. Chapter 10: Special Driving Situations Source p. 63
  12. Test Your Knowledge Source p. 65
  13. Exam Station Locations Source p. 66

What you will find in each chapter

Chapter 1 · source p. 2

Move Over Law

This chapter’s sections include:

  • The Driver’s License
  • South Dakota Codified Law 32-31-6.1
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 2 · source p. 5

Chapter 1: The Driver's License

This chapter’s sections include:

  • About This Manual The Driver License
  • DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS (photocopies are not acceptable)
  • People Who Travel Full Time
  • Veterans
  • Selective Service Requirements
  • Fees (subject to change)
  • Who Can’t Get a South Dakota Driver License?
  • Types of Driver’s Licenses and Driver’s Permits
  • Cooperation with Examiner
  • Examination Procedures
  • Unsuccessful Examinations
  • Restrictions Placed on Licenses
  • Driver License Restrictions
  • License Options
  • Organ and Tissue Donation
  • Driver License Renewal
  • Keeping Your Driver License
  • Instruction and Restricted Minor’s Permit
  • Vehicle Registration and Titles
  • Financial Responsibility
  • Are you Insured?
  • South Dakota Point System
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 3 · source p. 15

Chapter 2: Be in Shape to Drive

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Be in Shape to Drive
  • Vision
  • Hearing
  • Fatigue
  • Ways to Avoid Fatigue
  • Driver Distractions
  • Aggressive Driving
  • Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Driving
  • If Under 21
  • Effects of Alcohol and Other Impairing Drugs
  • Alcohol and the Law
  • Along South Dakota’s Roadsides
  • Other Impairing Drugs and Driving
  • Over-the-Counter Drugs
  • Prescription Drugs
  • Illegal Drugs
  • Combining Alcohol and Other Impairing Drugs
  • Emotions
  • Health
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 4 · source p. 20

Chapter 3: Before You Drive

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Before You Drive
  • Inspecting Your Vehicle
  • Check Tire Pressure with a Pressure Gauge Monthly
  • Check Tread Depth with a Penny
  • Vehicle Maintenance
  • Windshield & Windows
  • Adjusting Your Seat
  • Adjusting Your Mirrors
  • Using Seatbelts
  • Front Seat Seatbelt Use Requirements
  • Air Bags
  • Child Passenger Safety Laws
  • What is an infant car carrier?
  • Infant Seats
  • Toddler/Convertible Car Seats
  • Booster Seats
  • Secure Your Load
  • Trip Planning
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 5 · source p. 26

Chapter 4: Basic Driving

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Starting the Engine
  • Moving the Vehicle
  • Stopping the Vehicle
  • Steering
  • Hand Position
  • Controlling Speed
  • Backing Up
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 6 · source p. 28

Chapter 5: Rules of the Road

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Yielding Right-of-Way
  • Funeral Processions
  • Traffic Control Devices
  • Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB)
  • Traffic Signals
  • Red
  • Yellow
  • Green
  • Traffic Signs
  • Warning Signs
  • Railroad Crossing Warning Signs
  • Railroad Emergency Notification System (ENS)
  • Work Zone Signs
  • Regulatory Signs
  • Speed Limit Signs
  • Stop Sign
  • Yield Sign
  • One-Way Street
  • No Passing Signs
  • Slow Moving Vehicle
  • Guide Signs
  • Route Number Signs
  • Service Signs
  • Destination Signs
  • Pavement Markings
  • Crosswalks and Stop Lines
  • Shared Center Lane
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 7 · source p. 35

Chapter 6: General Driving

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Turning and Turnabouts
  • Right turns
  • Left turns
  • Multiple lanes turning
  • Two-Point Turnabout
  • Three-Point Turnabout (Y-Turn)
  • U-Turns
  • Intersections
  • Roundabouts
  • Truck Apron
  • Steps for driving a roundabout
  • Emergency vehicles in a roundabout
  • Driving a roundabout with two or more lanes
  • Cloverleaf Interchanges
  • Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI)
  • Navigating a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI)
  • Proper Driving Techniques on the Interstate
  • Rules for School Buses
  • Parking
  • No-Parking Zones
  • Parking on a hill
  • Perpendicular and Angle Parking
  • Parallel Parking
  • Changing Lanes
  • Adjusting to Traffic and Interstate Driving
  • Keep pace with traffic
  • Entering traffic
  • Leaving traffic
  • Slow moving traffic
  • Trouble spots
  • Passing
  • What a Driver Should Do During an Enforcement Stop
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 8 · source p. 45

Chapter 7: Safe Driving Tips

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Safe Driving Tips
  • Visual Search
  • Look ahead
  • Look to the sides
  • Look to the rear
  • When changing lanes
  • When you slow down
  • When you back up
  • Going Downhill
  • Watch for Deer
  • Speed Management
  • Adjusting to Roadway Conditions
  • Stopping Distance
  • Providing an Adequate Following Distance
  • Space in Front
  • Space to the Side
  • Space Behind
  • Space to Pass
  • Space for Dangerous Situations
  • Separate Risks
  • Compromise Space
  • Communicating
  • Letting Others Know You Are There
  • Signaling Movements
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 9 · source p. 54

Chapter 8: Emergency Situations and Avoiding Crashes

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Emergencies and Avoiding Crashes
  • Braking
  • Steering
  • Accelerating
  • Dealing with Skids
  • Uneven Surface Drop-Offs
  • Vehicle Malfunctions
  • Brake Failure
  • Tire Blowout
  • Power Failure
  • Stuck Accelerator
  • Vehicle Breakdown
  • Headlight Failure
  • Crashes
  • Protect Yourself in Collisions
  • At the Accident Scene
  • If someone is injured
  • Report the Accident
  • Damaging Unattended Vehicles
  • Injury and Fatal Accidents
  • Violation
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 10 · source p. 58

Chapter 9: Sharing the Road

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Sharing the Road
  • Pedestrians
  • Bicyclists
  • Motorcyclists
  • Large Trucks and Buses The No-Zone
  • Turning
  • Merging
  • Runaway Truck Ramps
  • Construction Areas
  • Bus Related Issues
  • Emergency Vehicles
  • Police and Traffic Stops
  • Slow-Moving Vehicles
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 11 · source p. 63

Chapter 10: Special Driving Situations

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Night Driving
  • Work Zones
  • Winter Driving Safety Tips
  • Rural Road Driving
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 12 · source p. 65

Test Your Knowledge

Read this chapter in the study app to see its complete text, source page references, and any accompanying illustrations.

Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 13 · source p. 66

Exam Station Locations

This chapter’s sections include:

  • Tips for Driver License/ID Card Renewal
  • State Driver Exam Station Locations
Open this handbook chapter

Turn the reading into a study routine

The South Dakota course groups the source material into 10 units. Each lesson includes handbook page references, examples, and a checkpoint in the study app.

Unit 1 · 8 lessons

Your License

Documents, permits, testing, renewal, points and insurance

  1. Who can get a license
  2. Documents you must bring
  3. Testing, fees and license restrictions
  4. Permits and graduated licensing
  5. Motorcycle permits, IDs and duplicates
  6. Renewal and keeping your license
  7. Suspension, revocation and reinstatement
  8. Registration, insurance and points

Unit 2 · 5 lessons

Be in Shape to Drive

Vision, fatigue, distraction, alcohol, drugs and health

  1. Vision, hearing and fatigue
  2. Distractions and aggressive driving
  3. Alcohol and the law
  4. How alcohol and drugs impair you
  5. Emotions and health

Unit 3 · 6 lessons

Before You Drive

Vehicle checks, clear view, seats, belts, child safety and loads

  1. Inspecting and maintaining your vehicle
  2. Windows, tint and a clear view
  3. Adjusting your seat and mirrors
  4. Seatbelts and air bags
  5. Child passenger safety
  6. Securing loads and trip planning

Unit 4 · 2 lessons

Basic Driving

Starting, steering, stopping, speed and backing

  1. Starting, moving and steering
  2. Stopping, speed control and backing

Unit 5 · 7 lessons

Rules of the Road

Right-of-way, signals, signs and pavement markings

  1. Right-of-way and traffic control devices
  2. Traffic signals
  3. Warning signs and railroad crossings
  4. Work zone signs and devices
  5. Regulatory signs: stop, yield, speed and passing
  6. Guide, service and slow-moving vehicle signs
  7. Pavement markings and lane controls

Unit 6 · 8 lessons

General Driving

Turns, intersections, interchanges, parking, passing and stops

  1. Turns, turnabouts and U-turns
  2. Intersections and roundabouts
  3. Interchanges and interstate driving
  4. School buses and parking rules
  5. Angle, perpendicular and parallel parking
  6. Lane changes, keeping pace and merging
  7. Passing and overtaking bicycles
  8. What to do during an enforcement stop

Unit 7 · 8 lessons

Safe Driving Tips

Searching, speed, space cushions and communicating

  1. Visual search: ahead, sides and behind
  2. Steep hills and deer
  3. Speed management and stopping distance
  4. Following distance
  5. Space to the side and behind
  6. Space to pass and extra-room situations
  7. Headlights and the horn
  8. Breakdowns, blind spots and signaling

Unit 8 · 4 lessons

Emergencies and Crashes

Avoiding crashes, malfunctions, the crash scene and reporting

  1. Avoiding a crash
  2. Vehicle malfunctions
  3. At the crash scene
  4. Reporting a crash

Unit 9 · 7 lessons

Sharing the Road

Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcycles, trucks and emergency vehicles

  1. Pedestrians
  2. Bicyclists
  3. Motorcyclists
  4. Trucks and buses: No-Zones and stopping
  5. Trucks and buses: turns, merging and bus hazards
  6. Emergency vehicles, the move-over law and police stops
  7. Slow-moving vehicles, farm equipment and horses

Unit 10 · 4 lessons

Special Driving Situations

Night, work zones, winter and rural roads

  1. Night driving
  2. Work zones
  3. Winter driving
  4. Rural road driving