Impaired Driving & Penalties — District of Columbia
District of Columbia CDL practice test: 423 free practice questions (Based on the official driver handbook). The official format is not yet verified; check the official site before your test. Impaired Driving & Penalties: 15 questions.
Blood alcohol limits, drugs and fatigue, licence suspensions, demerit points and fines.
This topic page is still being reviewed against the official handbook. Until review is finished it is hidden from search engines.
| Topic / Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Topic | Impaired Driving & Penalties |
| License test | District of Columbia CDL permit (CLP) knowledge tests |
| Topic questions | 15 (4% of 423 total) |
| Review status | This topic page is still being reviewed against the official handbook. Until review is finished it is hidden from search engines. |
Official handbook
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Questions (15)
1. Distracted driving:
- Always comes as a result of physical distraction, not mental distraction.
- Can be elevated by pre-programming radio stations.
- Can be avoided by eating while driving.
- Can be avoided by not engaging in complex conversations while driving. ✓
Answer: D. Can be avoided by not engaging in complex conversations while driving.
You can avoid distracted driving by not engaging in complex conversations while driving. The handbook's driving-safely section lists ways to reduce distraction before and during a trip. It says to pre-program radio stations, review maps, and plan your route before you begin driving. While driving, it says not to read or write, to avoid smoking, eating, and drinking, and not to engage in complex or emotionally intense conversations with other occupants. Choosing not to have complex conversations removes one of the distractions the handbook specifically names, so it is a valid way to help avoid distracted driving.
2. About how many drinks does it take for a 200-pound person to reach a 0.02 percent blood alcohol concentration (BAC)?
- One ✓
- Two
- Three
- Four
Answer: A. One
3. When you are driving while drowsy, you should:
- Press on and try to finish the trip.
- Take drugs to keep awake.
- Stop and take a nap. ✓
- Stop for a coffee break.
Answer: C. Stop and take a nap.
When you are driving while drowsy, you should stop and take a nap. The handbook lists stopping driving and getting rest or taking a nap as a way to stay alert. It also says that when you notice signs of fatigue, you should stop driving and either sleep for the night or take a 15–20 minute nap. It warns that trying to push on when tired is far more dangerous than many drivers think and is a major cause of fatal accidents.
4. Which of the following determines your blood alcohol concentration (BAC)?
- How much you drink ✓
- How frequently you drink
- The temperature of the drink
- The color of the drink
Answer: A. How much you drink
Your blood alcohol concentration is determined by how much you drink, along with how fast you drink and your weight. The handbook says BAC depends on the amount of alcohol consumed: more alcohol raises BAC. It also lists drinking speed and body weight as factors, because a smaller person can reach the same BAC with less alcohol. Among the choices, only the quantity you drink is one of those stated factors. The handbook does not list how often you drink, drink temperature, or drink color as things that set BAC.
5. Alcohol is removed from the body:
- At a rate that changes depending on how much alcohol is in the body.
- At a consistent rate, regardless of how much alcohol is in the body. ✓
- More quickly if the person drinks coffee.
- More quickly if the person stays awake.
Answer: B. At a consistent rate, regardless of how much alcohol is in the body.
Alcohol is removed at a consistent rate, regardless of how much alcohol is in the body. The handbook says the liver can process only a small, set amount of alcohol per hour, and it calls that a fixed rate. Because the rate stays the same, having more alcohol in the body does not make removal speed up. It also says only time will sober you up, so coffee or a cold shower does not change the rate. Drinking faster than the body clears alcohol just lets more build up.
6. Which of the following is not a way to reduce driving distractions?
- Pre-programming radio stations
- Planning the route before driving
- Eating while driving ✓
- Adjusting mirrors before driving
Answer: C. Eating while driving
Eating while driving is not a way to reduce distractions — the handbook says to avoid eating and drinking while you drive. The handbook's distracted-driving section tells you to do the setup tasks before you start moving: pre-program radio stations, load CDs, clear out unnecessary objects, review maps, program the GPS and plan your route. It then says plainly to avoid smoking, eating and drinking while you drive, and to leave early so you have time to stop and eat. Eating takes your hands and attention off the road while the vehicle is moving, so it is a distraction to avoid, not a technique for reducing one.
7. It is illegal to operate a CMV with a minimum blood alcohol content (BAC) of:
- 0.01 percent.
- 0.02 percent.
- 0.04 percent. ✓
- 0.08 percent.
Answer: C. 0.04 percent.
It is illegal to operate a CMV with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04 percent or more. The handbook states plainly that driving a CMV with a BAC of .04% or higher is illegal, and it lists that same level as a serious offense. So for a commercial vehicle the line is drawn at 0.04 percent, not at the higher figure that applies to ordinary drivers. The passages also note that by operating a CMV you agree to alcohol testing, which ties back to how that limit is enforced.
8. If a driver begins to feel fatigued while driving, they should:
- Continue driving.
- Drink coffee.
- Stop and rest. ✓
- Drive faster to finish the trip more quickly.
Answer: C. Stop and rest.
If you begin to feel fatigued while driving, you should stop and rest. The handbook's fatigue section says that when you feel tired, you should stop driving and get some rest or take a nap. It also says caffeine can increase awareness for only a few hours, then wears off, so you should not rely on it to prevent fatigue. The signs of fatigue should tell you to stop and rest. That supports stopping to rest rather than continuing, using coffee, or trying to finish faster.
9. Over-the-counter medication:
- Poses no safety risks to a driver.
- Is not referenced by any laws regarding driving under the influence.
- Cannot impair a driver.
- Can affect a person’s ability to drive safely. ✓
Answer: D. Can affect a person’s ability to drive safely.
Over-the-counter medication can affect a person’s ability to drive safely. The handbook lists prescription and over-the-counter drugs, such as cold medicines, among substances that can make a driver unsafe. It says these medicines may make you drowsy or otherwise affect your ability to drive safely. It also tells drivers to pay attention to warning labels and doctor's orders about possible effects. That is why the bank answer treats OTC medication as something that can change how safely you drive, not as a harmless product.
10. Which of the following is not an example of a distracted person that motorists should be worried about?
- A driver talking to a passenger in their vehicle
- A child on the side of the road
- A construction worker on the side of the road
- A person sitting on a bench waiting for a bus ✓
Answer: D. A person sitting on a bench waiting for a bus
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook