Depending on what state you live in and how old you are, it may have been a while since you took a driving test. And if you’ve worked from home during the coronavirus pandemic, you may be driving far less than you used to. Take our “Be Car Smart” safe driving quiz to refresh your knowledge and make sure you’re up to speed on driving safety. Check your answers at the end of this post.
a. Less than 6 inches
b. 6 to 8 inches
c. 8 to 10 inches
d. 10 to 12 inches
a. 10 and 2 o’clock position
b. 9 and 3 o’clock position
c. 7 and 4 o’clock position
d. One hand on the wheel at the 12 o’clock position
a. On a hill or curve
b. At any railroad crossing
c. Road construction area
d. All of the above
a. 25
b. 50
c. 75
d. 100
a. 3 feet behind the car you are following
b. 3 car lengths behind the car you are following
c. 3 seconds or more behind the car you are following
d. 30 seconds behind the car that you are following
a. If two vehicles begin to enter an intersection at the same time and there are no traffic signs or signals, drivers should motion to each other to decide who goes first.
b. You are required to yield to any authorized emergency vehicle, such as police cars, fire engines and ambulances, when these vehicles are giving a signal by siren or flashing lights.
c. You must yield the right of way to school children entering or leaving a school bus.
d. If you have stopped for a traffic light at an intersection and want to turn left when the green light appears, you must yield to traffic that is waiting on the opposite side of the traffic light.
a. On a highway
b. At an intersection
c. When pulling out of a parking space
d. When passing another vehicle
a. Fewer
b. More
c. The same amount of
d. Higher Impact
a. Yes, if you come to a complete stop before making your turn.
b. No. Wait for the light to change to green before making your turn.
c. Yes. Slow down, check to see if it is clear, and make your turn.
d. Both A and C.
a. 24
b. 44
c. 48
d. 50
Answer: D. 10 and 12 inches. Keeping 10 to 12 inches between your chest and the steering wheel (from your breastbone to the center of the wheel) will protect yourself in case the airbag suddenly deploys. Airbags can deploy at speeds of up to 200 mph and could cause serious injury if you are too close to the wheel or sitting in the wrong position.
Answer: B. 9 and 3 o’clock. The old school wisdom was to position hands at 10 and 2 o’clock. As air bags became common, this led to the wrist and arm fractures when air bags deployed. To avoid that occurrence, many safety advocates now recommend positioning hands lower, at 9 and 3 o’clock on the steering wheel.
Answer: D. All of the above.
Answer: D. 100 feet. Get into the proper lane and give a signal for at least 100 feet (about a quarter length of an average city block) before reaching the intersection and making the turn.
Answer: C. Three seconds. To achieve the three second spacing between you and the car ahead of you, when that car passes a landmark, such as a tree or an exit sign, start counting. If you pass the same spot before you count to three, you’re driving too close to the other car.
Answer: A. If two vehicles begin to enter an intersection at the same time and there are no traffic signs or signals, the vehicle on the left must yield to the driver on the right.
Answer: B. Intersections. Crashes often occur at intersections because there are a variety of activities such as turning left, crossing over, turning right, red camera lights, and pedestrians causing a higher possibility for conflicts.
Answer: A. Fewer. Roundabouts – also known as traffic circles – result in slower speeds and fewer crashes, especially the right-angle and head-on crashes that often result in injuries or even deaths.
Answer: A. Yes, but make a complete stop. The law requires motorists to come to a stop before making the right turn on a red signal. The camera will capture your illegal turn as a red light violation if you don’t stop.
Answer: C. Currently, 48 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands ban text messaging for all drivers.
Accidents happen, even to the most careful drivers. If you’re ever in a collision, follow these tips for post-accident safety and when it’s safe, use Carwise.com to find a reputable auto body repair shop near you. From reviews by real customers to services and payment information, Carwise has details on over 21,000 auto body and collision repair shops. Use Carwise’s shop finder tool to search your zip code for a customer-reviewed auto body shop nearby: https://www.carwise.com/auto-body-shops/.
