Smart Driver Quiz

1. Imagine that your steering wheel is the face of a clock.  Where on the wheel should your hands be positioned while driving?
a) At 7 and 3 o'clock or 8 and 4 o'clock
b) At 8 and 4 o'clock or 9 and 3 o'clock
c) At 9 and 3 o'clock or 10 and 2 o'clock
d) At 10 and 2 o'clock or 11 and 3 o'clock
2. How much room should there be between your chest and the steering wheel?
a) Less than 6 inches
b) 6 to 8 inches
c) 8 to 10 inches
d) 10 to 12 inches
3. When driving, how much distance should you keep between your car and the vehicle in front of you?
a) You should remain at least 3 feet behind the car you are following
b) You should remain 3 car lengths behind the car you are following
c) You should remain 3 seconds or more behind the car you are following
d) You should remain 30 seconds behind the car you are following
4. While waiting to turn left at an intersection, your wheels should be pointed...........
a) Straight
b) Left
c) Right
d) It doesn't matter
5. Which of the following is a false statement about making a left-hand turn at an intersection?
a) Your eyes should be focused solely on the traffic ahead of you
b) Wait for a large gap in oncoming traffic and allow enough time to safely turn
c) Turn into the nearest lane of traffic going in your direction, or into the proper lane as indicated by traffic signals and lane markings
d) On city streets, three right turns may be used to replace one left turn across traffic
6. Which of the following is a false statement about blind spots?
a) The best way to compensate for blind spots is to turn your head and glance over each shoulder before making a lane change
b) The larger the vehicle, the smaller the blind spots
c) No matter what kind of car you have, or how well adjusted your mirrors are, you will always have blind spots
d) Neck or shoulder stiffness can prevent you from being able to see blind spots
7. At what age does vision start to change in ways that affect driving?
a) 30
b) 40
c) 50
d) 60
8. Older drivers are typically safe, cautious drivers, but they'renot perfect.  What is the most common traffic violation committed by drivers age 55 +?
a) Failure to yield the right-of-way
b) Making an improper left turn
c) Making an improper lane change
d) Ignoring a stop sign or traffic light
9. Which of the following is a true statement about driving in bad weather?
a) The car's interior lights should be turned on so other drivers can see your vehicle more easily
b) Wearing polarized sunglasses during a heavy downpour can improve visibility
c) You should drive with your high beams on until the weather improves
d) You should keep up with the posted speed limit and activate your hazard lights
10. History question!  When was the first seat bellt law introduced in the U.S.?
a) 1972
b) 1976
c) 1984
d) 1987


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Answers :
1. b  - Hand position can prevent injury to your hands, arms and face if an accident causes the airbag to inflate.
2. d  - Keep 10 to 12 inches between the center of your chest and the center of the steering wheel  to protect yourself in case the airbag inflates.
3. c - A 3 second following distance will help you spot possible driving hazards and give you time to react.  For instance, if your car is traveling at a speed of 60 mph, in 3 seconds your vehicle will have traveled more than 250 feet -- that just under the length of a football field.   to achieve the 3 second spacing between you and the car ahead of you, when that car passes a landmark, such as a tree or a exit sign, start counting, if you pass the same spot before you count to three, you're driving too close to the other car.
4. a  - when you're at an intersection while waiting to turn left, your wheels should be pointing straight ahead.  This way, if your foot slips off the brake or you are struck from behind, your car won't move into oncoming traffic.
5. a  - When making a left-hand turn at an intersection, check traffic in all directions  --- ahead of you, behind you, and to your left and right on the cross street.
6. b  - All vehicles, regardless of size and the availability of side and rear view mirrors, have blind spots.  In fact, the larger the vehicle, the larger the blind spot.  You need to know your car's blind spots, and take care not to travel in another driver's blind spot.
7. b  - For many people, age 40 is a turning point for vision.  People in their 40s often begin to have trouble reading items up close, or seeing far distances, or seeing clearly at night.
8. a  - According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Acministration (NHTSA) 35 percent of traffic violations for drivers age 55 + are for a failure to yield the proper right-of-way.  One in four traffic violations involve making an improper lane change and 10 percent are the result of ignoring a stop sign or traffic light. (The remaining 15 percent involve miscellaneous violations).
9. b  - Strange as it may sound, wearing polarized sunglasses during a heavy downpour can actually improve visibility.  Sunglasses can cut the glare that the rain produces on the road and allow you to see through the white mist coming off of car tires.
10. c  - The first seat belt law was passed in New York in 1984.  By 1985, all states (except for New Hampshire) had mandatory seat belt laws.  New Hampshire remains the only state without a law requiring that adults age 18 + use seat belts.


                                                Your  Score : 
0  -- 30%   ---- Your score is rather low.  Looks like you need a driving rules refresher.
31 -- 60%  ----- Not bad, but not great.  It looks like you could benefit from a driving rules refresher.
61 -- 80%  ----- Good Job!  You're on your way to perfection.  It won't take much to make you a smarter driver.
81 -- 100% ----- Congratulations!  You're at the top of the charts.  Now challenge a friend!