I recently (and begrudgingly) had to take a driving school class. I say “begrudgingly” because I felt like I had better things to do with my time. I was wrong. This course was taught so well, and I learned quite a bit. I think everyone should be required to take it at least every ten years to keep up with the current laws.
I decided I would pass on some of the information I learned to you!
1. What’s the most dangerous action a driver faces each day they drive to work? Driving with annoying passengers in the backseat; turning left at traffic lights; parallel parking; freeway driving.
2. What’s the most commonly reported collision in North America? Head on crash; rear crash; t-bone in an intersection; pedestrian struck.
3. Which lane is the best lane to drive in while heading off to work? The left lane; the right lane; the lane that provides the safest travels at that time; doesn’t matter as long as you get there.
4. What’s the minimum safe following distance in the city on dry roads? Two car lengths behind the other vehicle; three car lengths behind the other vehicle; 20 meters behind the other vehicle; two seconds behind the other vehicle.
5. When do most fatal crashes happen? Sunday afternoons; Friday night on a long weekend; rush hour; Saturday.
6. You should check your rear view mirror… Every five to eight seconds; to check your make-up or hair; when you think there might be a problem behind you; after you apply the brake.
7. You’ve experienced construction on the way to work and had to detour; when are you legally allowed to do a U-turn? Never; when the traffic clears; when you have visibility of 150 meters in every direction; when you have visibility of 60 meters in every direction.
8. What’s the distance you must stop behind a school bus when it has its red lights alternately flashing and the stop arm out? Six meters; 12 meters; 20 meters; 30 meters.
9. What’s the best way to drive near cyclists? Change lanes completely well before you reach them; slow down while passing them; honk the horn to warn them; stay behind them until they turn off the road.
10. True or false? According to the NHTSA, seatbelts reduce the risk of death for a front-seat car occupant by about 20 percent.
11. True or False: In a crash at just 30 miles per hour, an unrestrained passenger is thrown forward with a force 30 to 60 times their body weight.
12. Drivers who send text messages while driving are ____ times more likely to be in a crash. Five; 12; 23; 45.
ANSWERS:
1. Turning left at traffic lights. 2. Rear crash. 3. The lane that provides the safest travels at that time. 4. Two seconds behind the other vehicle. 5. Rush hour. 6. Every five to eight seconds. 7. When you have visibility of 150 meters in every direction. 8. 20 meters. 9. Change lanes completely well before you reach them. 10. False. According to the NHTSA, seatbelts reduce the risk of death for a front-seat car occupant by about 50 percent. 11. True. 12. 23.