NSC DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE
FINAL EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. The leading cause of death for people aged 15-20 is:
A) Heart Disease
B) Cancer
C) Motor Vehicle Crashes
D) Homicide
Answer: C) Motor Vehicle Crashes
Rationale: Motor vehicle crashes are the single leading cause
of death for teenagers and young adults in the United States,
surpassing all other causes.
2. The National Safety Council (NSC) defines a "collision"
as:
A) An unavoidable accident.
B) An event that results in property damage only.
C) A preventable event unless proven otherwise.
D) Any occurrence involving a motor vehicle.
Answer: C) A preventable event unless proven otherwise.
,Rationale: The NSC philosophy is that most collisions are
preventable. They define a collision as a preventable event
that can be avoided through defensive driving techniques.
3. The primary goal of the NSC Defensive Driving Course
is to help drivers:
A) Drive faster to keep up with traffic.
B) Recognize and avoid hazards.
C) Pass their state's driving test.
D) Save money on gas.
Answer: B) Recognize and avoid hazards.
Rationale: The core purpose of defensive driving is to teach
drivers how to anticipate dangerous situations and make safe
decisions to avoid collisions.
4. The "Smith System" of driving includes five keys.
Which of the following is NOT one of those keys?
A) Aim High in Steering
B) Get the Big Picture
C) Keep Your Eyes Moving
D) Keep Your Hands at 10 and 2
Answer: D) Keep Your Hands at 10 and 2
Rationale: The five keys of the Smith System are: 1. Aim High
in Steering, 2. Get the Big Picture, 3. Keep Your Eyes Moving,
4. Leave Yourself an Out, and 5. Make Sure They See You. "10
,and 2" is an outdated hand position recommendation (9 and 3
or 8 and 4 are now recommended).
5. The "Smith System" key "Aim High in Steering" means:
A) Look at the vehicle directly in front of you.
B) Look down at the road immediately in front of your bumper.
C) Look 12-15 seconds ahead of your vehicle.
D) Keep your hands high on the steering wheel.
Answer: C) Look 12-15 seconds ahead of your vehicle.
Rationale: Aiming high in steering means looking far ahead (at
least 12-15 seconds) to identify potential hazards early and
have more time to react.
6. What does the "Get the Big Picture" key in the Smith
System emphasize?
A) Focusing only on the car in front of you.
B) Being aware of everything around your vehicle.
C) Driving with your windows down.
D) Using your high beams at all times.
Answer: B) Being aware of everything around your vehicle.
Rationale: Getting the big picture means scanning all around
your vehicle—front, sides, and rear—to be fully aware of your
surroundings and potential threats.
7. According to the Smith System, "Leave Yourself an
Out" means:
A) Always drive in the middle lane.
, B) Have a planned escape route in case of an emergency.
C) Leave your car unlocked in case of an accident.
D) Keep a safe distance from the car in front, only.
Answer: B) Have a planned escape route in case of an
emergency.
Rationale: This key encourages drivers to position their
vehicle so that they have a clear space to move into (an "out")
if another driver makes a mistake.
8. The "Make Sure They See You" key from the Smith
System suggests:
A) Making eye contact with other drivers and pedestrians.
B) Driving with your headlights on during the day.
C) Using your horn at every intersection.
D) Both A and B.
Answer: D) Both A and B.
Rationale: To ensure other drivers and pedestrians see you,
you should make eye contact to confirm they are aware of you,
and use your headlights, even during the daytime.
9. An effective "following distance" is at least:
A) 1 second
B) 2 seconds
C) 3 seconds
D) 4 seconds
Answer: C) 3 seconds
FINAL EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. The leading cause of death for people aged 15-20 is:
A) Heart Disease
B) Cancer
C) Motor Vehicle Crashes
D) Homicide
Answer: C) Motor Vehicle Crashes
Rationale: Motor vehicle crashes are the single leading cause
of death for teenagers and young adults in the United States,
surpassing all other causes.
2. The National Safety Council (NSC) defines a "collision"
as:
A) An unavoidable accident.
B) An event that results in property damage only.
C) A preventable event unless proven otherwise.
D) Any occurrence involving a motor vehicle.
Answer: C) A preventable event unless proven otherwise.
,Rationale: The NSC philosophy is that most collisions are
preventable. They define a collision as a preventable event
that can be avoided through defensive driving techniques.
3. The primary goal of the NSC Defensive Driving Course
is to help drivers:
A) Drive faster to keep up with traffic.
B) Recognize and avoid hazards.
C) Pass their state's driving test.
D) Save money on gas.
Answer: B) Recognize and avoid hazards.
Rationale: The core purpose of defensive driving is to teach
drivers how to anticipate dangerous situations and make safe
decisions to avoid collisions.
4. The "Smith System" of driving includes five keys.
Which of the following is NOT one of those keys?
A) Aim High in Steering
B) Get the Big Picture
C) Keep Your Eyes Moving
D) Keep Your Hands at 10 and 2
Answer: D) Keep Your Hands at 10 and 2
Rationale: The five keys of the Smith System are: 1. Aim High
in Steering, 2. Get the Big Picture, 3. Keep Your Eyes Moving,
4. Leave Yourself an Out, and 5. Make Sure They See You. "10
,and 2" is an outdated hand position recommendation (9 and 3
or 8 and 4 are now recommended).
5. The "Smith System" key "Aim High in Steering" means:
A) Look at the vehicle directly in front of you.
B) Look down at the road immediately in front of your bumper.
C) Look 12-15 seconds ahead of your vehicle.
D) Keep your hands high on the steering wheel.
Answer: C) Look 12-15 seconds ahead of your vehicle.
Rationale: Aiming high in steering means looking far ahead (at
least 12-15 seconds) to identify potential hazards early and
have more time to react.
6. What does the "Get the Big Picture" key in the Smith
System emphasize?
A) Focusing only on the car in front of you.
B) Being aware of everything around your vehicle.
C) Driving with your windows down.
D) Using your high beams at all times.
Answer: B) Being aware of everything around your vehicle.
Rationale: Getting the big picture means scanning all around
your vehicle—front, sides, and rear—to be fully aware of your
surroundings and potential threats.
7. According to the Smith System, "Leave Yourself an
Out" means:
A) Always drive in the middle lane.
, B) Have a planned escape route in case of an emergency.
C) Leave your car unlocked in case of an accident.
D) Keep a safe distance from the car in front, only.
Answer: B) Have a planned escape route in case of an
emergency.
Rationale: This key encourages drivers to position their
vehicle so that they have a clear space to move into (an "out")
if another driver makes a mistake.
8. The "Make Sure They See You" key from the Smith
System suggests:
A) Making eye contact with other drivers and pedestrians.
B) Driving with your headlights on during the day.
C) Using your horn at every intersection.
D) Both A and B.
Answer: D) Both A and B.
Rationale: To ensure other drivers and pedestrians see you,
you should make eye contact to confirm they are aware of you,
and use your headlights, even during the daytime.
9. An effective "following distance" is at least:
A) 1 second
B) 2 seconds
C) 3 seconds
D) 4 seconds
Answer: C) 3 seconds
