Defensive Driving Practice Questions
& Answers
Original practice material — 39 unique questions covering distinct defensive driving concepts.
Correct answers are highlighted in yellow.
Question 1: What following distance is generally recommended in good conditions on a dry road?
A. 1 second
B. 3 seconds
C. 5 car lengths regardless of speed
D. 10 seconds
Explanation: The 3-second rule gives most drivers enough time to react and brake safely under normal
conditions.
Question 2: How should you adjust your following distance in heavy rain?
A. No change is needed
B. Increase it to allow for longer stopping distances
C. Decrease it to keep up with traffic flow
D. Follow closely so you can see the car ahead's taillights
Explanation: Wet roads reduce tire traction, so stopping distances increase and following distance should
grow.
Question 3: What is the first thing you should do if your vehicle begins to hydroplane?
A. Brake hard immediately
B. Turn the wheel sharply toward dry pavement
C. Ease off the gas and steer straight until traction returns
D. Shift into neutral
Explanation: Easing off the accelerator and keeping the wheel straight lets the tires regain contact with the
road without inducing a skid.
Question 4: Where should side mirrors be adjusted to minimize blind spots?
A. Angled to show the side of your own car
B. Angled outward just until your car is barely visible at the inner edge
C. Pointed straight down at the rear tires
D. Adjusted the same as the rearview mirror
Explanation: Mirrors set slightly wider than traditional positioning reduce overlap with the rearview mirror
and shrink blind spots.
Question 5: What is the safest action when a tailgater is following too closely?
A. Speed up to create distance
B. Brake-check the tailgater
C. Increase distance from the vehicle ahead and let the tailgater pass when possible
D. Ignore it and maintain the same speed
Explanation: Opening space ahead gives you more room to brake gradually and avoid being rear-ended, and
allows the tailgater to pass safely.
, Question 6: At a four-way stop, who has the right of way if two vehicles arrive at the same time?
A. The vehicle on the left
B. The vehicle on the right
C. Whichever vehicle is larger
D. Neither; both must wait for a police officer
Explanation: Standard right-of-way rules give priority to the vehicle on the right when two cars arrive
simultaneously.
Question 7: Why is it dangerous to rely solely on a vehicle's blind spot mirrors without a shoulder check?
A. Mirrors are illegal in most states
B. Mirrors can't detect motorcycles or objects entirely inside the blind spot cone
C. Shoulder checks are only needed on highways
D. Mirrors are only useful in reverse
Explanation: Convex or blind-spot mirrors reduce but don't eliminate blind spots, so a physical shoulder check
remains necessary before lane changes.
Question 8: What should you do when approaching a school bus with flashing red lights on a two-lane road?
A. Pass carefully at reduced speed
B. Stop, regardless of direction of travel, until lights stop flashing
C. Only stop if children are visible
D. Continue if no crossing guard is present
Explanation: Flashing red lights on a school bus require traffic in both directions on undivided roads to stop
until the lights stop flashing.
Question 9: Which of the following best describes 'target fixation' as a driving hazard?
A. Focusing intently on the speedometer
B. Staring at an obstacle and unconsciously steering toward it
C. Watching mirrors too often
D. Focusing only on traffic signs
Explanation: Target fixation happens when a driver stares at a hazard, which can cause them to steer toward
it instead of away.
Question 10: What is the safest way to handle a tire blowout at highway speed?
A. Brake hard immediately
B. Grip the wheel firmly, ease off the gas, and let the car slow gradually before pulling over
C. Steer hard away from the direction of the pull
D. Shift to neutral and coast
Explanation: Gradual deceleration without hard braking helps maintain control and prevents the vehicle from
swerving unpredictably.
Question 11: Why do many collisions occur at intersections despite green lights?
A. Green lights guarantee no cross traffic
B. Some drivers run red lights or fail to yield when turning
C. Intersections have no traffic control
D. Pedestrians are never present at intersections
Explanation: Even with the right of way, drivers should scan for red-light runners and vehicles turning across
their path.
Question 12: What does 'covering the brake' mean in defensive driving?
A. Physically pressing the brake pedal at all times
& Answers
Original practice material — 39 unique questions covering distinct defensive driving concepts.
Correct answers are highlighted in yellow.
Question 1: What following distance is generally recommended in good conditions on a dry road?
A. 1 second
B. 3 seconds
C. 5 car lengths regardless of speed
D. 10 seconds
Explanation: The 3-second rule gives most drivers enough time to react and brake safely under normal
conditions.
Question 2: How should you adjust your following distance in heavy rain?
A. No change is needed
B. Increase it to allow for longer stopping distances
C. Decrease it to keep up with traffic flow
D. Follow closely so you can see the car ahead's taillights
Explanation: Wet roads reduce tire traction, so stopping distances increase and following distance should
grow.
Question 3: What is the first thing you should do if your vehicle begins to hydroplane?
A. Brake hard immediately
B. Turn the wheel sharply toward dry pavement
C. Ease off the gas and steer straight until traction returns
D. Shift into neutral
Explanation: Easing off the accelerator and keeping the wheel straight lets the tires regain contact with the
road without inducing a skid.
Question 4: Where should side mirrors be adjusted to minimize blind spots?
A. Angled to show the side of your own car
B. Angled outward just until your car is barely visible at the inner edge
C. Pointed straight down at the rear tires
D. Adjusted the same as the rearview mirror
Explanation: Mirrors set slightly wider than traditional positioning reduce overlap with the rearview mirror
and shrink blind spots.
Question 5: What is the safest action when a tailgater is following too closely?
A. Speed up to create distance
B. Brake-check the tailgater
C. Increase distance from the vehicle ahead and let the tailgater pass when possible
D. Ignore it and maintain the same speed
Explanation: Opening space ahead gives you more room to brake gradually and avoid being rear-ended, and
allows the tailgater to pass safely.
, Question 6: At a four-way stop, who has the right of way if two vehicles arrive at the same time?
A. The vehicle on the left
B. The vehicle on the right
C. Whichever vehicle is larger
D. Neither; both must wait for a police officer
Explanation: Standard right-of-way rules give priority to the vehicle on the right when two cars arrive
simultaneously.
Question 7: Why is it dangerous to rely solely on a vehicle's blind spot mirrors without a shoulder check?
A. Mirrors are illegal in most states
B. Mirrors can't detect motorcycles or objects entirely inside the blind spot cone
C. Shoulder checks are only needed on highways
D. Mirrors are only useful in reverse
Explanation: Convex or blind-spot mirrors reduce but don't eliminate blind spots, so a physical shoulder check
remains necessary before lane changes.
Question 8: What should you do when approaching a school bus with flashing red lights on a two-lane road?
A. Pass carefully at reduced speed
B. Stop, regardless of direction of travel, until lights stop flashing
C. Only stop if children are visible
D. Continue if no crossing guard is present
Explanation: Flashing red lights on a school bus require traffic in both directions on undivided roads to stop
until the lights stop flashing.
Question 9: Which of the following best describes 'target fixation' as a driving hazard?
A. Focusing intently on the speedometer
B. Staring at an obstacle and unconsciously steering toward it
C. Watching mirrors too often
D. Focusing only on traffic signs
Explanation: Target fixation happens when a driver stares at a hazard, which can cause them to steer toward
it instead of away.
Question 10: What is the safest way to handle a tire blowout at highway speed?
A. Brake hard immediately
B. Grip the wheel firmly, ease off the gas, and let the car slow gradually before pulling over
C. Steer hard away from the direction of the pull
D. Shift to neutral and coast
Explanation: Gradual deceleration without hard braking helps maintain control and prevents the vehicle from
swerving unpredictably.
Question 11: Why do many collisions occur at intersections despite green lights?
A. Green lights guarantee no cross traffic
B. Some drivers run red lights or fail to yield when turning
C. Intersections have no traffic control
D. Pedestrians are never present at intersections
Explanation: Even with the right of way, drivers should scan for red-light runners and vehicles turning across
their path.
Question 12: What does 'covering the brake' mean in defensive driving?
A. Physically pressing the brake pedal at all times
