RTAC FY 24 Defensive Driving Test – Answer Sheet

Prepared By: Bob Bugger

The Smith System has developed Five Keys to Defensive Driving.

Key #1 -- Aim High in Steering
Key #2 -- Get the Big Picture
Key #3 -- Keep Your Eyes Moving
Key #4 -- Leave Yourself An Out
Key #5 -- Make Sure They See You

1. The Key that encourages drivers to build a space cushion to isolate their vehicle and insulate
themselves from trouble is:
A. Aim High In Steering.
B. Get The Big Picture.
C. Leave Yourself An Out.
D. Keep Your Eyes Moving.

2. Aim High in Steering means:

A. It is a U.S. Air Force slogan.
B. Look above your steering wheel while driving.
C. Look at least 15 seconds ahead of your vehicle.
D. You should see about 100 feet ahead at all times.

3. What is the proper use of Key 3 -- Keep Your Eyes Moving?

A. Helping a driver remain more alert than other drivers.
B. Helping a driver keep track of what is happening inside and around the vehicle.
C. Both A and B.
D. Neither A or B.

4. Maintaining a space cushion around your vehicle relates most closely with using which key?
A. Key 5 -- Make Sure They See You.
B. Key 4 -- Leave Yourself An Out.
C. Key 3 -- Keep Your Eyes Moving.
D. None of the above.

5. Key 5, Make Sure They See You, suggests the proper use of which method of communication?
A. Friendly tap of the horn.
B. Turn indicators.
C. Eye contact.
D. All of the above.

6. When Key 1, Aim High in Steering is in practice, the driver gains these benefits:
A. The ability to see potential problems early.
B. Allows you more time to make well thought out decisions.
C. Gives you more time to act.
D. All of the above.
7. Leave Yourself An Out suggests you strive to maintain space around your vehicle.
A. True
B. False

8. Which Key recommends looking farther ahead so you can identify problems and take steps to
avoid them?
A. Key 1 -- Aim High In Steering.
B. Key 2 -- Get The Big Picture.
C. Key 3 -- Keep Your Eyes Moving.
D. Key 4 -- Leave Yourself An Out.
E. Key 5 -- Make Sure They See You.

9. According to recent reports from several national safety organizations, the leading factor in most
crashes and near-crashes is:
A. Alcohol and drugs.
B. Driver distractions.
C. Speed.
D. Fatigue.

10. When people attempt to multitask while driving, eye activity slows and mental problem-solving
skills are diminished.
A. True
B. False

11. Which of the following are categories of distractions?

A. Visual.
B. Mental.
C. Physical.
D. Auditory.
E. All of the above.

12. Which of the following special limitations make operating a bus different from smaller vehicle
types:
A. Buses accelerate more slowly.
B. Buses require more time to stop.
C. Buses have large blind areas.
D. Buses make wide turns needing extra space when turning.
E. All of the above.

13. Nearly half of all forward-motion, traffic collisions happen in and around intersections.
A. True
B. False
14. A driver can be an organization’s greatest asset or its biggest liability –their choice.
A. True A good driver who slips-up to introduce risk can cause a big liability issue.
B. False

15. The best professional drivers:

A. Display a positive example of safe operating practices to other drivers and to the general public.
B. Are mindful of providing safe and comfortable travel for all passengers including those with special
circumstances.
C. Are committed to safety above everything else.
D. All of the above.

16. A personal driver checklist would include:

A. Did you get enough rest before coming to work?
B. Are you taking medication that is making you feel “not quite yourself?”
C. Are you experiencing more-than-usual amounts of stress?
D. All of the above.

17. When applying the principles of defensive driving, you can avoid developing dangerous habits,
eliminate already developed poor driving habits, and be more prepared for the risky behavior of
other drivers.
A. True
B. False

18. Over the years all drivers develop patterns of unsafe behavior unless they keep themselves in
check.
A. True
B. False

19. Over years of routine driving, drivers can be lulled into complacency, causing them to:
A. Follow too closely.
B. Drive a little too fast for conditions.
C. Allow themselves to drive while distracted.
D. Allow shortcuts on pre-trip inspections and/or wheelchair securements.
E. All of the above.

20. Daily routine makes our actions second nature and can cause us to lose focus on details which
could prevent an accident.
A. True
B. False

21. Distracted driving is basically caused by anything that removes the driver’s concentration on
actual traffic and road conditions.
A. True
B. False
22. A study by the University of Utah indicates:
A. Driving while using a cell phone (including hands-free) impairs a driver’s reactions as much as driving
with a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08%.
B. Sleep deprivation and fatigue make lapses of attention more likely to occur.
C. Both A and B.

23. A distraction is anything that takes your eyes off the road (visual distraction), your mind off your
driving (cognitive/mental distraction), or your hands off the wheel (manual/physical distraction).
A. True
B. False

24. Mental distractions would include:

A. Talking with passengers.
B. Radio.
C. Hands free communication.
D. Daydreaming.
E. All of the above.

25. A driver should check their mirrors and gauges_______.

A. Every five to eight seconds.
B. To make sure another vehicle doesn’t enter into the blind spot behind your vehicle.
C. To prevent getting into a “blind stare,” or “driver hypnosis”.
D. All of the above.

26. Baby oil, pam cooking spray, or silicone spray can be used to prevent freezing in winter or
sticking (heat bonding) in summer on:
A. Weather-stripping around doors.
B. Folding entrance-door rubber.
C. Exit windows and hatches.
D. All of the above.

27. Streaking windshield wipers can usually be remedied by wiping the wiper rubber with an alcohol
wipe until it is clean.
A. True
B. False

28. Cleaning an extremely dirty windshield using the windshield wipers is like running them across
sandpaper.
A. True
B. False

29. When leaving an intersection, the last direction to look would for oncoming traffic to the left,
because if a vehicle in that lane runs a light, it would be the first one to possibly hit you.
A. True
B. False
30. The lighting reflectors on modern vehicles are so efficient that on a rough roadway the sun’s
reflection can be misinterpreted as a false turn signal display from a vehicle we are observing, or
to someone observing our vehicle.
A. True
B. False

31. After being stuck in mud or snow one should clean-out between the dual wheels to eliminate mud
or ice that could damage valve stems causing flat rear tires, or be thrown onto a following vehicle
causing serious damage.
A. True
B. False

32. If you are being tailgated, you may prevent being “rear-ended” by allowing more distance
between your vehicle and the vehicle in FRONT of you, thus allowing you more time to warn the
following vehicle in case you have to stop or slow.
A. True
B. False

33. Someone is tailgating you – you can:

A. Flash your brake lights.
B. Turn on your hazard flashers.
C. Increase your following distance to the vehicle in front of you so you will not have to make a panic stop.
D. Both B and C. Flashing brake lights may cause road rage.

34. If you find yourself involved in a road rage situation, cruising around in a crowded, mall parking
lot may deter the offender until the police arrive.
A. True The offender will not want witnesses.
B. False

35. What is meant by “Reading other Drivers” at intersections:

A. Observing if they “see you” or just quickly glance your way.
B. Seeing if other drivers are distracted by a phone, dashboard control adjustment, or another passenger.
C. Watching a driver who is waiting for their turn or a light while attending to a child in the back seat.
D. All of the above.

36. When navigating a “yield” or green light intersection one should reduce speed to deal with the
changing visual information.
A. True
B. False

37. A defensive driver will “Aim High In Steering (Key #1)” - scanning the road ahead, looking for
brake lights, weaving vehicles, and road debris.
A. True
B. False

38. When faced with distractions, a driver should allow more following distance from the vehicle in
front.
A. True
B. False
39. When conducting a pre-trip inspection, it is better to:
A. Vary the way you perform the inspection so that you don’t get bored.
B. Use the same method every time for quicker and more accurate inspections. Use the same method
every time for quicker and more accurate inspections. If you have a routine procedure, you will be
less likely to forget something.
C. Assume that all safety-related features are tip-top.

40. Pre-trip inspections and the information they provide can be used as a legal document.
A. True
B. False

41. At every stop where you exit and walk around the vehicle, you have an opportunity to____.
A. View tires and wheel lug nuts.
B. Check for lights that are “in use.”
C. Be alert for unusual smells and/or hot brakes.
D. Be alert for leaks or unusual noises.
E. All of the above. Just a casual glance may reveal something and prevent a larger problem.

42. A properly adjusted mirror will eliminate some, but not all blind spots around your vehicle.
A. True Properly adjusted mirrors will reduce the number of blind spots around your vehicle although
the mirrors themselves have blind spots behind them.
B. False

43. Though eliminating all blind spots is impossible, proper mirror adjustment is critical to driver
awareness.
A. True
B. False

44. Bus drivers should consider themselves to be the HIGHEST level of professional driver, due to
the sensitive human cargo with which they are entrusted to transport.
A. True.
B. If not – they SHOULD.
C. Both A and B.

45. Several over-the-counter medications including cough and cold remedies and antihistamines can
cause drowsiness that affect a driver’s reactions.
A. True
B. False

46. Paying attention is the hardest and most important driving task because it helps create the time
needed to recognize hazards, and react to them to avoid an accident.
A. True
B. False

47. There are three phases to emergency braking: 1. Realization that you must stop; 2. Reaction time;
and 3. Braking distance. Your vehicle does not begin to slow down until phase 3.
A. True Not until your foot comes off the accelerator and onto the brake pedal.
B. False
 48. Referring to question #47, an alert person with good reaction time can move from the accelerator
pedal to the brake in about ¾ of a second. How long is a normal driver’s realization time?
A. 2 seconds.
B. ¾ seconds.
C. Depends on the road speed.
D. Depends on the driver’s concentration/distraction.

49. The distance that you allow from the vehicle in front of you is determined by:
A. Your speed.
B. Road conditions.
C. Amount of traffic.
D. Any form of distraction that the driver is experiencing.
E. All of the above.

50. A driver can be distracted by_______.

A. A cluttered dashboard.
B. Conversation with passengers.
C. Cell phone, radio, or communications device.
D. Dashboard controls and adjustments.
E. Glare and reflections from a dirty windshield.
F. All of the above.

Perform all of your duties as if you must defend them in court tomorrow!

Reminder: You ARE THE HIGHEST level of a professional driver – proudly represent that prestigious
appointment!