Safe Driving Practices Flashcards

What should you do if your brakes fail while driving downhill?

Answer: Pump the brake pedal, downshift, and use the parking brake gradually

Pumping may restore pressure, downshifting uses engine braking, and gradual parking brake use can slow the vehicle safely.

How does alcohol affect driving ability even at levels below the legal limit?

Answer: It slows reaction time, impairs judgment, and reduces coordination

Impairment begins with the first drink, degrading judgment, coordination, and reaction time well before 0.08% BAC.

When driving through a highway work zone, a safe driver should do what?

Answer: Slow down, obey flaggers, and stay alert for workers and equipment

Work zones require reduced speed, obedience to flaggers, and heightened alertness, and fines are often doubled there.

What is hydroplaning?

Answer: Tires riding on a layer of water and losing contact with the road

At higher speeds on wet roads, tires can ride up on water and lose road contact, eliminating steering and braking control.

If you begin to feel road rage building toward another driver, what should you do?

Answer: Avoid eye contact, give them space, and do not respond to aggression

Disengaging and giving an aggressive driver room prevents conflicts from escalating into dangerous situations.

During extended winter darkness in Alaska, what extra precaution helps you see and be seen?

Answer: Keep headlights, taillights, and windows clean and free of snow and ice

Snow and grime on lights and glass drastically cut visibility, so clearing them fully before driving is essential.

What should you do if your vehicle becomes stranded in a remote area during a winter storm?

Answer: Stay with the vehicle, run the engine sparingly, and keep the exhaust pipe clear

Your vehicle provides shelter and is easier for rescuers to find, but the exhaust must stay clear to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.