Safe Driving Practices Flashcards

What is the two-second rule and when should it be extended?

Answer: A minimum following distance that should be increased in bad weather, at night, or behind large vehicles

Two seconds is the minimum gap in ideal conditions, and it must grow when visibility, traction, or sight lines are reduced.

You approach an intersection where the traffic signals are dark due to a power outage. How should you treat it?

Answer: As a four-way stop

A dark or malfunctioning signal must be treated as a four-way stop, with drivers yielding by arrival order.

Which situation requires you to check your blind spot by turning your head?

Answer: Before changing lanes or merging

Mirrors cannot show the areas beside your vehicle, so a head check is required before every lane change or merge.

Why should you avoid sudden lane changes near large trucks on the highway?

Answer: Trucks have large blind spots and need much longer distances to stop

Cutting close in front of a truck puts you in its blind spot and inside the long stopping distance it needs.

What is the safest response when driving into sudden whiteout conditions from blowing snow?

Answer: Slow down gradually, use low beams, and pull off the road safely if visibility is lost

Gradual slowing and safely leaving the roadway prevents both loss of control and being struck from behind in zero visibility.

Texting while driving in Alaska is best described as which type of distraction?

Answer: Visual, manual, and cognitive at the same time

Texting takes your eyes, hands, and mind off driving simultaneously, making it one of the most dangerous distractions.

When entering a highway from an on-ramp, what should you do?

Answer: Accelerate to match traffic speed and merge into a safe gap

Matching the speed of highway traffic lets you merge smoothly into a gap without forcing others to brake.