FLHSMV Vehicle Operation & Safety 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When driving in heavy rain, you should turn on your headlights because:
- It helps you see better and makes your vehicle more visible to others (Correct answer)
- Florida law only requires headlights after dark
- Headlights improve your windshield wiper performance
- Headlights reduce glare from oncoming traffic
Correct answer: It helps you see better and makes your vehicle more visible to others
Florida law requires headlights when wipers are in use due to rain, smoke, or fog, improving both visibility and conspicuity.
Question 2: What is the proper technique for steering out of a skid on a slippery road?
- Brake firmly and steer straight ahead
- Steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go (Correct answer)
- Steer in the opposite direction of the skid
- Accelerate gently and steer opposite the skid
Correct answer: Steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go
To correct a skid, steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go, which helps realign the tires with the direction of travel.
Question 3: A vehicle's stopping distance consists of which two components?
- Acceleration distance and braking distance
- Reaction distance and braking distance (Correct answer)
- Perception distance and reaction distance
- Vision distance and steering distance
Correct answer: Reaction distance and braking distance
Total stopping distance equals reaction distance (time from seeing hazard to applying brakes) plus braking distance (distance traveled while braking).
Question 4: When should you use your vehicle's horn?
- To signal frustration with other drivers
- Only as a safety warning to avoid a collision (Correct answer)
- To greet pedestrians you recognize
- Whenever another driver makes a mistake
Correct answer: Only as a safety warning to avoid a collision
Horns should only be used as a safety device to warn others of danger, not as an expression of anger or frustration.
Question 5: At what blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is a driver under 21 considered legally impaired in Florida?
- .08 or higher
- .05 or higher
- .02 or higher (Correct answer)
- .10 or higher
Correct answer: .02 or higher
Florida has a zero-tolerance law for drivers under 21; a BAC of .02 or higher results in a license suspension.
Question 6: When parallel parking, you should position your vehicle before backing in at an angle of approximately:
- 45 degrees to the curb
- 90 degrees to the curb
- Parallel and 2–3 feet from the car ahead (Correct answer)
- Directly in front of the open space
Correct answer: Parallel and 2–3 feet from the car ahead
Begin parallel parking by positioning your vehicle parallel to the car ahead and about 2–3 feet away before backing in at an angle.
Question 7: Which of the following is the safest way to handle a tire blowout at highway speeds?
- Brake hard immediately to stop as fast as possible
- Grip the wheel firmly, ease off the gas, and steer straight (Correct answer)
- Quickly steer to the shoulder and apply the emergency brake
- Shift into a lower gear and brake moderately
Correct answer: Grip the wheel firmly, ease off the gas, and steer straight
During a blowout, grip the wheel firmly, gradually ease off the accelerator, and steer straight — sudden braking can cause loss of control.
FLHSMV Vehicle Operation & Safety 2
When driving in heavy rain, you should turn on your headlights because: