Free TN DMV Safe Driving Practices Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the recommended following distance between your vehicle and the car in front of you under normal driving conditions?
- 1 second
- 2 seconds
- 3 seconds (Correct answer)
- 4 seconds
Correct answer: 3 seconds
The recommended following distance under normal driving conditions is at least three seconds. This 'three-second rule' provides adequate time to react and stop safely if the vehicle ahead suddenly brakes or encounters a hazard. To measure this, pick a fixed object ahead, and once the car in front passes it, count 'one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three' before your vehicle reaches the same object.
Question 2: When approaching a pedestrian crosswalk, what should a driver do?
- Speed up to clear the crosswalk quickly
- Proceed without slowing down if no pedestrians are visible
- Honk the horn to alert pedestrians
- Yield to pedestrians and stop if necessary (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Yield to pedestrians and stop if necessary
Drivers must always yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, whether marked or unmarked. Pedestrians have the right-of-way, and drivers are legally required to stop and allow them to cross safely. Failing to do so can result in serious accidents and legal penalties.
Question 3: What is the best way to handle driving in foggy conditions?
- Use high beam headlights to see further
- Drive at a reduced speed and use low beam headlights (Correct answer)
- Follow the car ahead closely to see better
- Turn on hazard lights and drive as fast as possible to get out of the fog
Correct answer: Drive at a reduced speed and use low beam headlights
When driving in foggy conditions, it is crucial to reduce your speed significantly to allow more time to react to hazards. Using low beam headlights is essential because high beams reflect off the fog, worsening visibility. Fog lights, if available, should also be used, but never high beams.
Question 4: How should a driver respond to being tailgated by another vehicle?
- Speed up to increase the distance between the two vehicles
- Slam on the brakes to warn the tailgater
- Move to the right lane or gradually slow down to encourage the tailgater to pass (Correct answer)
- Maintain the current speed and ignore the tailgater
Correct answer: Move to the right lane or gradually slow down to encourage the tailgater to pass
If you are being tailgated, the safest response is to create more space between your vehicle and the one behind you by either moving to another lane if possible or gently reducing your speed. This encourages the tailgater to pass you, removing the immediate hazard. Slamming on brakes or speeding up can escalate the dangerous situation.
Question 5: What should you do if your vehicle starts to hydroplane?
- Take your foot off the accelerator and steer straight (Correct answer)
- Steer sharply to regain control
- Slam on the brakes
- Speed up to push through the water
Correct answer: Take your foot off the accelerator and steer straight
If your vehicle starts to hydroplane, the correct action is to gently ease your foot off the accelerator and avoid braking or making sudden steering movements. Allow the vehicle to slow down naturally until the tires regain traction with the road surface. Steering straight helps maintain control as traction is restored.
Free TN DMV Safe Driving Practices Questions and Answers
What is the recommended following distance between your vehicle and the car in front of you under normal driving conditions?