Road Safety and Defensive Driving Flashcards

What is the primary purpose of defensive driving?

Answer: To anticipate and respond to hazards before they become emergencies

Defensive driving means actively scanning for potential hazards and adjusting your behavior to prevent accidents before they happen.

A pedestrian is crossing mid-block outside of a crosswalk. What should you do?

Answer: Yield and slow down to allow them to cross safely

Even outside a crosswalk, drivers must yield to pedestrians already in the roadway to prevent a collision.

When should you use your vehicle's hazard lights?

Answer: When your vehicle is stopped or disabled and poses a danger to others

Hazard lights warn other drivers that your vehicle is stopped or disabled in a potentially dangerous location.

What is the correct hand position on the steering wheel for optimal control?

Answer: 10 and 2 o'clock or 9 and 3 o'clock

The 9 and 3 o'clock position (or 10 and 2) provides the best steering control and reduces arm fatigue.

You are approaching a school bus with flashing red lights stopped on a two-lane road. What must you do?

Answer: Stop from both directions until the lights stop flashing

When a school bus displays flashing red lights, all vehicles from both directions on a two-lane road must stop until children have boarded or exited safely.

How does driving drowsy compare to drunk driving in terms of impairment?

Answer: Drowsy driving can impair reaction time and judgment similarly to alcohol

Studies show that being awake for 18 hours produces impairment similar to a 0.05% blood alcohol level, making drowsy driving extremely dangerous.

What does the SIPDE process stand for in defensive driving?

Answer: Search, Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute

SIPDE (Search, Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute) is a systematic approach to proactive hazard management while driving.