LTO Road Safety and Defensive Driving 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When merging onto a freeway, what is the proper technique?
- Stop at the end of the on-ramp and wait for a large gap
- Match freeway traffic speed and merge smoothly when safe (Correct answer)
- Merge as soon as you enter the on-ramp
- Use the shoulder to enter the freeway
Correct answer: Match freeway traffic speed and merge smoothly when safe
Accelerate in the on-ramp to match freeway speed and merge when a safe gap exists, signaling your intention in advance.
Question 2: What is the danger zone around large trucks where the driver cannot see you?
- Only directly behind the truck
- Directly in front, directly behind, and on both sides near the cab (Correct answer)
- Only on the passenger side
- Only when headlights are off
Correct answer: Directly in front, directly behind, and on both sides near the cab
Large trucks have four major blind spots: directly in front, directly behind, on the left near the cab, and a wide zone on the right side.
Question 3: What should you do when you encounter a vehicle going the wrong way on the highway?
- Flash your lights and maintain your lane
- Move to the right lane and reduce speed (Correct answer)
- Steer left to go around them
- Stop in your current lane immediately
Correct answer: Move to the right lane and reduce speed
Move right, slow down, and use your horn and lights to warn the wrong-way driver while keeping yourself out of a head-on collision path.
Question 4: Which condition most significantly increases stopping distance on a dry road?
- Driving with new tires
- Driving at twice the speed (Correct answer)
- Driving in daylight
- Driving on a flat road
Correct answer: Driving at twice the speed
Doubling your speed quadruples your stopping distance because kinetic energy increases with the square of velocity.
Question 5: Why is it dangerous to drive in another driver's blind spot for extended periods?
- It wastes fuel by increasing drag
- The other driver may change lanes without seeing you (Correct answer)
- It is illegal in all states
- It increases tire wear on the road
Correct answer: The other driver may change lanes without seeing you
Staying in a blind spot makes you invisible to that driver, who may merge or change lanes directly into your vehicle.
Question 6: You see a green traffic light ahead but a stopped vehicle at the intersection. What should you do?
- Accelerate since you have the green
- Cover the brake and slow down to assess the situation (Correct answer)
- Honk to alert the stopped driver
- Change lanes immediately
Correct answer: Cover the brake and slow down to assess the situation
A green light does not guarantee a clear intersection; cover your brake and scan for hazards before proceeding.
Question 7: What is the recommended action when driving through a work zone on a highway?
- Maintain normal highway speed to reduce time in the zone
- Slow down, obey posted work zone speed limits, and stay alert for workers (Correct answer)
- Stay in the far left lane at all times
- Avoid work zones by using emergency turnarounds
Correct answer: Slow down, obey posted work zone speed limits, and stay alert for workers
Work zones have reduced speed limits, narrowed lanes, and workers on foot; fines are often doubled for violations in these areas.
LTO Road Safety and Defensive Driving 4
When merging onto a freeway, what is the proper technique?