NJMVC Defensive Driving 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When following a large truck on a New Jersey highway, which technique best reduces your risk?
- Stay directly behind to draft in its slipstream
- Increase following distance to at least 4 seconds (Correct answer)
- Flash your headlights to signal the truck driver
- Change lanes frequently to stay visible
Correct answer: Increase following distance to at least 4 seconds
Large trucks have massive blind spots and longer stopping distances, so a 4-second following distance gives you time to react.
Question 2: A vehicle cuts in front of you aggressively. The best defensive response is to:
- Honk repeatedly and accelerate to close the gap
- Brake hard and swerve into another lane
- Ease off the accelerator and increase following distance (Correct answer)
- Flash your high beams to warn the driver
Correct answer: Ease off the accelerator and increase following distance
Easing off the gas re-establishes a safe following distance without creating additional hazards.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of the 'two-second rule' in defensive driving?
- To maintain fuel efficiency at highway speeds
- To ensure adequate stopping distance behind the vehicle ahead (Correct answer)
- To determine safe lane-change timing
- To gauge safe merging distance on ramps
Correct answer: To ensure adequate stopping distance behind the vehicle ahead
The two-second (or more) rule ensures you have enough space to stop if the vehicle ahead brakes suddenly.
Question 4: Under New Jersey law, when must you use headlights during daytime?
- Only after sunset
- Whenever visibility is reduced to 500 feet or less (Correct answer)
- Only in school zones
- Whenever driving on a highway
Correct answer: Whenever visibility is reduced to 500 feet or less
NJ law requires headlights when you cannot see at least 500 feet ahead, including during fog, rain, or other low-visibility conditions.
Question 5: Which scanning technique best helps a defensive driver identify hazards early?
- Focus on the bumper of the car directly ahead
- Scan 12–15 seconds ahead while checking mirrors every 5–8 seconds (Correct answer)
- Keep eyes fixed on lane markings
- Monitor only the right shoulder for hazards
Correct answer: Scan 12–15 seconds ahead while checking mirrors every 5–8 seconds
Looking 12–15 seconds ahead and checking mirrors regularly gives you time to plan responses before hazards become emergencies.
Question 6: When driving in heavy rain on a New Jersey road, hydroplaning is most likely to occur:
- At speeds below 20 mph on wet pavement
- At highway speeds when tread depth is low (Correct answer)
- Only on unpaved surfaces
- When using cruise control on dry roads
Correct answer: At highway speeds when tread depth is low
Hydroplaning risk increases with speed and worn tires, since there is less tread to channel water away from the contact patch.
Question 7: A defensive driver approaching a green traffic light should:
- Accelerate to clear the intersection quickly
- Cover the brake and scan for conflicting traffic (Correct answer)
- Increase speed to maintain momentum
- Honk to alert pedestrians
Correct answer: Cover the brake and scan for conflicting traffic
Covering the brake and scanning for cross-traffic lets you respond instantly if someone runs a red light or a pedestrian steps out.
NJMVC Defensive Driving 2
When following a large truck on a New Jersey highway, which technique best reduces your risk?