NJMVC Defensive Driving 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In New Jersey, what should you do if your vehicle begins to skid on a slippery road?
- Brake firmly and turn the wheel opposite to the skid
- Steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go and ease off the gas (Correct answer)
- Accelerate to regain traction quickly
- Turn the wheel sharply away from the skid direction
Correct answer: Steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go and ease off the gas
Steering into the skid (the direction your rear is sliding) and releasing the gas allows tires to regain grip.
Question 2: Which factor most increases the danger posed by a tailgater behind you?
- It encourages you to speed up unnecessarily
- It reduces your ability to brake gradually in time to avoid rear-end collision (Correct answer)
- It improves your visibility by blocking glare
- It forces you to use your hazard lights
Correct answer: It reduces your ability to brake gradually in time to avoid rear-end collision
A tailgater eliminates the buffer needed to absorb a sudden stop, greatly increasing rear-end collision risk.
Question 3: When driving at night, you should dim your high beams when an oncoming car is within how many feet?
- 100 feet
- 300 feet
- 500 feet (Correct answer)
- 1,000 feet
Correct answer: 500 feet
New Jersey law requires dimming high beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle to prevent blinding the other driver.
Question 4: What defensive action should you take when approaching a school bus with flashing red lights on a two-lane New Jersey road?
- Slow to 15 mph and proceed carefully
- Stop at least 25 feet away and wait until lights stop and arm retracts (Correct answer)
- Stop only if children are visible outside
- Pass only on the left side at low speed
Correct answer: Stop at least 25 feet away and wait until lights stop and arm retracts
NJ law requires all traffic on both sides of a two-lane road to stop at least 25 feet from a school bus with red lights flashing.
Question 5: During a defensive driving course, 'commentary driving' is used primarily to:
- Entertain passengers during long trips
- Verbally identify hazards to keep the driver actively engaged with the environment (Correct answer)
- Communicate with other drivers via CB radio
- Practice narrating GPS directions
Correct answer: Verbally identify hazards to keep the driver actively engaged with the environment
Commentary driving forces the driver to put observations into words, sharpening hazard perception and sustained attention.
Question 6: On a NJ highway on-ramp, a defensive driver should:
- Stop at the end of the ramp and wait for a large gap
- Match highway traffic speed before merging and signal early (Correct answer)
- Merge slowly so highway drivers have time to react
- Use the shoulder to gain extra merging space
Correct answer: Match highway traffic speed before merging and signal early
Matching highway speed and signaling early allows a smooth merge that does not disrupt traffic flow or cause rear-end collisions.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the 'cushion of space' concept in defensive driving?
- Using only the center lane to avoid door zones
- Maintaining open space on all sides of your vehicle as an escape route (Correct answer)
- Keeping windows cracked for ventilation
- Leaving one car length per 10 mph behind the vehicle ahead only
Correct answer: Maintaining open space on all sides of your vehicle as an escape route
A cushion of space on all sides gives you options to maneuver away from hazards in any direction.
NJMVC Defensive Driving 3
In New Jersey, what should you do if your vehicle begins to skid on a slippery road?