Defensive Driving Flashcards

What is the correct technique for steering through a curve on a slippery road?

Answer: Reduce speed before the curve and maintain steady throttle through it

Braking before the curve and applying steady throttle through it keeps weight balanced and maximizes available traction.

Under NSC guidelines, what is the minimum recommended sleep before a long highway drive?

Answer: 7–8 hours

NSC recommends 7–8 hours of sleep before driving to ensure alertness, as drowsy driving impairs reaction time comparably to alcohol.

What is the safest position to hold a steering wheel for airbag-equipped vehicles?

Answer: 9 and 3 o'clock

The 9 and 3 position keeps hands away from the airbag deployment zone and provides better steering leverage.

When driving through a work zone, which of the following is most important?

Answer: Obeying posted work zone speed limits and watching for workers

Work zone crashes are often fatal for workers; posted reduced speed limits and constant alertness for workers on foot are critical.

What does 'vehicle dynamics' mean in a defensive driving context?

Answer: How a vehicle's weight shifts during acceleration, braking, and cornering

Understanding weight transfer helps drivers predict how their vehicle will respond to inputs and avoid loss of control.

Which of the following distractions is classified as 'cognitive' in NSC's distracted driving framework?

Answer: Talking hands-free on a cell phone

Hands-free calls are cognitive distractions because mental focus shifts away from driving even though hands remain on the wheel.

If your vehicle's ABS activates during emergency braking, you should:

Answer: Maintain firm brake pressure and steer around the hazard

ABS does the pumping for you; keeping steady firm pressure lets ABS maintain maximum braking force while you steer to avoid the hazard.