RTA Safe Driving Practices 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When driving in heavy rain, you should increase your following distance to at least:
- 1 second
- 2 seconds
- 4 seconds (Correct answer)
- 6 seconds
Correct answer: 4 seconds
In heavy rain, stopping distances increase significantly, so a following distance of at least 4 seconds is recommended.
Question 2: What does hydroplaning mean?
- Driving through a flooded road
- Your tires lose contact with the road surface due to water (Correct answer)
- Visibility drops to near zero in rain
- The engine floods when driving in water
Correct answer: Your tires lose contact with the road surface due to water
Hydroplaning occurs when a layer of water builds between the tires and road surface, causing loss of traction and steering control.
Question 3: A solid white line along the right edge of the roadway indicates:
- The center of a two-lane road
- The edge of the travel lane — do not cross (Correct answer)
- A bike lane boundary
- A parking zone limit
Correct answer: The edge of the travel lane — do not cross
A solid white edge line marks the right boundary of the travel lane and should not be crossed except in an emergency.
Question 4: If your accelerator pedal sticks while driving, you should first:
- Pump the brakes rapidly
- Shift into neutral and apply the brakes (Correct answer)
- Turn off the ignition immediately
- Swerve to the shoulder at high speed
Correct answer: Shift into neutral and apply the brakes
Shifting into neutral removes engine power to the wheels, allowing you to brake safely and pull off the road.
Question 5: Which of the following is true about driving with cruise control in rain?
- Cruise control improves fuel efficiency in rain
- Cruise control should be avoided in wet conditions (Correct answer)
- Cruise control prevents hydroplaning
- Cruise control is only unsafe in ice, not rain
Correct answer: Cruise control should be avoided in wet conditions
Cruise control can cause dangerous speed surges if a tire hydroplanes, so it should be turned off in wet conditions.
Question 6: When should you use your vehicle's hazard lights while driving?
- Whenever you drive below the speed limit
- Only when parked on the side of the road
- When your vehicle is a hazard or moving significantly slower than traffic (Correct answer)
- Any time it is raining heavily
Correct answer: When your vehicle is a hazard or moving significantly slower than traffic
Hazard lights should be used when your vehicle is a danger to other drivers, such as when moving very slowly on a highway.
Question 7: What is the primary danger of driving while fatigued?
- Reduced fuel economy
- Decreased reaction time and risk of falling asleep at the wheel (Correct answer)
- Increased engine wear
- Reduced headlight effectiveness
Correct answer: Decreased reaction time and risk of falling asleep at the wheel
Fatigue severely impairs reaction time and judgment, and a drowsy driver can fall asleep for seconds — enough to cause a fatal crash.
RTA Safe Driving Practices 2
When driving in heavy rain, you should increase your following distance to at least: