VT DMV Defensive Driving Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the acronym SIPDE, often taught in defensive driving, stand for?
- Scan, Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute (Correct answer)
- Stop, Inspect, Pass, Drive, Exit
- Signal, Idle, Park, Drive, Escape
- See, Ignore, Pause, Delay, End
Correct answer: Scan, Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute
SIPDE describes the defensive process of scanning, identifying hazards, predicting conflicts, deciding on an action, and executing it.
Question 2: Why should you leave extra space when stopped behind a vehicle at a traffic light?
- So you can steer around it if it stalls or you must move for an emergency vehicle (Correct answer)
- So other drivers can cut in front of you
- To keep your engine cooler
- It is required to be at least 50 feet back by law
Correct answer: So you can steer around it if it stalls or you must move for an emergency vehicle
Stopping where you can see the rear tires of the car ahead touch the pavement gives you an escape path if that vehicle stalls or danger approaches from behind.
Question 3: In winter conditions common in Vermont, what is the best way to handle a skid on ice?
- Ease off the gas and steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go (Correct answer)
- Brake hard immediately
- Steer opposite to the direction of travel and accelerate
- Shift into park to stop the wheels
Correct answer: Ease off the gas and steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go
Releasing the accelerator and steering where you want to go helps the tires regain traction and brings the vehicle back under control.
Question 4: When passing a bicyclist on a Vermont road, what clearance must you give?
- At least 4 feet of clearance (Correct answer)
- At least 1 foot of clearance
- Enough to stay within your lane no matter what
- There is no minimum; just slow down
Correct answer: At least 4 feet of clearance
Vermont law requires drivers to pass vulnerable users such as bicyclists with at least four feet of clearance.
Question 5: What is the main danger of driving with cruise control on wet or icy roads?
- The system may keep applying power during a loss of traction, worsening a skid (Correct answer)
- It drains the battery faster
- It disables the anti-lock brakes
- It automatically increases your speed downhill
Correct answer: The system may keep applying power during a loss of traction, worsening a skid
Cruise control can maintain throttle while the tires hydroplane or slip, so it should be turned off on slick surfaces.
Question 6: At night, an oncoming driver fails to dim their high beams. What should you do?
- Look toward the right edge of your lane and slow down (Correct answer)
- Stare at their headlights to stay alert
- Turn on your own high beams to retaliate
- Close one eye to protect your night vision
Correct answer: Look toward the right edge of your lane and slow down
Glancing toward the right edge of the road keeps you on course while avoiding temporary blindness from glare.
Question 7: Which action best reduces your risk when driving through an intersection on a green light?
- Cover the brake and glance left, right, then left again before entering (Correct answer)
- Accelerate through since you have the right-of-way
- Watch only the traffic light in case it changes
- Honk to warn cross traffic
Correct answer: Cover the brake and glance left, right, then left again before entering
Even with a green light, checking cross traffic protects you from red-light runners, who cause many intersection crashes.
VT DMV Defensive Driving Techniques 3
What does the acronym SIPDE, often taught in defensive driving, stand for?