WA DMV Defensive Driving Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When driving on wet Washington roads, how should you adjust your following distance?
- Increase it beyond the normal 4 seconds (Correct answer)
- Keep it the same as in dry weather
- Reduce it so you can see the car ahead better
- Following distance doesn't matter in rain
Correct answer: Increase it beyond the normal 4 seconds
Wet pavement increases stopping distance, so you should add extra seconds to your normal following gap.
Question 2: What is the first thing you should do if your vehicle begins to hydroplane?
- Ease off the accelerator and avoid braking suddenly (Correct answer)
- Brake hard immediately
- Turn the steering wheel sharply
- Shift into park
Correct answer: Ease off the accelerator and avoid braking suddenly
Gently releasing the gas lets the tires regain contact with the road, while hard braking or steering can cause a skid.
Question 3: To reduce glare from oncoming headlights at night, you should:
- Look toward the right edge of your lane (Correct answer)
- Stare directly at the oncoming lights
- Turn on your high beams
- Close one eye until the car passes
Correct answer: Look toward the right edge of your lane
Glancing toward the right edge of the road keeps you on course without being blinded by oncoming headlights.
Question 4: In dense fog, which lights should you use?
- Low-beam headlights (Correct answer)
- High-beam headlights
- Parking lights only
- Hazard flashers while driving at normal speed
Correct answer: Low-beam headlights
Low beams aim at the road, while high beams reflect off fog and reduce your visibility.
Question 5: You are approaching a curve on a rain-slicked mountain road. The defensive approach is to:
- Slow down before entering the curve, not while in it (Correct answer)
- Brake firmly in the middle of the curve
- Accelerate through the entire curve
- Coast in neutral around the curve
Correct answer: Slow down before entering the curve, not while in it
Reducing speed before the curve keeps the tires' traction available for steering instead of braking.
Question 6: If you begin to skid on ice, you should steer:
- In the direction you want the vehicle to go (Correct answer)
- Opposite the direction of the skid at all times
- Straight ahead while braking hard
- Toward the shoulder
Correct answer: In the direction you want the vehicle to go
Steering where you want to go helps the tires realign with your intended path and recover from the skid.
Question 7: Why are bridges and overpasses especially dangerous in freezing weather?
- They freeze before other road surfaces (Correct answer)
- They are always steeper than regular roads
- They have lower speed limits
- Their pavement is rougher
Correct answer: They freeze before other road surfaces
Cold air circulates above and below a bridge deck, so it ices over before ordinary roadways do.
WA DMV Defensive Driving Techniques 3
When driving on wet Washington roads, how should you adjust your following distance?