Section 5

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Questions and Answers

What is one way vision affects your driving?

Hear horns and sirens

Judge distances (correct)

Use your phone while driving

Make quick decisions

Why is hearing important for driving?

To hear horns, sirens, motorcycles, or screeching tires (correct)

To listen to audiobooks

To take phone calls

To enjoy music while driving

What physical and mental capabilities are required for driving?

Be alert and have a long attention span

Be physically strong and have quick reflexes

Be able to text and drive simultaneously

Be alert and quickly decide the correct course of action (correct)

How can certain medications affect your driving?

Make you sleepy or unsafe Signup and view all the answers

What are physicians required to report to the DMV?

Patients at least 14 years old with medical conditions affecting driving ability Signup and view all the answers

Why is it critical to keep both hands on the wheel?

To better control of the vehicle Signup and view all the answers

When should you use hand-over-hand steering?

When turning at low speeds, parking, or recovering from a skid Signup and view all the answers

When should you signal while driving?

Whenever possible, especially when planning to change direction or merge with traffic Signup and view all the answers

When should you use your hand-and-arm signals for turning?

At least 100 feet before turning Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using your vehicle's horn?

To alert oncoming traffic on narrow mountain roads with limited visibility Signup and view all the answers

When should you dim your high-beam headlights?

Within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle Signup and view all the answers

In what conditions should you use your low-beam headlights?

When it is too dark to see from 1,000 feet away Signup and view all the answers

How can you warn drivers behind you of a collision or hazard ahead?

Turn on your emergency flashers Signup and view all the answers

What should you do if you need to stop due to vehicle trouble?

Pull off the road if possible and turn on emergency flashers Signup and view all the answers

What is illegal to use while driving that can affect your hearing?

A headset or earplugs in both ears Signup and view all the answers

When should you use your vehicle's emergency flashers?

To warn drivers behind you of a collision or hazard ahead Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Vision and Driving

Good vision is essential for driving, as it helps to notice hazards in different lighting, judge distances, adjust to traffic speed, and read road signs.

Hearing and Driving

Hearing is crucial for driving, as it helps to hear horns, sirens, motorcycles, or screeching tires, and alerts you to hazards.
It is illegal to wear a headset or earplugs in both ears while driving.

Fatigue and Drowsiness

Fatigue and drowsiness can affect vision and increase reaction time to hazards while driving.

Physical and Mental Capabilities

Drivers must be physically and mentally capable of being alert and quickly deciding the correct course of action in any traffic situation, including unexpected ones.

Medications and Driving

Certain prescription and over-the-counter medications can make you unsafe to drive, making you sleepy or affecting your ability to drive.
Know the effects of the medications you take before driving.

Physician Reporting

Physicians are required to report patients at least 14 years old with medical conditions affecting driving ability to the DMV.
This includes conditions such as lapses of consciousness.

Steering Techniques

Keeping both hands on the wheel whenever possible provides better control of the vehicle.
The hand-to-hand (push/pull) steering method involves keeping hands at 9 and 3 o'clock or 8 and 4 o'clock, without crossing hands over the middle of the wheel.
Hand-over-hand steering is used when turning at low speeds, parking, or recovering from a skid.
One-hand steering is used when turning while backing up to see behind, operating vehicle controls requiring a hand removal from the wheel.

Signaling

Signal at least 100 feet before turning, before every lane change, at least five seconds before changing lanes on a freeway, and before pulling next to or away from the curb.
Signal when you do not see other vehicles, and almost through an intersection if turning shortly after crossing.

Hand-and-Arm Signals

Left turn: Arm straight out of the window
Right turn: Forearm sticking out upwards
Slow or stop: Forearm sticking out downwards

Using Your Horn

Use your horn to avoid collisions, and to alert oncoming traffic on narrow mountain roads with limited visibility.

Headlights

Dim your high-beam headlights within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle, and within 300 feet of a vehicle you are following.
Use your headlights in the following conditions: too dark to see from 1,000 feet away, 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise, adverse weather requiring windshield wipers, clouds, dust, smoke, or fog obstructing vision, mountain roads and tunnels, road signs indicating headlights must be on, and to help other drivers see you, especially when the sun is low.

Warning Other Drivers

Warn drivers behind you of a collision or hazard ahead by turning on emergency flashers, lightly tapping the brake pedal three or four times, and using a hand signal when slowing and stopping.

Vehicle Trouble

If you need to stop because of vehicle trouble, turn on emergency flashers or use turn signals, pull off the road if possible, stop where visible from behind if unable to pull off the road, and avoid stopping just over a hill or around a curve. Call for emergency roadside assistance and stay in the vehicle.

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Test your knowledge of driving safety, covering important topics such as vision, hearing, and fatigue. Learn how to stay safe on the road!