New Jersey Driver License: Defensive Driving, Weather and Emergencies

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Defensive Driving, Weather and Emergencies. Free, no account needed.

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1. A driver assumes most crashes are caused by mechanical failure and focuses on maintaining the car rather than watching traffic. What actually causes most crashes?

  1. Mechanical failure
  2. Poor road design
  3. Driver error
  4. Bad weather

Answer: C — Driver error

Most crashes are attributed to driver error rather than mechanical, design, or weather causes.

2. A driver notices another vehicle weaving through traffic, tailgating, and running red lights. After pulling over to a safe spot, how should the driver report it?

  1. Flash the high beams at the vehicle to warn the driver
  2. Call (888) SAF-ROAD or #77 from a cell phone
  3. Call 911 while continuing to follow the vehicle
  4. Report it in person at the nearest police station

Answer: B — Call (888) SAF-ROAD or #77 from a cell phone

Aggressive driving should be reported by calling the dedicated hotline number after pulling over safely.

3. At an intersection with a red light, when may a driver turn right?

  1. Only when a green arrow is displayed
  2. Only after coming to a full stop and yielding
  3. After slowing down and yielding, without a full stop
  4. At any time as long as no cross traffic is visible

Answer: B — Only after coming to a full stop and yielding

A right turn on red is only permitted after a complete stop and yielding.

4. What does Maggie's Law establish about driving while dangerously fatigued?

  1. It requires a mandatory rest stop every two hours on state highways
  2. It requires commercial drivers to log sleep hours before every trip
  3. It makes knowingly driving while impaired by lack of sleep recklessness under the vehicular homicide law
  4. It fines drivers found driving more than 12 hours without a break

Answer: C — It makes knowingly driving while impaired by lack of sleep recklessness under the vehicular homicide law

Maggie's Law classifies knowingly driving while sleep-impaired as recklessness under the vehicular homicide law.

5. On a long, boring rural highway at night, a driver notices his attention narrowing and his eyes fixing on the road ahead without registering details. What helps avoid this kind of highway hypnosis?

  1. Resting every two hours, sharing the driving, and not staring at one thing too long
  2. Increasing speed slightly to stay engaged with the road
  3. Turning the radio up and opening a window for fresh air
  4. Focusing intently on one fixed point ahead to stay alert

Answer: A — Resting every two hours, sharing the driving, and not staring at one thing too long

Highway hypnosis is avoided by resting regularly, sharing driving duties, and not staring fixedly at one point.

6. A driver picks a fixed roadside sign and starts counting when the vehicle ahead passes it, reaching the sign herself after two seconds. What does this tell her?

  1. She is following too closely and needs more space
  2. Her following distance is safe under any conditions
  3. She should speed up to close the following gap
  4. The rule only applies in bad weather, so it doesn't matter

Answer: A — She is following too closely and needs more space

Reaching the fixed point in under three seconds means the following distance is unsafe.

7. Traveling at 40 mph on a dry road, about how much following distance does the car-length rule of thumb call for?

  1. A flat 40 feet regardless of speed
  2. About 6 car lengths (roughly 120 feet)
  3. About 2 car lengths (roughly 40 feet)
  4. About 4 car lengths (roughly 80 feet)

Answer: D — About 4 car lengths (roughly 80 feet)

The rule of one car length per 10 mph means 40 mph calls for about 4 car lengths.

8. Rain begins falling on the roadway. How many seconds of following distance should a driver keep at minimum?

  1. Four seconds or more
  2. Two seconds
  3. Three seconds
  4. Six seconds

Answer: A — Four seconds or more

On wet roads the normal three-second rule should be stretched to four seconds or more.

9. Driving 30 mph on packed snow, about how many car lengths of following distance are recommended?

  1. 6
  2. 3
  3. 9
  4. 18

Answer: C — 9

The packed-snow following distance at 30 mph is about 9 car lengths.

10. Another vehicle pulls out to pass you on a two-lane road. What should you do?

  1. Speed up slightly to help the pass finish faster
  2. Flash your high beams to signal the driver to hurry
  3. Move toward the center line to give the passing car more room
  4. Stay in your lane and slow down to make the pass easier

Answer: D — Stay in your lane and slow down to make the pass easier

When being passed, staying in lane and slowing down makes the pass easier and safer.

11. At roughly what speed do a vehicle's tires begin riding on a film of water on a wet road, reducing contact with the pavement?

  1. About 45 mph
  2. About 35 mph
  3. About 25 mph
  4. About 55 mph

Answer: B — About 35 mph

Hydroplaning begins at about 35 mph; 55 mph is the higher threshold where tires may leave the road entirely.

12. Braking on an icy road in a vehicle without ABS, the wheels lock up. What should the driver do?

  1. Shift into neutral and coast to a stop without touching the brake
  2. Keep firm steady pressure on the pedal without releasing it
  3. Release the brake and reapply with slightly less pressure, repeating as needed
  4. Press the brake harder to force the wheels to grip

Answer: C — Release the brake and reapply with slightly less pressure, repeating as needed

With conventional brakes, locked wheels call for releasing and reapplying with progressively less pressure.

13. Roads are covered in a mix of ice and packed snow. Which equipment gives the best traction in this condition?

  1. All-season tires
  2. Studded tires
  3. Snow tires
  4. Chains

Answer: D — Chains

Chains give the best traction on ice and deep or packed snow, unlike snow tires which help in snow but not on ice.

14. A driver stops to warm up the car with no traffic, repairs, inspection, or emergency involved. How long can the vehicle idle before it becomes a violation?

  1. Three consecutive minutes
  2. Thirty consecutive minutes
  3. Ten consecutive minutes
  4. One consecutive minute

Answer: A — Three consecutive minutes

Idling is limited to three consecutive minutes outside of the listed exceptions.

15. Driving through thick fog, which lights should a driver use?

  1. Parking lights only
  2. High beams for maximum reach
  3. Low beams and fog lights
  4. Hazard lights while continuing to drive

Answer: C — Low beams and fog lights

Fog calls for slowing down and using low beams and fog lights, following the markings and other vehicles' lights.

16. Driving on low beams at night with a 1.5-second reaction time, about how many feet does it take to stop from 40 mph?

  1. 75 feet
  2. 135 feet
  3. 211 feet
  4. 302 feet

Answer: C — 211 feet

The stopping distance at 40 mph on low beams at night is about 211 feet.

17. Visibility on the road drops due to haze. At what visibility distance should a driver turn on headlights?

  1. Under 500 feet
  2. Under 1,000 feet
  3. Under 200 feet
  4. Under 300 feet

Answer: A — Under 500 feet

Headlights should be used whenever visibility drops under 500 feet.

18. A pedestrian steps into an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection with no traffic signals. Who has the right-of-way?

  1. Whoever reaches the middle of the intersection first
  2. The pedestrian, since crosswalk right-of-way applies whether marked or not
  3. The driver, since the crosswalk isn't marked
  4. Neither, since there's no traffic control at the intersection

Answer: B — The pedestrian, since crosswalk right-of-way applies whether marked or not

Pedestrians always have the right-of-way in a crosswalk, whether it is marked or not.

19. Driving through the city at 25 mph, about how far ahead should a driver be scanning the road?

  1. About 30 seconds ahead, roughly a mile
  2. About 12 seconds ahead, roughly a block
  3. About 3 seconds ahead, roughly a car length
  4. About 6 seconds ahead, roughly half a block

Answer: B — About 12 seconds ahead, roughly a block

City driving calls for scanning at least 12 seconds ahead, about a block at 25 mph.

20. Approaching a construction area on the highway, how far before the actual work might an advance warning sign or flashing vehicle lights appear?

  1. Up to 5 miles
  2. Up to one-half mile
  3. Up to 1,000 feet
  4. Up to 100 feet

Answer: B — Up to one-half mile

Advance warning of a work zone can appear up to one-half mile before the work begins.

21. The rear of a car begins to skid to the left on an icy road. What should the driver do?

  1. Accelerate slightly to pull the car straight
  2. Turn the wheel to the right, away from the direction of the skid
  3. Brake firmly to slow down and regain traction
  4. Ease off the gas and turn the wheel in the direction the rear is skidding, straightening as control returns

Answer: D — Ease off the gas and turn the wheel in the direction the rear is skidding, straightening as control returns

Recovering from a skid means easing off the gas and steering into the direction the rear is skidding.

22. A vehicle drifts off the pavement onto the shoulder at 40 mph. What is the correct way to get back on the road?

  1. Brake hard immediately, then steer back onto the pavement
  2. Accelerate to power the vehicle back up onto the road surface
  3. Steer sharply back onto the road right away
  4. Ease off the gas, stay on the shoulder, and once under 25 mph turn the wheel one-quarter turn toward the road

Answer: D — Ease off the gas, stay on the shoulder, and once under 25 mph turn the wheel one-quarter turn toward the road

The safe recovery is to slow gradually on the shoulder and steer back only once under 25 mph.

23. Smoke starts pouring from under the hood while driving, suggesting an electrical fire. What should the driver do?

  1. Pour water on the engine to cool it down
  2. Pop the hood immediately and smother the flames with a blanket
  3. Keep driving to the nearest gas station for help
  4. Get everyone out and away from the car and call for help, without trying to fight the fire

Answer: D — Get everyone out and away from the car and call for help, without trying to fight the fire

Car fires should never be fought directly; occupants should get away and call for help.

24. A car stalls on railroad tracks and a train is visibly approaching. What should the occupants do?

  1. Run straight away from the tracks, parallel to the train's direction
  2. Run alongside the tracks in the direction the train is heading
  3. Stay in the car with seatbelts fastened for protection from debris
  4. Get out immediately and run at a 45-degree angle away from the tracks, toward the train

Answer: D — Get out immediately and run at a 45-degree angle away from the tracks, toward the train

Running at a 45-degree angle away from the tracks and toward the train avoids flying debris from the collision.

25. A tire blows out while driving on the highway. What should the driver do?

  1. Brake hard immediately to stop before losing control
  2. Pump the brakes gently while steering hard toward the shoulder
  3. Hold the wheel firmly, keep straight, lift off the gas, and coast to a safe spot without braking
  4. Accelerate briefly to stabilize the car, then brake

Answer: C — Hold the wheel firmly, keep straight, lift off the gas, and coast to a safe spot without braking

A blowout calls for holding the wheel firmly, easing off the gas, and coasting without braking.

26. The gas pedal sticks to the floor and the car keeps accelerating. What should the driver do?

  1. Pull the pedal up with a foot while continuing to steer normally
  2. Shift to neutral, steer off the road, and shut off the engine
  3. Turn the ignition to the lock position immediately to stop the engine
  4. Pump the gas pedal repeatedly while braking to free it

Answer: B — Shift to neutral, steer off the road, and shut off the engine

A stuck gas pedal calls for shifting to neutral, steering off the road, and shutting off the engine; turning the key to lock while moving would lock the steering.

27. A vehicle is about to strike you from behind and there is open room ahead with no other hazards. Which response fits best among stopping, turning, or speeding up?

  1. Stop immediately regardless of your position on the road
  2. Brake hard even if it means going onto a soft shoulder
  3. Turn sharply into the oncoming lane to avoid impact
  4. Speed up to clear the danger, then slow down once safely ahead

Answer: D — Speed up to clear the danger, then slow down once safely ahead

When about to be hit from behind with room ahead, speeding up and then slowing once clear is the recommended response.

28. A collision is unavoidable and a driver must choose what to hit. Which is the safer choice?

  1. An oncoming vehicle rather than one moving away from you
  2. A stationary object rather than one moving in the same direction
  3. A head-on hit, since it distributes force evenly
  4. Something that gives way, like bushes, rather than something hard

Answer: D — Something that gives way, like bushes, rather than something hard

Hitting something that gives way, like bushes, is safer than hitting something hard.

29. Another vehicle is about to strike you from the side. What should you do?

  1. Brace between the wheel and seat and press your head against the headrest
  2. Grip the wheel tightly and be ready to steer if the car spins
  3. Shield your face with your arms
  4. Throw yourself across the seat

Answer: B — Grip the wheel tightly and be ready to steer if the car spins

For a side impact, the recommended response is to grip the wheel tightly and be ready to steer if the car spins.

30. A crash causes $700 in damage and no injuries, and police do not file a report. What reporting step does the law require?

  1. Send a written report to the MVC within 10 days
  2. No report is required since no one was injured
  3. Wait 30 days to see if repairs exceed $1,000 before reporting
  4. Call (888) SAF-ROAD to file the report

Answer: A — Send a written report to the MVC within 10 days

When damage exceeds $500 and police do not file a report, a written report must go to the MVC within 10 days.

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