Tennessee Driver License: Your Vehicle and the Safety Belt Laws

28 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Your Vehicle and the Safety Belt Laws. Free, no account needed.

1. A driver adjusts the seat so their chest sits only about 6 inches from the steering wheel hub. What is the main danger of sitting this close?

The seat belt will no longer lie across the hips correctly
The steering wheel interlock will engage automatically
The air bag will not have room to inflate at all
The air bag can strike the driver's chin or face instead of the chest

Answer: D — The air bag can strike the driver's chin or face instead of the chest

The body should stay 10 to 12 inches from the wheel; closer than that, a deploying air bag can strike the chin or face rather than the chest.

2. How should a head restraint be positioned to protect against whiplash?

Level with the back of the head
Adjusted only after the side mirrors are set
Tilted forward toward the back of the neck
As low as possible so it does not block rear visibility

Answer: A — Level with the back of the head

The restraint should sit level with the back of the head to prevent whiplash.

3. A driver has carefully adjusted both side mirrors and the rearview mirror before changing lanes. What should they still do before turning the wheel?

Tap the brakes to signal other drivers first
Widen the mirror angle until the side mirrors overlap the rearview image
Nothing further, since properly adjusted mirrors remove all blind spots
Turn their head to check for vehicles the mirrors cannot show

Answer: D — Turn their head to check for vehicles the mirrors cannot show

Mirrors never eliminate every blind spot, so a head check is still required before turning or changing lanes.

4. Why is a 9-and-3-o'clock hand position on the steering wheel recommended over holding the wheel higher up near the top?

It keeps the arms out of the path of a deploying air bag
It allows hand-over-hand steering to be avoided entirely
It is required for the steering wheel interlock to disengage
It reduces steering effort on power-steering vehicles

Answer: A — It keeps the arms out of the path of a deploying air bag

Hands at 9 and 3 with slightly bent elbows keep the arms clear of the air bag's deployment path.

5. While driving downhill in a manual-transmission car, a driver shifts into neutral and lets the car coast to save fuel. What is true about this?

It is illegal, since coasting in neutral is prohibited
It is recommended only for automatic transmissions
It is a legal and recommended way to save fuel on descents
It is legal only if the driver also rides the clutch

Answer: A — It is illegal, since coasting in neutral is prohibited

Coasting in neutral is explicitly illegal, regardless of the reason.

6. For ordinary day-to-day driving, which steering technique is recommended for keeping both hands on the wheel at all times?

Push-pull steering
One-hand palming
Counter-steering
Hand-over-hand steering

Answer: A — Push-pull steering

Push-pull steering keeps both hands on the wheel throughout the movement and is recommended for everyday driving.

7. A driver reaches for the key while the vehicle is still moving and turns it all the way to the lock position. What happens?

The parking brake automatically engages
The steering wheel interlock engages and locks the wheel
The engine shuts off but steering remains normal
The four-way flashers activate as a safety warning

Answer: B — The steering wheel interlock engages and locks the wheel

Turning the ignition to lock while moving triggers the steering wheel interlock, locking the wheel.

8. A driver turns on low-beam headlights during the day even though visibility is fine. Compared with the same vehicle with its headlights off, how far away can other drivers see it?

About four times the distance
About half again the distance
About twice the distance
About the same distance

Answer: C — About twice the distance

In daylight a vehicle with its headlights on is visible at twice the distance of one without them.

9. What is the most common type of crash on Tennessee roads?

Rear-end collisions
Rollovers
Side-impact collisions at intersections
Head-on collisions

Answer: A — Rear-end collisions

Rear-end collisions are identified as the most common crash type in Tennessee.

10. How close should a car come to the curb when parking alongside it?

Within 6 inches
Within 18 inches
Within 24 inches
Within 12 inches

Answer: B — Within 18 inches

The standard is to stop within 18 inches of the curb.

11. While backing out of a parking space and looking through the rear window, a driver wants the rear of the car to move to the right. Which way should they turn the steering wheel?

Left, since backing reverses normal steering
Right, the same direction as when driving forward
The wheel should be held at 6 o'clock and not turned
It does not matter as long as they creep slowly

Answer: B — Right, the same direction as when driving forward

Steering direction while backing works the same as going forward: turn the wheel right to go right.

12. Which action follows the manual's advice for avoiding carbon monoxide poisoning?

Warm the engine up in a closed garage before driving off
Close the fresh-air vent when stuck in congested traffic
Rely on the smell of exhaust as a warning that levels are rising
Run the heater in a parked car with the windows closed

Answer: B — Close the fresh-air vent when stuck in congested traffic

Closing the fresh-air vent in congested traffic is one of the listed precautions. The manual forbids running the engine in a closed garage and using the heater or air conditioner in a parked car with the windows closed, and carbon monoxide is odorless, so smell is no warning.

13. A driver wants to mount a screen on the dashboard that stays visible while the vehicle is moving. Which use of that screen is allowed?

A navigation display
A live social media feed
A screen mirroring a passenger's phone
Streaming a video for entertainment

Answer: A — A navigation display

Video screens visible to the driver while moving are prohibited, but navigation, vehicle information, and camera displays are exceptions.

14. A driver is pulled over and ticketed only because they were not wearing a seat belt, with no other traffic violation involved. Is this allowed?

No, seat belt violations can only be added to another ticket
No, only child-restraint violations allow a stop on their own
Yes, officers may stop and ticket drivers solely for belt or child-restraint violations
Yes, but only for drivers under 21

Answer: C — Yes, officers may stop and ticket drivers solely for belt or child-restraint violations

Belt and child-restraint violations are enforceable on their own, without any other offense needed.

15. A driver holding a learner permit has a 15-year-old sibling riding in the back seat. Is the back-seat passenger required to buckle up?

Yes, but only if the vehicle lacks a booster seat
No, back-seat belts are only required for passengers under 4 feet 9 inches
No, back-seat belt laws only apply to the driver's own children
Yes, because passengers 4 through 17 must buckle up in back when the driver holds a learner permit or intermediate license

Answer: D — Yes, because passengers 4 through 17 must buckle up in back when the driver holds a learner permit or intermediate license

When the driver holds a learner permit or intermediate license, back-seat passengers aged 4 through 17 must be belted.

16. A father is driving with his unbuckled 10-year-old in the back seat, and no other adult is in the car. Who is held responsible, and what is the fine?

The vehicle's registered owner, fined $200
The driver, fined $50
No one, since back-seat belts are optional for children over 8
The child, with no fine since minors cannot be fined

Answer: B — The driver, fined $50

The driver is responsible for unbelted children under 16 and can be fined $50, unless a non-driving parent or guardian is present.

17. A parent drives with their 5-year-old, who is under 4 feet 9 inches, riding without any car seat or booster. What level of offense is this?

A Class A misdemeanor with possible jail time
A Class C misdemeanor requiring a class on transporting children
A Class B misdemeanor with a $200 fine
A civil infraction with a warning only

Answer: B — A Class C misdemeanor requiring a class on transporting children

Failing to properly restrain a child under 9 or under 4 feet 9 inches is a Class C misdemeanor requiring a class on transporting children.

18. A newborn weighing 8 pounds is being brought home from the hospital. What type of car seat must be used?

A rear-facing seat
A forward-facing child seat
The adult seat belt alone, since the child is small enough
A belt-positioning booster

Answer: A — A rear-facing seat

Children under one year old or under 20 pounds must ride rear-facing.

19. A 2-year-old weighing 28 pounds is riding in the car. What kind of restraint is appropriate?

A forward-facing child seat
A booster seat with the seat belt
The adult seat belt alone
A rear-facing seat only

Answer: A — A forward-facing child seat

Children one through three years old and over 20 pounds ride forward-facing in a child seat.

20. A 6-year-old who is 4 feet 2 inches tall is riding in the car. What restraint should this child use?

A belt-positioning booster seat with the seat belt
A rear-facing seat
The adult seat belt without a booster
A forward-facing child seat

Answer: A — A belt-positioning booster seat with the seat belt

Children four through eight under 4 feet 9 inches ride in a belt-positioning booster with the seat belt.

21. A child using only the adult seat belt has the shoulder belt crossing near the neck and the lap belt riding up onto the stomach. What does this indicate should be done?

The shoulder belt should be routed behind the child's back
The child should switch to a forward-facing child seat instead
The child should return to a booster seat
The belt is fitted correctly for a growing child

Answer: C — The child should return to a booster seat

If the belt rides the stomach or face instead of the pelvis and collarbone, the child should go back to a booster.

22. By roughly what percentage do lap and shoulder belts reduce the risk of fatal injury for front-seat occupants?

20 percent
90 percent
45 percent
65 percent

Answer: C — 45 percent

Lap and shoulder belts cut the risk of fatal injury to front-seat occupants by 45 percent.

23. An unbelted occupant is ejected from a vehicle in a crash. According to the manual, how much likelier are they to be killed?

Eight times as likely to be killed
No likelier than if they had stayed inside
Twice as likely to be killed
Four times as likely to be killed

Answer: D — Four times as likely to be killed

The manual puts ejected occupants at four times likelier to be killed. The one-in-eight figure is the share of ejected occupants who die, not a multiplier.

24. In a side-impact crash, which direction do unbelted occupants and loose objects tend to move?

They stay in place due to friction
Straight upward against the roof
Away from the point of impact
Toward the point of impact

Answer: D — Toward the point of impact

In a side impact, everything unbelted slides toward the crash point rather than away from it.

25. Why should children age 12 and under generally ride in the back seat rather than the front?

It is required only when a booster seat is present
Rear-seat belts are more comfortable for smaller bodies
Air bags pose a severe risk to children in that age group
Front air bags do not function unless an adult is detected

Answer: C — Air bags pose a severe risk to children in that age group

Air bags are a severe risk to children 12 and under, so they belong in the back seat.

26. A parent wants to let their 4-year-old ride in the bed of a pickup truck for a short trip on a state highway. Is this legal?

Yes, as long as the truck stays under 20 mph
No, it is illegal for a child under 6 to ride in a pickup bed
Yes, if an adult also rides in the bed with the child
No, but only on interstate highways specifically

Answer: B — No, it is illegal for a child under 6 to ride in a pickup bed

It is illegal for a child under 6 to ride in a pickup bed, with no exception for staying under a certain speed.

27. A driver leaves the engine running and goes into a store, leaving their 5-year-old alone in the car in a shopping center parking lot. What offense could this be?

A civil infraction with no criminal charge
A Class B misdemeanor with a $200 fine for a first offense
A Class C misdemeanor requiring a parenting class
A Class A misdemeanor with a $500 fine for a first offense

Answer: B — A Class B misdemeanor with a $200 fine for a first offense

Knowingly leaving a child under 7 unattended with the engine running is a Class B misdemeanor, with a $200 fine for a first offense and $500 after.

28. On a 73-degree day, about how hot can the inside of an SUV become after just 10 minutes with the windows closed?

100 degrees
120 degrees
80 degrees
90 degrees

Answer: A — 100 degrees

On a 73-degree day, an SUV's interior can reach 100 degrees in just 10 minutes.