Louisiana Driver License: Belts, Child Seats, Air Bags, Steering and the Seasons

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Belts, Child Seats, Air Bags, Steering and the Seasons. Free, no account needed.

1. In a two-vehicle collision, each car experiences an equal and opposite force. What happens to the lighter of the two vehicles?

It changes velocity less because it has less mass to overcome
It changes velocity more and suffers more damage
Both cars change velocity by the same amount since the force is equal
It is unaffected because the equal forces cancel out

Answer: B — It changes velocity more and suffers more damage

Even though the force is equal and opposite, the lighter car changes velocity more and suffers more.

2. In the sequence of collisions that occur when a car crashes, what happens right after the vehicle itself strikes an object?

Internal organs strike bones inside the body
An unbelted occupant is thrown into the windshield, dashboard or wheel
The brakes lock and the tires lose grip
The vehicle's air bags deploy

Answer: B — An unbelted occupant is thrown into the windshield, dashboard or wheel

After the car hits something, the unbelted occupant is thrown into the windshield, dashboard or wheel, and only then do internal organs strike bones.

3. Why does stopping a bowling ball require far more force than stopping a marble moving at the same speed?

Momentum is mass times velocity, so the heavier object carries more momentum
The marble decelerates faster because of its round shape
Momentum depends only on velocity, not on mass
The bowling ball has more surface area for friction to act on

Answer: A — Momentum is mass times velocity, so the heavier object carries more momentum

Momentum equals mass times velocity, so a heavier object at the same speed takes more force to stop.

4. What is described as the best overall protection against crash injury?

Relying on the vehicle's air bags
Driving a heavier vehicle
Staying at least 10 inches from the steering wheel
Buckling up every time, obeying the speed limit and driving safely

Answer: D — Buckling up every time, obeying the speed limit and driving safely

Buckling up, obeying the speed limit and driving safely are identified as the best protection.

5. Who must wear a seat belt under the mandatory belt law for cars, vans and pickups?

Only the driver and front passenger
Only passengers under 18
All passengers, front and back
Only the driver

Answer: C — All passengers, front and back

The mandatory belt law covers all passengers, front and back, in cars, vans and pickups.

6. How should the lap portion of a seat belt be worn for best protection?

Across the soft abdomen
Snug across the hips
Across the ribs alongside the shoulder strap
Loosely across the waist for comfort

Answer: B — Snug across the hips

The lap belt should sit snug across the hips, since hip bones absorb impact better than the abdomen.

7. Which drivers does the manual identify as among the least likely to buckle up?

Daytime highway commuters and their passengers
Parents driving with young children in the car
Teens, pickup drivers and night drivers
Older drivers making short daytime trips

Answer: C — Teens, pickup drivers and night drivers

This group is specifically named as least likely to buckle up.

8. About what percentage of crash deaths occur at speeds under 40 mph?

80 percent
95 percent
50 percent
25 percent

Answer: A — 80 percent

Eighty percent of deaths happen under 40 mph, showing that low speeds are still deadly for unbelted occupants.

9. A person is ejected from a vehicle during a crash. How much more likely are they to die compared to someone who stays inside?

25 times
2 times
50 to 80 times
3 to 4 times

Answer: A — 25 times

Being thrown from the vehicle makes death 25 times likelier.

10. A 3-year-old child is being placed in a vehicle. What type of restraint is appropriate for that age?

A booster seat with restraints
A forward-facing seat
A lap-shoulder belt alone
A rear-facing seat

Answer: B — A forward-facing seat

Children age 2 to 4 use a forward-facing seat.

11. Where is the safest place in a vehicle to seat a child?

On a belted adult's lap
The middle of the back seat
The front passenger seat with the air bag switched off
Directly behind the driver

Answer: B — The middle of the back seat

The middle of the back seat is identified as the safest position.

12. Why is the old 10-and-2 steering hand position now discouraged?

A deploying air bag can throw the hands into the head and injure the wrist or thumb
It increases fuel consumption from poor grip
It violates proper hand-over-hand parking technique
It reduces steering leverage during tight turns

Answer: A — A deploying air bag can throw the hands into the head and injure the wrist or thumb

Because air bags deploy at 150 to 200 mph, hands at 10 and 2 can be thrown into the head, breaking a wrist or severing a thumb.

13. A pickup truck has little or no back seat, and the driver needs to carry a 10-year-old in the front passenger seat. What feature makes this possible safely?

An automatic seat recline system
A reinforced dashboard
A lap belt mounted on the door
A passenger air bag on-off switch

Answer: D — A passenger air bag on-off switch

Pickups and sports cars with small or no rear seats have a passenger air bag on-off switch for carrying a child 12 or under in front.

14. Which of these is classified as a passive rather than an active safety feature?

Adaptive cruise control
Automatic emergency braking
Blind spot warning
A laminated windshield that stays in one piece

Answer: D — A laminated windshield that stays in one piece

Laminated windshields that stay in one piece are passive safety features that protect during a crash, unlike active features that help prevent one.

15. What is the minimum tire tread depth considered acceptable?

1/16 inch
1/32 inch
1/8 inch
1/4 inch

Answer: A — 1/16 inch

Tires should have tread of at least 1/16 inch.

16. Checking the mirrors and windows for cracks, the license plate's readability, and the wiper blades belongs to which maintenance schedule?

Daily
Weekly
Before every trip
Monthly

Answer: D — Monthly

These checks are listed as part of the monthly maintenance routine.

17. Why should a driver never turn the ignition key to the lock position while the vehicle is moving?

It locks the steering wheel
It disables the headlights
It sets off the car alarm
It drains the battery instantly

Answer: A — It locks the steering wheel

Turning to lock while moving locks the steering.

18. When adjusting the seat before driving, how far should the driver sit from the steering wheel to leave room for the air bag?

At least 15 inches
At least 20 inches
At least 10 inches
At least 5 inches

Answer: C — At least 10 inches

Drivers should sit at least 10 inches from the wheel to leave air bag clearance.

19. Which choices matter most for fuel efficiency?

Vehicle occupancy and the number of passengers
Route, speed and tuning
Idling and air conditioning use
Load and traffic congestion

Answer: B — Route, speed and tuning

Route, speed and tuning are identified as mattering most for fuel efficiency.

20. Keeping tires properly inflated can improve fuel mileage by up to about how much?

1 percent
10 percent
25 percent
3.3 percent

Answer: D — 3.3 percent

Proper tire inflation is worth up to 3.3 percent in mileage.

21. A driver needs tires that grip well in snow and ice but accepts that they'll wear faster on dry pavement. Which type fits this need?

Performance tires
All-season tires
Run-flat tires
Winter tires

Answer: D — Winter tires

Winter tires handle snow and ice but are damaged by dry roads.

22. Where should a driver look to find the correct tire pressure for their vehicle?

In the back of the owner's manual index
On the driver's door jamb sticker
On the fuel filler cap
On the tire sidewall

Answer: B — On the driver's door jamb sticker

The tire itself shows only a pressure range to check against; the correct pressure for the vehicle is on the driver's door jamb sticker.

23. A rear-wheel-drive car's rear tires lose grip in a curve and the back end starts sliding outward. What is the correct response?

Accelerate to regain traction
Gently reduce the steering angle and ease off the gas
Add more steering into the turn
Slam the brakes to stop the slide

Answer: B — Gently reduce the steering angle and ease off the gas

For oversteer, slamming the brakes makes it worse; the correct response is to gently reduce the steering angle and ease off the gas.

24. A front-wheel-drive car's front tires lose grip and the car doesn't turn as sharply as intended. What should the driver do?

Switch to hand-over-hand steering
Add more steering angle
Lift off the gas and brake to shift weight onto the front tires
Accelerate through the turn

Answer: C — Lift off the gas and brake to shift weight onto the front tires

For understeer, adding steering makes it worse; lifting off the gas and braking shifts weight onto the front tires.

25. Which steering method is recommended for low-speed situations such as parking and intersections?

Evasive action steering
One-hand steering
Hand-over-hand
Hand-to-hand (push/pull)

Answer: C — Hand-over-hand

Hand-over-hand is used at low speeds such as intersections and parking.

26. If a driver doubles their speed going into a corner, what happens to the cornering force acting on the car?

It quadruples
It is cut in half
It stays the same
It doubles

Answer: A — It quadruples

Cornering force rises with speed squared, so doubling speed quadruples the force.

27. Why is spring rain especially hazardous for traction?

It mixes with oil on the road into a slick film
It washes the road clean, so traction drops only in heavy downpours
It fills potholes so they cannot be seen or avoided
It causes tire pressure to spike suddenly

Answer: A — It mixes with oil on the road into a slick film

Spring rain mixes with accumulated oil into a slick film, requiring slower speeds and more following distance.

28. As outdoor temperature rises in warm weather, what happens to tire pressure?

It stays constant regardless of temperature
It rises only once temperatures exceed 100 degrees
It drops steadily as the rubber expands
It rises about one pound per 10 degrees Fahrenheit

Answer: D — It rises about one pound per 10 degrees Fahrenheit

Tire pressure rises about one pound per 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

29. A car begins hydroplaning in the rain. What is the correct response?

Turn sharply to regain control
Steer straight and gently release the gas until the tires grip
Accelerate to push through the water
Brake firmly to slow down quickly

Answer: B — Steer straight and gently release the gas until the tires grip

When hydroplaning, steer straight and gently release the gas until the tires regain grip.

30. Which locations are most likely to freeze first and stay icy in cold weather?

Parking lots near buildings
Bridges, overpasses and shaded areas
Open straightaways
Intersections with traffic signals

Answer: B — Bridges, overpasses and shaded areas

Bridges, overpasses and shade are expected to freeze first and stay icy.