Kentucky Driver License: Tires, Belts, Air Bags, Child Seats and Basic Driving

26 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Tires, Belts, Air Bags, Child Seats and Basic Driving. Free, no account needed.

1. How often should tire pressure be checked with a gauge, and under what tire condition?

Weekly, when the tires are warm
Every six months, when the tires are cold
Monthly, when the tires are cold
Monthly, right after highway driving

Answer: C — Monthly, when the tires are cold

Pressure should be checked monthly with tires cold, using the PSI listed on the driver's door jamb sticker.

2. A driver performs the penny test on a tire and can see all of Lincoln's head in the tread. What does this mean?

The tire should be rotated soon
The tire is too worn and must be replaced
The tire pressure is too low
The tire has plenty of tread left

Answer: B — The tire is too worn and must be replaced

If the entire head is visible, the tread is too shallow and the tire must be replaced.

3. Where does a driver find the correct PSI for a vehicle's tires?

The owner's manual cover page
The sticker inside the driver's door jamb
A sticker under the hood
The number molded on the tire's sidewall

Answer: B — The sticker inside the driver's door jamb

The correct PSI is printed on the sticker inside the driver's door jamb; the valve stem is only where the reading is taken.

4. About how far should a driver's chest be from the steering wheel when properly seated?

5 inches
20 inches
10 inches
15 inches

Answer: C — 10 inches

A properly adjusted seat leaves about 10 inches between the chest and the wheel.

5. A driver adjusts the left outside mirror by resting their head against the closed window until the rear edge of the vehicle barely shows. What does this setting accomplish?

It matches the mirror to the inside rearview mirror's field of view
It eliminates the need for head checks entirely
It adds 12 to 16 degrees of view and reduces blind spots
It centers the mirror on the rear window

Answer: C — It adds 12 to 16 degrees of view and reduces blind spots

This mirror adjustment technique adds 12 to 16 degrees of additional view on each side to reduce blind spots.

6. What is the primary purpose of the inside rearview mirror?

To frame and serve as the primary rear view through the rear window
To replace the need for outside mirrors
To show the area immediately behind the vehicle when backing
To check blind spots on the sides

Answer: A — To frame and serve as the primary rear view through the rear window

The inside mirror is the primary rear view and should frame the rear window. It does not show the area immediately behind the vehicle.

7. Why is it unlawful to hang objects from the mirror or place decals on the windshield?

They make the windshield harder to clear of snow, ice and frost
They interfere with air bag deployment
They void the vehicle's warranty
They block vision

Answer: D — They block vision

Decals and hanging objects are unlawful because they block the driver's vision.

8. Kentucky's seat belt law requires belts to be worn in vehicles manufactured after what year?

1981
1975
2000
1990

Answer: A — 1981

The belt law applies to the driver and passengers of vehicles made after 1981.

9. A driver is stopped by police solely because they are not wearing a seat belt, with no other traffic violation observed. Is this a valid stop under Kentucky law?

No, belt violations can only be cited alongside another offense
Yes, but only if the driver is under 18
No, only passengers can be stopped for belt violations, not drivers
Yes, because the belt law is primary enforcement

Answer: D — Yes, because the belt law is primary enforcement

Because the belt law is primary, an officer can stop a driver for a belt violation alone.

10. How much more likely is a person to survive a crash while wearing a seat belt inside the vehicle compared to being thrown out?

Five times more likely
Fifty times more likely
Ten times more likely
Two times more likely

Answer: A — Five times more likely

Survival odds are five times greater when staying inside the vehicle, which a seat belt helps ensure.

11. How should the lap portion of a seat belt be worn?

Snug and low across the hips
Under the arm and across the ribs
Loose across the stomach
High and tight across the waist

Answer: A — Snug and low across the hips

The lap belt should be snug and low across the hips so the wearer cannot slide out.

12. About how fast does an air bag deploy in a crash?

About one second
About two seconds
About one-twentieth of a second
About one-tenth of a second, slower than a blink

Answer: C — About one-twentieth of a second

Air bags deploy in about one-twentieth of a second, faster than a blink.

13. Where should a driver's hands rest on the steering wheel to avoid injury from air bag deployment?

Across the hub in the center of the wheel
Wherever is most comfortable, since air bags are unaffected by hand position
Underneath the wheel rim
On the outside of the wheel, never across the hub

Answer: D — On the outside of the wheel, never across the hub

Hands should stay on the outside of the wheel and never across the hub because of air bag deployment.

14. A parent wants to put a rear-facing child seat in the front passenger seat of a vehicle with an active passenger air bag. Is this safe?

Yes, as long as the seat is properly anchored
No, a rear-facing seat should never be placed in front of an active air bag
No, unless the child seat is installed in the middle of the front seat
Yes, if the child is under 40 inches tall

Answer: B — No, a rear-facing seat should never be placed in front of an active air bag

A rear-facing child seat should never be placed in front of an active passenger air bag; the factory switch should turn the bag off if one exists.

15. Where should children age 12 and under ride in a vehicle?

Anywhere, as long as they wear a seat belt
In the back seat, restrained by a belt or child restraint
In the front seat with the air bag disabled
In the front seat only if taller than 57 inches

Answer: B — In the back seat, restrained by a belt or child restraint

Children 12 and under should be seated in the back in a belt or child restraint.

16. A child is 45 inches tall and 6 years old. What is required for this child to ride in a vehicle?

No restraint is required for children over age 5
A regular seat belt only, since the child is over 40 inches
A child booster seat, since the child is under eight and between 40 and 57 inches
A federally approved child restraint system, since the child is 40 inches or shorter

Answer: C — A child booster seat, since the child is under eight and between 40 and 57 inches

A child under eight who is between 40 and 57 inches must ride in a booster seat.

17. What is the fine, including the Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund fee, for violating the child restraint law for a child 40 inches or shorter?

$50 plus a $10 fee
$100 plus a $25 fee
$50 only, with no additional fee
$25 only, with no additional fee

Answer: A — $50 plus a $10 fee

The violation brings a $50 fine plus a $10 Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund fee.

18. A child is 60 inches tall. Is a booster seat required for this child under Kentucky law?

Yes, unless the child is over 12 years old
No, a child taller than 57 inches needs no booster at any age
No, but a regular seat belt is not required either
Yes, all children under 16 need a booster seat

Answer: B — No, a child taller than 57 inches needs no booster at any age

A child taller than 57 inches needs no booster seat regardless of age.

19. When is a load on a vehicle considered properly secured?

When it is tied down with at least one rope
When it weighs less than the vehicle's rated capacity
When it is covered by any tarp, regardless of tie-down
When nothing can slide, shift, fall, sift onto the road or become airborne

Answer: D — When nothing can slide, shift, fall, sift onto the road or become airborne

A load is secure only when nothing can slide, shift, fall, sift onto the road, or become airborne.

20. Which of these is one of the questions a driver should ask before driving with a load?

Whether you would feel safe driving behind your own vehicle
Whether the tie-downs were inspected within the past month
Whether the load is visible in the inside rearview mirror
Whether the load exceeds the trailer's registered weight class

Answer: A — Whether you would feel safe driving behind your own vehicle

The pre-trip questions include whether anything could fall or blow out, whether the load is secured at the back, sides and top, what would happen under sudden braking, a bump or a collision, and whether you would feel safe driving behind your own vehicle.

21. Which driver assistance features does the manual name as ones you may not use on the driving test?

Lane keeping assistance and forward collision warning
Automatic emergency braking and blind spot warning
Backup camera and blind spot warning
Parking assist and cruise control

Answer: D — Parking assist and cruise control

Parking assist and cruise control are the features named as off-limits on the driving test.

22. A vehicle has lane keeping assistance and forward collision warning. What is the correct way to rely on these systems while driving?

Disable manual mirror checks since the system covers blind spots
Rely on them fully in rain, snow, ice, fog, hills and curves
Let the system fully control steering and braking so the driver can focus elsewhere
Stay engaged, still perform head checks, and use mirrors and cameras since these features assist but do not drive the vehicle

Answer: D — Stay engaged, still perform head checks, and use mirrors and cameras since these features assist but do not drive the vehicle

These features assist but do not drive the vehicle; drivers must stay engaged and continue head checks and mirror use.

23. Before starting a vehicle, what should the driver's right foot be doing?

Off the pedals entirely
On the clutch
On the brake
Resting on the accelerator

Answer: C — On the brake

To start the vehicle, the driver should place their right foot on the brake before turning the key.

24. Where should a driver's hands be placed on the steering wheel instead of the older 2 and 10 position?

3 and 9
11 and 1
6 and 12
4 and 8

Answer: A — 3 and 9

Hands at 2 and 10 are no longer recommended because of air bags; 3 and 9 is now recommended.

25. Why is the 2 and 10 hand position on the steering wheel no longer recommended?

It tires the arms on long drives
It makes steering in reverse harder
It forces the thumbs inside the rim of the wheel
Because of air bags

Answer: D — Because of air bags

The 2 and 10 position is discouraged specifically because of air bags.

26. When backing up a vehicle, where should the driver's left hand hold the steering wheel?

The 9 o'clock position
The 6 o'clock position
The 3 o'clock position
The 12 o'clock position

Answer: D — The 12 o'clock position

While backing, the left hand holds the wheel at the 12 o'clock position while looking through the rear window.