Test Your Knowledge Of The 5 Smith Keys For Defensive Driving

The correct answer is "All of the above". This means that all of the distractions mentioned in the options, such as cell phones, unsecured items in your vehicle, and beautiful scenery, can cause drivers to not have the big picture while driving. These distractions can divert their attention away from the road and impair their ability to see and react to potential hazards, increasing the risk of accidents.

The correct answer is "All of the above" because having your seatbelt properly fastened is important in all of the mentioned situations. Whether you are driving around in the work center parking lot, driving slowly, or taking the gearshift out of park, it is crucial to have your seatbelt on for safety reasons.

The correct answer is "All of the above" because all the mentioned methods, flashing lights, friendly hand signals, and tapping the horn, can be used as a way to establish eye contact with someone. These actions can grab the attention of the person and indicate that you want to make eye contact or communicate with them.

Staying in packs or herds while driving is risky because if one driver has an emergency, it can affect all the other drivers in the group. This can lead to a chain reaction of emergencies and increase the likelihood of accidents. Additionally, driving in a pack reduces the time available to react to unexpected situations, as there is less space between vehicles. It also reduces the space cushion and limits the number of escape routes available, making it harder to avoid potential hazards on the road. Therefore, all of the given options contribute to the riskiness of this practice.

The Smith System recommends backing slowly as a technique because it allows the driver to have better control and visibility while maneuvering. Backing slowly reduces the risk of accidents or collisions, as it gives the driver more time to react and make necessary adjustments. It also allows the driver to concentrate on their surroundings and use their mirrors effectively to check for any potential obstacles or hazards. Backing rapidly or at a higher speed increases the chances of losing control and not being able to react in time, which can lead to accidents.

When staring ahead for more than 2 seconds, you rob yourself of seeing vehicles around us, seeing situations that are occurring beside us, and seeing vehicles behind us. This means that by not paying attention to our surroundings, we are potentially missing important information and putting ourselves and others at risk on the road.

Peripheral vision serves multiple purposes while driving. It helps to pick up movement around your vehicle, allowing you to be aware of any potential hazards or other vehicles approaching from the sides. It also picks up color and light around your vehicle, providing additional information about the surroundings and potential obstacles. Additionally, peripheral vision acts as an "Early Warning System" by alerting you to any sudden changes or movements in your surroundings, allowing you to react quickly and prevent accidents. Therefore, all of the given options are correct.

Leaving a vehicle length space cushion behind the crosswalk or balk line when stopped at an intersection is advantageous because if the vehicle is hit from the rear, it reduces the likelihood of being pushed into the crosswalk or intersection. This ensures the safety of pedestrians crossing the road and prevents any potential accidents or collisions in the intersection.

Making eye contact is most closely related to the Smith Driving Key "Make sure they see you" because maintaining eye contact with other drivers can help ensure that they are aware of your presence on the road. This can help prevent accidents and promote safer driving by increasing communication and awareness between drivers.

Building and maintaining a "Space Cushion" around our vehicle is most closely related to the Smith Driving Key "Leave yourself an out". This key emphasizes the importance of always having an escape route or space to maneuver in case of any unexpected situations on the road. By leaving ourselves an out, we ensure that we have enough distance between our vehicle and other vehicles, allowing us to react and avoid potential collisions or hazards effectively.

The statement suggests that if one needs to go back somewhere, the best time to do it is immediately upon arrival. This implies that going back at the earliest opportunity allows for the completion of any necessary tasks or the retrieval of forgotten items. It also indicates that delaying the return may result in inconvenience or missed opportunities. Therefore, the correct answer is "True."

Tailgaters are drivers who follow too closely behind the vehicle in front of them, which can lead to dangerous situations on the road. The habits of tailgaters include sudden braking and riding the brake, as they are often not able to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead. This behavior can cause stress while driving and increases the chances of a rear-end collision. Therefore, the correct answer is "All of the above" as it encompasses all the mentioned habits of tailgaters.

The Smith Driving Key "Keep your eyes moving" is related to eye movement because it emphasizes the importance of continuously scanning the road and checking mirrors to be aware of potential hazards and changing traffic conditions. By keeping your eyes moving, you can anticipate and react to any potential dangers, maintain situational awareness, and make informed driving decisions.

As a general rule, it is recommended to check your mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds. This frequency allows you to stay aware of your surroundings and potential hazards on the road. By checking your mirrors regularly, you can monitor the movement of other vehicles, ensure proper lane positioning, and be prepared for any sudden changes in traffic conditions. This practice promotes safe driving and helps minimize the risk of accidents.

The recommended eye-lead time is 15 seconds. This means that you should look down the road at least 15 seconds ahead. This allows you to anticipate any potential hazards or obstacles and gives you enough time to react and make necessary adjustments while driving. By maintaining a sufficient eye-lead time, you can enhance your overall awareness and safety on the road.

In poor weather conditions, such as heavy rain, snow, or fog, the visibility on the road is reduced. This reduced visibility makes it harder to see other vehicles and obstacles on the road, increasing the risk of accidents. Allowing a greater following distance in these conditions gives the driver more time to react and brake if necessary, reducing the chances of a collision. Therefore, it is advisable to allow a greater following distance in both poor weather conditions and reduced visibility situations.

When entering an intersection, it is important to look left, right, left to watch for oncoming traffic. This approach allows the driver to scan for any vehicles that may be approaching from both directions before proceeding. By checking left first, the driver can ensure that there are no immediate threats from the left side. Then, by looking right, they can confirm that it is safe to proceed without any oncoming traffic. Finally, by checking left once again, they can double-check for any potential hazards before entering the intersection. This method helps ensure the safety of both the driver and other vehicles on the road.

It is important to constantly move our eyes while driving to maintain situational awareness and anticipate potential hazards. By scanning the road every 2 seconds, we can effectively check our surroundings for any changes, such as other vehicles, pedestrians, or obstacles. This helps us to make informed decisions and react promptly to any unexpected situations, ensuring our safety and the safety of others on the road.

The best way to avoid a backing accident is to avoid backing when possible. This means trying to find alternative methods of maneuvering your vehicle, such as pulling through a parking space instead of backing out. This reduces the risk of colliding with other vehicles or pedestrians that may be in your blind spots. By avoiding backing whenever you can, you minimize the chances of a potential accident occurring.

By aiming high and looking down the road, you will be able to see construction zones sooner, allowing you to adjust your driving accordingly and avoid any potential delays or hazards. Additionally, you will be able to spot hazardous conditions before other drivers, giving you more time to react and potentially prevent accidents. Moreover, this approach allows you to pace traffic, saving gas and reducing wear on your vehicle. Therefore, all of the options mentioned above are benefits that can be gained by aiming high and looking down the road.

"Seeing all around us, checking the front, sides, and rear" is related to the Smith Driving Five Key "Get the big picture". This key emphasizes the importance of constantly scanning the road and being aware of your surroundings from all angles. By checking the front, sides, and rear, drivers can anticipate potential hazards, make informed decisions, and maintain situational awareness. This helps to prevent accidents and allows for better decision-making on the road.

The Smith Driving Key "Aim high in steering" is related to eye lead time because it emphasizes the importance of looking ahead and scanning the road as far as possible. By aiming high in steering, drivers are encouraged to focus their gaze on the horizon rather than just directly in front of the vehicle. This allows them to anticipate potential hazards, make better decisions, and have more time to react to any unexpected situations. It helps to maintain a safe distance from other vehicles and be prepared for any road conditions or obstacles that may come their way.

The recommended space to leave when stopped behind a vehicle is 1 car length. This allows for enough space to maneuver and react in case the vehicle in front moves suddenly. It also provides a safe distance to prevent a collision in case of a rear-end accident.

The proper following distance while traveling is 5 seconds, at any speed. This means that you should maintain a distance from the vehicle in front of you that allows you to have at least a 5-second gap between you and that vehicle. This distance provides you with enough time to react and stop safely in case of any sudden changes or emergencies on the road. It is a recommended practice to ensure safe driving and prevent accidents.