BMV Safe Driving and Hazard Awareness 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the recommended minimum following distance under normal driving conditions?
- 1-second rule
- 2-second rule
- 3-second rule (Correct answer)
- 5-second rule
Correct answer: 3-second rule
Indiana recommends a minimum 3-second following distance under normal conditions, increasing in bad weather or heavy traffic.
Question 2: When driving in dense fog, you should use:
- High-beam headlights
- Hazard lights only
- Low-beam headlights (Correct answer)
- No lights — they reflect back
Correct answer: Low-beam headlights
Low-beam headlights should be used in fog because high beams reflect off the fog and reduce visibility further.
Question 3: What is the first action you should take if you experience a tire blowout at highway speed?
- Brake hard immediately
- Grip the steering wheel firmly and ease off the accelerator (Correct answer)
- Turn sharply to the shoulder
- Shift into park immediately
Correct answer: Grip the steering wheel firmly and ease off the accelerator
During a blowout, grip the wheel firmly, ease off the gas gradually, and steer straight before carefully moving to the shoulder.
Question 4: What is hydroplaning?
- Skidding on ice due to frozen brakes
- A vehicle's tires losing contact with the road due to a layer of water (Correct answer)
- Excessive vibration from uneven tires
- Sudden loss of steering in high winds
Correct answer: A vehicle's tires losing contact with the road due to a layer of water
Hydroplaning occurs when tires ride on a thin film of water instead of the road surface, causing loss of traction and steering control.
Question 5: When driving in rain, you should increase your following distance to at least:
- 2 seconds
- 3 seconds
- 4 seconds
- 6 seconds (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 6 seconds
In wet conditions, stopping distances increase significantly, so you should double your following distance to at least 6 seconds.
Question 6: What should you do first if your brakes feel like they are fading or failing?
- Open the door and drag your foot
- Pump the brakes rapidly to build pressure (Correct answer)
- Shift into reverse to slow down
- Turn off the engine immediately
Correct answer: Pump the brakes rapidly to build pressure
Rapidly pumping conventional brakes can build hydraulic pressure; for ABS-equipped vehicles, apply firm steady pressure and steer to safety.
BMV Safe Driving and Hazard Awareness 1
What is the recommended minimum following distance under normal driving conditions?