PA DMV Safe Driving Practices 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When driving at night in Pennsylvania, when should you dim your high beams?
- When within 500 feet of oncoming traffic or 300 feet when following another vehicle (Correct answer)
- Only when the other driver flashes their lights
- Never, high beams should always be used at night
- When within 1 mile of another vehicle
Correct answer: When within 500 feet of oncoming traffic or 300 feet when following another vehicle
Dim high beams when approaching oncoming traffic or following another vehicle to prevent blinding other drivers and reducing visibility.
Question 2: What should you do if you miss your exit on a Pennsylvania highway?
- Continue to the next exit and safely turn around (Correct answer)
- Stop and back up on the shoulder
- Make a U-turn across the median
- Reverse in the travel lane
Correct answer: Continue to the next exit and safely turn around
Never stop, back up, or make a U-turn on a highway. Continue to the next exit and use it to safely return to your intended route.
Question 3: In Pennsylvania, what is the proper way to share the road with large trucks?
- Avoid blind spots, give extra following distance, and do not cut in front after passing (Correct answer)
- Follow closely behind trucks to draft for fuel savings
- Pass trucks on the right whenever possible
- Honk to alert trucks of your presence
Correct answer: Avoid blind spots, give extra following distance, and do not cut in front after passing
Large trucks have significant blind spots on all four sides, need more stopping distance, and make wide turns. Stay visible and give them extra room.
Question 4: What should you do if your brakes fail while driving in Pennsylvania?
- Shift to a lower gear, pump the brakes, use the parking brake, and look for a safe area (Correct answer)
- Turn off the engine immediately
- Open the door and jump out
- Close your eyes and hold on
Correct answer: Shift to a lower gear, pump the brakes, use the parking brake, and look for a safe area
If brakes fail, try pumping them to build pressure, downshift for engine braking, gradually apply the parking brake, and steer toward a safe stopping area.
Question 5: When merging onto a Pennsylvania highway, what is the correct technique?
- Use the acceleration lane to match highway speed, then merge smoothly (Correct answer)
- Stop at the end of the ramp and wait for a gap
- Merge at whatever speed you are traveling
- Force your way in since merging traffic has right-of-way
Correct answer: Use the acceleration lane to match highway speed, then merge smoothly
The acceleration lane is designed to let merging drivers reach the speed of highway traffic before smoothly entering the travel lanes.
Question 6: In Pennsylvania, what is the safest action when approaching a curve?
- Slow down before entering the curve, then maintain steady speed through it (Correct answer)
- Brake during the curve
- Accelerate through the curve
- Maintain highway speed
Correct answer: Slow down before entering the curve, then maintain steady speed through it
Reduce speed before entering a curve. Braking in a curve can cause loss of traction, while accelerating may cause the vehicle to leave the road.
PA DMV Safe Driving Practices 2
When driving at night in Pennsylvania, when should you dim your high beams?