Defensive Driving and Speed Management Flashcards
7 cards from real 7D practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Defensive Driving and Speed Management flashcards as text
Which factor is most consistently identified as the leading cause of school bus accidents?
Answer: Driver inattention or distraction
Driver distraction and inattention are the most common contributing factors in school bus accidents across safety studies.
When is a school bus driver permitted to use high-beam headlights?
Answer: Only when no oncoming or preceding vehicles are within 500 feet
High beams must be dimmed when within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle or when following another vehicle to avoid blinding other drivers.
When driving a school bus in heavy fog, the driver should:
Answer: Use low beams or fog lights and significantly reduce speed
High beams reflect off fog and worsen visibility; low beams or fog lights minimize glare while reduced speed allows more reaction time.
When approaching a curve with limited visibility (blind curve), a school bus driver should:
Answer: Reduce speed and remain in the proper lane
Reducing speed before a blind curve allows the driver time to react to hazards that only become visible as the vehicle rounds the bend.
What is 'target fixation' and why is it a hazard for school bus drivers?
Answer: Staring at a single hazard to the exclusion of surrounding dangers, risking steering toward it
Target fixation causes drivers to unconsciously steer toward whatever they are staring at, which can direct the vehicle directly into the hazard.
When driving a school bus in strong crosswinds, the driver should:
Answer: Grip the steering wheel firmly and reduce speed
School buses have large flat sides that catch wind like a sail; a firm grip and reduced speed help the driver maintain control against lateral forces.
Which of the following best describes the 'scanning' technique used in defensive driving?
Answer: Continuously sweeping the eyes across mirrors, gauges, and the road ahead
Scanning means keeping the eyes moving constantly across all information sources — mirrors, instruments, and the road ahead — to maintain full situational awareness.