Getting out of the way, by changing lanes or pulling over when it is safe, lets an aggressive driver go on without involving you; staring, gesturing, or blocking the lane can turn the encounter into a confrontation.
Highway hypnosis sets in when you gaze at the road ahead for a long time without actively scanning your surroundings, leaving you dull and trance-like. In that state you may react too late when traffic in front of you slows or stops.
Teens need eight or more hours of sleep a night. A driver who is short on sleep responds more slowly and makes poorer decisions, which raises the chance of a crash.
Following too closely is a form of aggressive driving that can provoke road rage in the driver ahead and leaves you too little room to stop. It is also unsafe driving that can earn you a ticket.
Teen passengers tend to distract a young driver and can encourage risky behavior, so the chance of a crash goes up when teens ride together. That is why many states limit how many passengers newly licensed teens may carry.
Only rest cures drowsiness, so get off the road at a safe spot, such as a rest area, and take a break or a short nap. Coffee and loud music help only briefly, and a sleepy driver reacts slowly and makes poor decisions, much like a driver who has been drinking.
Holding a phone takes a hand off the wheel and pulls your eyes from the road, so a hands-free device is the safer way to talk. Many states also bar minors from using any phone while driving, except in certain emergencies.
Taking your eyes off the road and letting your mind drift from driving are both forms of distraction, and either one can lead to a crash. If something inside the car needs your attention, pull over somewhere safe first.
A tired driver reacts more slowly, thinks less clearly, and struggles to stay focused, which closely matches the impairment caused by drinking. Rest is the only real fix for fatigue.
Eating, drinking, or smoking while you drive takes at least one hand off the steering wheel and draws your eyes and attention away from the road, so the vehicle becomes harder to control.
Planned breaks, roughly every two hours or 100 miles, let you rest and are one of the best ways to stay alert on a long trip. It also helps to sleep well beforehand, share the driving with a companion, and avoid alcohol or medicines that cause drowsiness.
Reacting to a rude move can turn a close call into road rage or a crash. Stay calm, let the other driver go, and keep a safe distance; do not yell, make gestures, or flash your lights in return.
Minors are generally barred from using a cell phone at all while driving, even with a hands-free device, so the call should simply go unanswered. Calling police, fire or medical services in a real emergency is the usual exception.
Every question in this set has its own page with the correct answer and an explanation.
