Winter Driving Quiz

 The following is a quiz to test your knowledge of the "Do's and Don'ts of responsible winter driving.   But, remember the first question for driving in inclement weather must always be - "Is it safe to drive at all?"

1.) Should you over-inflate or under-inflate your tires, during cold winter months?

a)    Over-inflate, because tire pressure is lower in cold temperatures and you need more air. 

b)    Under-inflate, because you need the added traction that comes from having more tire tread on the rode. 

c)    Neither. 

2) If caught in snow storm and you have to walk in the street, do you?

a)    Walk in the street in the same direction as the traffic. 

b)    Walk in the street facing oncoming traffic. 

3) If your car is equipped with anti-lock brakes and you are skidding on snow or ice, do you

a)    Pump the breaks repeatedly because it will keep you from going into a skid.  

b)    Pump the breaks repeatedly because that is how you engage the anti-lock feature. 

c)    Apply firm and continuous pressure to the breaks. 

4) The usefulness of daytime running lights has never been established as reducing the number of traffic accidents. 

True or False?

5) What percentage of adult pedestrians struck by cars has blood alcohol levels of 0.10 percent or higher? 

a)    25 percent 

b)    35 percent 

c)    50 percent 

6) Where are pedestrians more likely to be hit by a car? 

a)    At an intersection.

b)    At another point in the road.

7) What day of the week are you most likely to get into a traffic accident? 

a)    Tuesday 

b)    Friday 

c)    Saturday.

8) When sliding into a skid, is it best to? 

a) Turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid.  

b) Turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction of the skid.  

c)    Turn the steering wheel straight ahead.  

9) When approaching a snowy or icy hill, should you? 

a)    Accelerate to reach to top as quickly as possible.

b)    Come to a complete stop and then begin the assent.

c)    Slow up before reaching the hill and make the assent slowly and steadily.

10) When heading down a snowy or icy hill, should you?

a)    Come to a complete stop and then make your descent.

b)    Shift into a lower gear and make a slow descent.

c)    Make your decent using your brakes to slow you down.

ANSWERS

1-c  Neither.  Tires should always be maintained at the level recommended by the manufacturer.  Under-inflation and over inflation can actually increase the incidence of tire failure and skidding.   Checking them at least twice a month will help you keep an eye on the loss of air pressure that occurs naturally.  Always check them "cold" - that is, before you drive them.

2-b  Always walk facing the oncoming traffic.  You will be better able to alert oncoming traffic to your whereabouts and be able to see and react if any cars veer into your path.  It is also advisable to wear bright clothing or wrap a bright object, such as a red scarf or windbreaker, around you.

3-c  If you have anti-lock brakes, apply firm and continuous pressure.  Anti-lock brakes automatically pump the brake many times a second so any pumping you do will only impair their effectiveness.  If your car does not have anti-lock brakes, you can mimic that effect by pumping the brakes.

4-False  It is as important to be seen as it is to see.  According to every report and study published, the use of daytime lights reduces multiple-vehicle accidents by as much as 11 percent and left-turn crashes by as much as 37 percent.  With daytime multiple-vehicle accidents representing nearly half the police-reported crashes in the U.S., their use could have a profound impact on traffic safety.  If your car is not already equipped with daytime running lights, turning on your headlights during the day could help keep you from becoming a traffic accident statistic.  In New York State it is already the law to use your headlights any time you are also using your windshield wipers in inclement weather.

5-c  50 percent.  Just as it does with accidents between two vehicles, alcohol impairment plays a large role among pedestrians who are hit by vehicles.  As a result, it is important for drivers to be on guard and not assume the movements of pedestrians will be rational.  For pedestrians it means that when it is unsafe to drink and drive, it may also be unsafe to walk without assistance from a responsible friend. 

6-b  More pedestrians are struck by cars at points in the road than intersections.  The main reasons are the number of pedestrians who "dart out" from between parked cars and the limited amount of response time a driver may have to react.   Additionally, although drivers should always be alert and aware, they are often not expecting a pedestrian to suddenly appear and are caught off guard.

7-c  Saturday.  By a wide margin Saturday has the most accidents.  More frequent evening driving on weekends and the consumption of alcohol are major contributing factors, the lowest days for traffic accidents are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  

8-a  Turn in the direction of the skid.  It may seem counterintuitive at first and even a little scary when doing it, but turning into the skid is your best chance to regain some traction.  Turning in any other direction will only reduce the traction.  

9-c  You'll have the best chance of safely making it up a hill by approaching at a slow speed and maintaining that slow speed at a steady rate.  

10-b Shifting into a lower gear before making your descent and maintaining a slow steady speed, rather than using your brakes, will improve traction. 

Answers are based on information from Tire industry Safety Council, U-S-Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics & Analysis, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  Test is from Response Insurance.