Javascript is not enabled.

Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.

Skip to content

Sign up for AARP’s twice-monthly Travel newsletter to plan trips with confidence.

Content starts here
CLOSE ×

Search

Popular Searches

Games

Car rental

AARP daily Crossword Puzzle

Hotels with AARP discounts

Life Insurance

AARP Dental Insurance Plans

Travel

Suggested Links

Help Show me my account info Change my Address How do I contact AARP? Where is my membership card? How do I get a digital card?
Red Membership Card

AARP MEMBERSHIP — $12 FOR YOUR FIRST YEAR WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR AUTOMATIC RENEWAL

Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

120x30-AARP-logo-red
Join
Renew

AARP en Español

Join
Renew
Leaving AARP.org Website

You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

Continue Cancel
bf48f6cf-d5f4-43f9-9aaf-fa9bdf81d872

Quiz: Are You a Defensive Driver?

Take this quiz to find out how much you know about the rules of the road

By

John R. Quain,

 
AARP
Published April 11, 2011
/ Updated April 12, 2024
a blurry windshield covered in rain with a in front with its brakes on
Getty Images

Driving defensively means staying alert and being ready to expect the unexpected. But there's plenty that has changed about the rules of the road since most of us passed our first driver's test. Brush up on your defensive driving smarts with this 10-question quiz.

Question 1 of 10

Roundabouts are found to result in _____ crashes than traditional intersections?

Roundabouts — also known as traffic circles — result in slower speeds and fewer crashes, especially fewer right-angle and head-on crashes that often result in injuries or even deaths, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Federal Highway Administration.

Question 2 of 10

How much room should there be between your chest and the steering wheel?

Position your seat to keep at least 10 inches between your chest and the center of the steering wheel, says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) This is to help protect you in case of an airbag deployment and creates an optimal driving position (arms extended, elbows slightly bent).

Question 3 of 10

When driving, how much distance should you keep between your car and the vehicle in front of you?

A 3-second following distance (or more!) will help you spot possible driving hazards and give you time to react, says the National Safety Council. If it is raining or conditions are slippery, add even more time.

Question 4 of 10

When backing up your car and it has a rearview camera, what should you do?

Even if your car has a rearview camera, you should walk around your vehicle before you get in and start reversing because the camera can miss something. While backing up, monitor the camera and continue to glance in your side mirrors, Garmin says. 

Question 5 of 10

While waiting to turn left at an intersection, your wheels should be pointed …

At an intersection while waiting to turn left, point your wheels straight ahead. This way, if you are struck from behind, your car won’t move into oncoming traffic, says the New York Department of Motor Vehicles.
Image Alt Attribute

AARP Membership— $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal

Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

Join Now

Discover AARP Members Only Access

Join AARP to Continue

Already a Member?

Question 6 of 10

Which of the following is a false statement about making a left-hand turn at an intersection?

When making a left turn, look in all directions and scan around your vehicle for potential obstacles, such as pedestrians, bicyclists or other vehicles, says the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.

Question 7 of 10

Which of the following is a false statement about blind spots?

All vehicles — including high-tech ones — have blind spots, according to the I Drive Safely driving school. Trucks can have particularly dangerous blind spots, according to the USDOT.

Question 8 of 10

When two or more drivers arrive at the same time at an intersection with a four-way stop, who has the right-of-way to proceed first?

If you are stopped at a stop sign and you are going to go straight through the intersection and another driver is stopped at the cross street on your right, you must yield the right-of-way to the other driver, according to the New York Department of Motor Vehicles.  

Question 9 of 10

Older drivers are typically safe, cautious drivers, but they’re not perfect. What is the most common traffic violation committed by drivers 65+?

Failure to yield the proper right-of-way is the most common traffic violation in crashes involving older drivers, according to the IIHS.

Question 10 of 10

Which of the following types of medications are potentially dangerous in a driving situation?

To help avoid drug-impaired driving, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your medications and be aware of how your body feels or reacts to the drugs and supplements you are taking, says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 

You have unanswered questions. Please go back and complete those questions to finish the quiz.

Take the AARP Smart Driver online course and you could receive a discount on your car insurance!

0 Correct
0 Incorrect

AARP Value & Member Benefits

  • person under hood red car
    MEMBERS ONLY
    Gas & Auto Services

    Valvoline Instant Oil Change

    15% off drive-thru, stay-in-your-car oil changes

    Learn More
    See more Gas & Auto Services offers >
  • blue background, salted pretzel and cinnamon sugar pretzel
    MEMBERS ONLY
    Restaurants

    Auntie Anne’s

    10% off in-store, in-app and online orders

    Learn More
    See more Restaurants offers >
  • older woman driving car with younger woman in the passenger seat
    Gas & Auto Services

    AARP Auto Buying Program powered by TrueCar

    Find a car with the safety features you want and get upfront pricing information

    Learn More
    See more Gas & Auto Services offers >
  • couple on couch looking at tablet
    Health & Wellness

    AARP® Staying Sharp®

    Activities, recipes, challenges and more with full access to AARP Staying Sharp®

    Learn More
    See more Health & Wellness offers >