How's Your Car Safety Knowledge?
Most of us think of ourselves as safe and responsible drivers. Yet automobile
accidents are the leading cause of death for people ages 5 to 32 and the leading cause
of
injury for people of all ages. You can't be responsible for other drivers, but it
is wise
to brush up on your own auto safety skills. To test your knowledge, try your hand
at this
true/false quiz.
1. In a severe accident, you have a better chance of surviving if
you are not wearing a seat belt and are thrown from the car.
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correct answer is
Studies show that
many crash victims who did not wear a seat belt and were killed after being thrown
out
of the car would have lived—often with only minor injuries—if they had been restrained
within the car.
2. Driving when you are sleepy can be as dangerous as driving
when you are drunk.
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correct answer is
The National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that more than 90,000 car crashes
involve sleepy drivers . If you are tired, don't drive. If you become drowsy while
driving, pull over to a safe place and take a short nap, or get out of the car and
stretch your legs at a rest area. Drinking coffee can help, but only for about 30
minutes. Turning up your radio and rolling down the windows are not effective wake-up
methods.
3. If someone is following your car too closely, you should
gently tap your brakes as a warning.
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correct answer is
Tapping your brakes
could cause a collision. Instead, change lanes or pull over to the side of the road
and
let the other driver pass you.
4. If your car has an air bag, you don't need to wear a seat
belt.
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correct answer is
An air bag is a
supplemental restraint only. For it to work properly, you must wear your seat belt.
Many
air bags inflate in head-on crashes, and some vehicles now have air bags for side
impacts. Seat belts, on the other hand, can protect you in every type of collision.
5. Never buckle a child safety seat into the front seat of a car
that has an air bag.
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correct answer is
In a crash, an air
bag inflates almost instantly at high speeds and can slam into the back of a rear-facing
infant seat (where the baby's head rests) or into the upper body of an older child
in a
forward-facing safety seat. The safest place for a child 12 and under is in the
backseat.
6. If an adult is not wearing a seat belt and is sitting too
close to the dashboard, they could be in danger if the air bag inflates.
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correct answer is
Unbuckled
passengers of all ages can be injured or killed by an inflating air bag. Adults and
teens riding in the front seat should buckle up and sit at least 10 inches away from
the
dashboard. Kids 12 years and younger should ride buckled up in the backseat.
7. If you take your eyes off the road for 5 seconds to read a
text while driving 55 mph, your car will travel about the length of 2 football fields
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correct answer is
Your car will
travel about the length of one football field
8. The instruction booklet for a child safety seat tells you
everything you need to know about installing the seat safely in your vehicle.
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correct answer is
To install the seat
safely in your car, read both the safety seat manual and your car's owner's manual.
Depending on your vehicle, you may need a supplemental belt, metal locking clip, or
other device for a snug fit. Register your child's car seat with the manufacturer
so you
can be alerted if it is recalled for safety reasons.
9. Once a child reaches 4 feet in height, they can ride safely in
a car with a regular seat belt.
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correct answer is
Children who have
reached 4 ft, 9 inches in height are safest when riding in a booster seat and secured
by
a lap and shoulder belt. The booster seat raises the child up so that the belt fits
across theire body correctly and snugly. This provides the best protection.
10. If your car doesn't have an air bag, your children can ride
safely in the front seat.
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correct answer is
Air bag or not,
the backseat is still the safest place for children of any age to ride.
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