Ohio: Speed & following distance — Part 2 Practice Test
Questions in this part include: “What is reaction time?” · “How do you begin to determine a four-second following distance?”
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "Ohio Driver Manual" (HSY 7607 10/25 (October 2025)), Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
All 19 questions in this practice test
Take the test above first, then use this list to study. Tap “Show answer” to see the correct answer and explanation.
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What is reaction time?
- The time and distance it takes you to recognize the need to stop
- The time and distance it takes for your brakes to stop the vehicle
- The time it takes another driver to respond to your turn signal
- The time and distance to move your foot from the gas pedal and begin braking
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Correct answer: The time and distance to move your foot from the gas pedal and begin braking
Reaction time is the time and distance it takes you to move your foot from the gas pedal and begin applying the brakes.
Source: Ohio Driver Manual (HSY 7607 10/25 (October 2025)), page 31
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What is the average reaction time for a driver?
- 3 to 4 seconds
- 3/4 second to 1 second
- 1/4 second to 1/2 second
- 2 to 3 seconds
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Correct answer: 3/4 second to 1 second
The average driver has a reaction time of 3/4 second to 1 second.
Source: Ohio Driver Manual (HSY 7607 10/25 (October 2025)), page 31
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What is braking distance?
- The time and distance it takes your brakes to slow and stop a vehicle
- The time and distance it takes you to recognize the need to stop
- The time and distance it takes to move your foot to the brake pedal
- The distance between your bumper and the vehicle ahead
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Correct answer: The time and distance it takes your brakes to slow and stop a vehicle
Braking distance is the time and distance it takes for your brakes to slow and stop a vehicle.
Source: Ohio Driver Manual (HSY 7607 10/25 (October 2025)), page 31
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At 50 mph on dry pavement with good brakes, about how far can it take to stop?
- About 50 feet
- About 300 feet
- About 158 feet
- About 225 feet
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Correct answer: About 158 feet
At 50 mph on dry pavement with good brakes, it can take about 158 feet to stop.
Source: Ohio Driver Manual (HSY 7607 10/25 (October 2025)), page 31
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How does your speed affect your stopping distance?
- Speed changes the distance only on wet roads
- The faster you travel, the more time and distance you need to stop
- The faster you travel, the less distance you need to stop
- Speed has no effect when you have good brakes
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Correct answer: The faster you travel, the more time and distance you need to stop
The faster you are traveling, the more time and distance is needed to stop.
Source: Ohio Driver Manual (HSY 7607 10/25 (October 2025)), page 31
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What minimum following distance should you try to keep behind the vehicle ahead, in vehicle lengths?
- One vehicle length for every 5 miles per hour of travel
- Two vehicle lengths regardless of speed
- One vehicle length for every 20 miles per hour of travel
- One vehicle length for every 10 miles per hour of travel
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Correct answer: One vehicle length for every 10 miles per hour of travel
The manual says to keep a minimum following distance of one vehicle length for every 10 miles per hour of travel.
Source: Ohio Driver Manual (HSY 7607 10/25 (October 2025)), page 31
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What minimum following distance, in time, does the manual say to keep between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead?
- Two seconds
- Six seconds
- Four seconds
- Eight seconds
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Correct answer: Four seconds
The manual says to always try to keep a minimum following distance of four seconds between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead.
Source: Ohio Driver Manual (HSY 7607 10/25 (October 2025)), page 31
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How do you begin to determine a four-second following distance?
- Start counting when the vehicle ahead passes a stationary point, such as a sign, until you reach it
- Start counting when the vehicle ahead brakes, and count until it comes to a stop
- Count the seconds between using your turn signal and completing your lane change
- Start counting when your own front bumper passes a sign, until the vehicle ahead does
Show answer
Correct answer: Start counting when the vehicle ahead passes a stationary point, such as a sign, until you reach it
You start counting when the rear of the vehicle ahead passes a stationary point and count the seconds it takes you to reach that same point.
Source: Ohio Driver Manual (HSY 7607 10/25 (October 2025)), page 31
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When are you following too closely?
- When you pass the stationary point after counting four seconds
- When you can see the driver ahead in the mirror
- When you can count to two before the next sign
- When you pass the stationary point before counting four seconds
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Correct answer: When you pass the stationary point before counting four seconds
You are following too closely if you pass the stationary point before counting four seconds.
Source: Ohio Driver Manual (HSY 7607 10/25 (October 2025)), page 31
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What should you do if you find you are following too closely?
- Flash your headlights at the driver ahead
- Reduce speed and then count again at another stationary point
- Stay at the same speed and check again a mile later
- Move onto the shoulder until traffic clears
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Correct answer: Reduce speed and then count again at another stationary point
The manual says to reduce speed and count again at another stationary point to check the new following interval.
Source: Ohio Driver Manual (HSY 7607 10/25 (October 2025)), page 31
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Which of these is a situation in which you should increase your following distance?
- When weather such as fog, rain, or snow limits visibility, or at night
- When driving on a dry, well-lit road in clear daylight conditions
- When following a small passenger car at a low speed on the street
- When you are stopped at a red traffic light in an intersection
Show answer
Correct answer: When weather such as fog, rain, or snow limits visibility, or at night
The manual says to increase your following distance when visibility is lessened or limited by weather, or at night.
Source: Ohio Driver Manual (HSY 7607 10/25 (October 2025)), page 31
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Which of these vehicles should you follow with extra distance?
- A small passenger car at low speed
- A parked vehicle with its lights off
- A large vehicle such as a truck or bus
- A motorcycle moving at a steady speed
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Correct answer: A large vehicle such as a truck or bus
The manual says to increase following distance behind large vehicles such as trucks, buses, recreational vehicles, and vehicles pulling a trailer.
Source: Ohio Driver Manual (HSY 7607 10/25 (October 2025)), page 31
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Why should you increase your following distance behind buses and vehicles carrying hazardous materials?
- They always drive slower than the speed limit
- They are required to stop at railroad crossings
- They cannot use their brake lights
- They are not allowed to change lanes
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Correct answer: They are required to stop at railroad crossings
You should leave more space behind vehicles that are required to stop at railroad crossings, such as buses or vehicles carrying hazardous materials.
Source: Ohio Driver Manual (HSY 7607 10/25 (October 2025)), page 31
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Why should you avoid driving next to other vehicles for long periods of time?
- The other driver may report you to the police for doing it
- It uses much more fuel than driving directly behind the vehicle
- It is against Ohio law to travel side by side with another vehicle
- You may be in the driver's blind spot and have less space to avoid a crash
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Correct answer: You may be in the driver's blind spot and have less space to avoid a crash
Driving beside other vehicles for long can put you in the driver's blind spot and reduces the space you may need to avoid a crash.
Source: Ohio Driver Manual (HSY 7607 10/25 (October 2025)), page 32
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What should you avoid doing to keep a space cushion at your side?
- Driving in the right-hand lane
- Staying in the middle of your lane
- Crowding the center line lane marking
- Using the shoulder to pass
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Correct answer: Crowding the center line lane marking
The manual says to avoid crowding the center line lane marking and to keep as much space as possible between you and oncoming traffic.
Source: Ohio Driver Manual (HSY 7607 10/25 (October 2025)), page 32
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What should you do to make space for a vehicle entering a multiple-lane or limited access roadway?
- Move over a lane or adjust your speed
- Speed up to stay ahead of it
- Stay next to it in the same lane
- Stop in the lane until it enters
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Correct answer: Move over a lane or adjust your speed
The manual says to make space for entering vehicles by moving over a lane or adjusting your speed.
Source: Ohio Driver Manual (HSY 7607 10/25 (October 2025)), page 32
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To whom should you give extra space at your sides?
- Only tractor-trailers and buses
- Only vehicles that are parked
- Only vehicles traveling below the speed limit
- Pedestrians, especially children, and bicyclists
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Correct answer: Pedestrians, especially children, and bicyclists
The manual says to give extra space to pedestrians, especially children, and to bicyclists.
Source: Ohio Driver Manual (HSY 7607 10/25 (October 2025)), page 32
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When a tractor-trailer is passing you, how can you leave a little more space?
- Move toward the center line of your lane to stay farther away
- Move to the outside portion of your lane, away from the tractor-trailer
- Slow down sharply and brake to a complete stop on the road
- Speed up so that you stay beside the tractor-trailer longer
Show answer
Correct answer: Move to the outside portion of your lane, away from the tractor-trailer
When a passing vehicle is a tractor-trailer, you leave more space by moving to the outside portion of your lane, away from the tractor-trailer.
Source: Ohio Driver Manual (HSY 7607 10/25 (October 2025)), page 32
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How can you help the driver behind you keep a safe following distance?
- Keep a steady speed, signal early, and leave more space ahead before slowing
- Tap your brakes repeatedly to warn the driver who is behind you
- Drive slowly in the left lane at all times to set the pace for all
- Speed up every time the driver behind you starts to get too close
Show answer
Correct answer: Keep a steady speed, signal early, and leave more space ahead before slowing
You can help keep the driver behind you at a safe distance by keeping a steady speed, signaling in advance, and keeping more space in front before slowing or turning.
Source: Ohio Driver Manual (HSY 7607 10/25 (October 2025)), page 32