Rhode Island: Distractions, drowsiness and emotions — Part 1 Practice Test
Questions in this part include: “How does the Governor's message describe drowsy driving?” · “What happens to the chance of a crash when physical, mental, visual, and auditory distractions are combined?”
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "Rhode Island Driver’s Manual" (April 2024), Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
All 20 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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How does the Governor's message describe drowsy driving?
- Dangerous only when driving after midnight
- Extremely dangerous and to be avoided at all costs
- A minor risk compared with speeding on highways
- Safe on short trips if you drive slowly
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Correct answer: Extremely dangerous and to be avoided at all costs
The message says drowsy driving has proven to be extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.
Source: Rhode Island Driver’s Manual (April 2024), page 2
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According to the DOT Director's message, what does a good driver not do?
- Wear a seat belt on every trip
- Follow the posted speed limits
- Text and drive, or check electronic messages
- Respect pedestrians and other motorists
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Correct answer: Text and drive, or check electronic messages
The message says a good driver does not text and drive and does not check messages on an electronic device while driving.
Source: Rhode Island Driver’s Manual (April 2024), page 6
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What occurs when a driver’s attention drifts away from driving without having been influenced by a situation, event, or person?
- Inattention
- Distraction
- Drowsiness
- Road rage
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Correct answer: Inattention
The manual calls this inattention. Distraction, by contrast, happens when a situation, event or person pulls the driver's focus away from driving.
Source: Rhode Island Driver’s Manual (April 2024), page 17
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What does the manual say causes distraction?
- A driver’s attention drifts away from driving without any outside cause
- A driver has gone too long without sleep and cannot stay focused
- A situation, event or person draws a driver’s focus away from driving
- A driver keeps a safe distance from the vehicle ahead
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Correct answer: A situation, event or person draws a driver’s focus away from driving
Distraction happens when a situation, event or person draws the driver's focus away from driving.
Source: Rhode Island Driver’s Manual (April 2024), page 17
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Which effect of distraction can cause a driver to completely fail to perceive an important traffic event?
- Improper action
- Delayed decision-making
- Mental distraction
- Slowed perception
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Correct answer: Slowed perception
Slowed perception means a distracted driver may notice an important traffic event late or not at all.
Source: Rhode Island Driver’s Manual (April 2024), page 17
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Which effect of distraction can cause a driver to choose an action that is inappropriate for the situation at hand?
- Delayed decision-making
- Slowed perception
- Improper action
- Auditory distraction
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Correct answer: Delayed decision-making
The manual says distraction can delay the driver's decision-making or lead to an action that does not suit the situation.
Source: Rhode Island Driver’s Manual (April 2024), page 17
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Which effect of distraction can lead a driver to make incorrect inputs to the steering, accelerator, or brakes?
- Slowed perception
- Delayed decision-making
- Improper action
- Visual distraction
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Correct answer: Improper action
Improper action is the effect in which a driver is slow to carry out a decision or makes wrong inputs to the controls.
Source: Rhode Island Driver’s Manual (April 2024), page 17
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A distraction that causes a driver to take their hands off the wheel, such as reaching for an object, is which type?
- Mental
- Physical
- Visual
- Auditory
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Correct answer: Physical
The manual defines a physical distraction as one that takes the driver's hands off the wheel.
Source: Rhode Island Driver’s Manual (April 2024), page 17
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Engaging in conversation with a passenger or thinking about something that happened during the day is which type of distraction?
- Physical
- Visual
- Auditory
- Mental
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Correct answer: Mental
Mental distractions take the driver's mind away from the road, and the manual gives passenger conversation as an example.
Source: Rhode Island Driver’s Manual (April 2024), page 17
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Checking the navigation system is an example of which type of distraction?
- Visual
- Physical
- Mental
- Auditory
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Correct answer: Visual
Visual distractions make the driver take their eyes off the road, and the manual uses checking the navigation system as its example.
Source: Rhode Island Driver’s Manual (April 2024), page 17
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Listening to music at a high volume, a remote conversation, or electronic communication device notifications are examples of which type of distraction?
- Physical
- Mental
- Auditory
- Visual
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Correct answer: Auditory
Auditory distractions are any noise that takes attention away from driving.
Source: Rhode Island Driver’s Manual (April 2024), page 17
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What happens to the chance of a crash when physical, mental, visual, and auditory distractions are combined?
- The chance is no different from a single distraction
- There is an even greater chance a crash could happen
- The distractions cancel each other out
- The chance drops once the driver is used to them
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Correct answer: There is an even greater chance a crash could happen
Combining the distraction types makes a crash even more likely than any one type alone.
Source: Rhode Island Driver’s Manual (April 2024), page 17
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Which of these does the manual give as an example of adjusting the radio/podcast apps?
- Switching on the headlights at dusk
- Adjusting the side mirrors slightly
- Selecting a song from an MP3 player
- Fastening the seat belt again
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Correct answer: Selecting a song from an MP3 player
Changing a CD, choosing a song from an MP3 player or podcast app, or changing the station all count as adjusting the audio.
Source: Rhode Island Driver’s Manual (April 2024), page 18
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Who does the manual say is especially vulnerable to collisions when reaching for a loose object?
- Drivers over 65
- Teens
- Commercial drivers
- Motorcyclists
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Correct answer: Teens
The manual points to teens as especially vulnerable when reaching for a loose object, which often takes their eyes off the road.
Source: Rhode Island Driver’s Manual (April 2024), page 18
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Dialing a phone number while driving may require a driver to do what?
- Remove one hand from the steering wheel and look down at the keypad
- Remove both hands from the steering wheel for several seconds
- Come to a complete stop before the call connects
- Take a foot off the brake pedal to reach the phone
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Correct answer: Remove one hand from the steering wheel and look down at the keypad
Dialing can take one hand off the wheel and the driver's eyes off the road to the keypad.
Source: Rhode Island Driver’s Manual (April 2024), page 18
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What do drivers talking on wireless communication devices frequently do?
- Keep a steady speed but drift toward the shoulder
- Vary their speed and weave along the roadway
- Drive well below the speed limit
- Follow farther behind other vehicles
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Correct answer: Vary their speed and weave along the roadway
The manual says drivers on a wireless device often change speed and weave in the lane.
Source: Rhode Island Driver’s Manual (April 2024), page 18
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What does the manual say research indicates about hand-held versus hands-free wireless communication devices?
- Hands-free devices carry much lower risk
- Hands-free devices carry a higher risk
- Hand-held phones are risky only for new drivers
- There is no difference in risk between the two modes
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Correct answer: There is no difference in risk between the two modes
Research cited in the manual finds no difference in risk, since both ways of using a phone can divert attention enough to cause a collision.
Source: Rhode Island Driver’s Manual (April 2024), page 18
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Text messaging is the common term for sending short text messages of how many characters or fewer from cell phones?
- 160
- 100
- 140
- 250
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Correct answer: 160
The manual describes text messaging as sending short messages of 160 or fewer characters.
Source: Rhode Island Driver’s Manual (April 2024), page 18
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Why does the manual say text messaging is riskier than talking on a cell phone?
- Text messages are received more slowly than email, so drivers keep checking
- Texting always takes place at higher speeds than phone calls
- It often requires the driver to both look at the phone and manipulate the keypad
- Drivers cannot hear the road while texting, unlike on a phone call
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Correct answer: It often requires the driver to both look at the phone and manipulate the keypad
Texting needs both the driver's eyes and hands, which makes it riskier than talking.
Source: Rhode Island Driver’s Manual (April 2024), page 18
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According to the manual, using a map while driving can cause distraction and what else?
- A louder cabin because of the paper
- Significant reductions in visibility
- Slower engine response
- Lower fuel economy
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Correct answer: Significant reductions in visibility
The manual says using a map while driving can cause distraction as well as significant reductions in visibility.
Source: Rhode Island Driver’s Manual (April 2024), page 18