Tennessee: Sharing the road — Defensive Driving, Space and Road Rage Practice Test
Questions in this part include: “In the manual's five tips, what does "Aim High In Steering" tell you to do?” · “When you look behind you, how long should you keep your eyes off the road ahead?”
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual" (March 2025 printing), Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
All 22 questions in this practice test
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In the manual's five tips, what does "Aim High In Steering" tell you to do?
- Keep your eyes on the hood of your vehicle at all times
- Steer with your hands at the very top of the wheel
- Look as far down the road as possible to find traffic information
- Focus only on the vehicle directly ahead of you
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Correct answer: Look as far down the road as possible to find traffic information
Aiming high means looking far down the road so you can spot traffic information early and make good decisions.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 92 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 92)
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According to the manual, what is the most important driving attitude you can develop?
- Confidence in your own driving skill
- A willingness to compete for road space
- Courtesy and consideration toward others
- A habit of driving faster than traffic
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Correct answer: Courtesy and consideration toward others
The manual calls courtesy and consideration toward others the key to safe driving.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 93 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 93)
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Why does the manual say to stay out of another driver's blind spots?
- To keep the other driver from passing you
- To stay clear of that driver's exhaust smoke
- To prevent another vehicle from turning into you
- To follow the other vehicle more closely
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Correct answer: To prevent another vehicle from turning into you
Staying out of blind spots keeps another driver from turning into you without seeing you.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 93 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 93)
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Which defensive driving rule does the manual give about other drivers?
- Assume every other driver will yield to you in every situation
- Expect the other driver to do the wrong thing and have a plan
- Rely on other drivers to make room for you when you need it
- Expect other drivers to obey every traffic rule at all times
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Correct answer: Expect the other driver to do the wrong thing and have a plan
A defensive driver expects mistakes and keeps a plan ready to counter the other driver's error.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 93 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 93)
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As you scan the road and traffic, what does the manual say to avoid?
- Looking to the sides
- Looking behind you
- A fixed stare
- Reading directional signs
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Correct answer: A fixed stare
The manual says to keep your eyes moving and avoid a fixed stare while scanning.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 93 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 93)
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Which of these clues on another vehicle tells you it may pull into your path?
- A clean windshield
- Closed windows
- A full tank of fuel
- Turned wheels
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Correct answer: Turned wheels
Exhaust smoke, brake or back-up lights and turned wheels show that a vehicle may be about to move into your path.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 93 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 93)
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What does the manual say to watch for in rural areas?
- Hidden intersections and driveways, curves and hills
- Only the traffic signals at major intersections
- Only parked vehicles along the roadside
- Only vehicles that are following you closely
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Correct answer: Hidden intersections and driveways, curves and hills
In rural areas, hidden intersections and driveways, curves, hills and a changing road surface can surprise you.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 93 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 93)
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About how often should you check the traffic behind you with your rearview mirror?
- About every 60 seconds
- About every 10 seconds
- Only when you change lanes
- About every 3 minutes
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Correct answer: About every 10 seconds
The manual says to check traffic behind you frequently, about every 10 seconds.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 93 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 93)
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When you look behind you, how long should you keep your eyes off the road ahead?
- Up to five seconds
- As long as it takes to see everything
- Until the vehicle behind you passes
- No more than a brief look
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Correct answer: No more than a brief look
The manual warns not to keep your eyes off the road ahead for more than a brief look behind.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 93 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 93)
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What is the "safety cushion" the manual describes?
- The padding built into the seats of your vehicle
- The space you keep between your vehicle and others
- The extra fuel you carry to avoid stopping on long trips
- The paved shoulder beside the lane you are driving in
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Correct answer: The space you keep between your vehicle and others
A safety cushion is the driving space around your vehicle that gives you time to react.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 94 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 94)
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Where should you try to maintain a safety cushion around your vehicle?
- Only to the front of your vehicle
- Only to the front and rear of your vehicle
- Only on the side next to oncoming traffic
- To the front, rear and each side at all times
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Correct answer: To the front, rear and each side at all times
The manual says to keep a cushion on all four sides at all times to leave room for escape or prevention.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 94 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 94)
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On a two-lane road, how should you position your vehicle when meeting oncoming vehicles?
- Along the centerline to give the other driver room
- Straddling the center of the roadway
- As far to the left of your lane as you can go
- Slightly to the right of your lane, away from the centerline
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Correct answer: Slightly to the right of your lane, away from the centerline
Staying slightly right in your lane keeps you from crowding the centerline when vehicles meet.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 94 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 94)
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When other vehicles are trying to merge into traffic on a multi-lane road, what does the manual say to do?
- Be courteous and move to the left lane
- Speed up to close the gap
- Move to the right lane in front of them
- Stay in your lane and sound your horn
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Correct answer: Be courteous and move to the left lane
The manual says to be courteous and move to the left lane to make room for merging vehicles.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 94 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 94)
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Which of these should you keep extra space from along the roadside, especially if they are children?
- Only vehicles that are stopped at a signal
- Only vehicles that are moving faster than you
- Parked cars, pedestrians and bicyclists
- Only vehicles that have their hazard lights on
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Correct answer: Parked cars, pedestrians and bicyclists
The manual says to keep extra space between your vehicle and parked cars, pedestrians and bicyclists on the roadside.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 94 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 94)
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What does the "split the difference" rule tell you to do about two hazards?
- Stay close to the hazard that is moving the fastest
- Steer between them, with more space on the more dangerous side
- Steer toward the hazard that is farther away from you
- Stop until both hazards have gone past your vehicle
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Correct answer: Steer between them, with more space on the more dangerous side
Splitting the difference means steering between two hazards, with extra space on the side that is more dangerous.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 94 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 94)
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Which of these does the manual give as an example of obstructed vision of yourself or another driver?
- A painted crosswalk
- A green traffic light
- A speed limit sign
- Bushes at an intersection
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Correct answer: Bushes at an intersection
Bushes at an intersection, glaring sunlight and pedestrians with umbrellas are examples of obstructed vision.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 94 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 94)
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Which of these is given as an example of a confused driver or pedestrian?
- Weaving in and out of lanes
- Staying in the middle of the lane
- Driving at the posted speed limit
- Signaling well before a turn
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Correct answer: Weaving in and out of lanes
The manual lists weaving in and out of lanes, looking for road names and reading maps as signs of confused drivers or pedestrians.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 95 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 95)
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Which behavior does the manual list as aggressive driving?
- Yielding to merging vehicles
- Cutting off other drivers
- Checking your mirrors often
- Leaving a safety cushion
Show answer
Correct answer: Cutting off other drivers
The manual lists tailgating, honking, gestures, yelling, speeding and cutting off other drivers as aggressive driving.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 95 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 95)
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Which is a tip the manual gives for avoiding road rage?
- Honk at an angry driver to warn the driver to back off
- Glare back so the other driver knows you saw what happened
- Match the speed of an aggressive driver so you can keep up
- Don't join the confrontation, even with honking or glaring
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Correct answer: Don't join the confrontation, even with honking or glaring
Joining in, even with a honk or a glare, makes a confrontation worse, so the manual says not to do it.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 95 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 95)
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How does the manual say to treat an angry driver?
- Give an angry driver plenty of space
- Drive right behind the angry driver
- Block the angry driver from passing you
- Pass the angry driver as quickly as you can
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Correct answer: Give an angry driver plenty of space
One tip to avoid road rage is to give an angry driver plenty of space.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 95 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 95)
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If a driver follows you, what does the manual say to do?
- Drive home and wait in the driveway until the driver leaves
- Go to a police station or a public place where you can get help
- Stop and talk to the driver to find out what the problem is
- Pull onto an empty side road and park until the driver passes
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Correct answer: Go to a police station or a public place where you can get help
If you are followed, head to a police station or a public place where you can get help.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 95 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 95)
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If another driver harasses you on the road, what does the manual say to do if possible?
- Follow the offender until a police officer arrives
- Return the gestures to show you are not afraid
- Take no action and report nothing afterward
- Get the offender's license tag number and report it
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Correct answer: Get the offender's license tag number and report it
The manual says to get the harasser's tag number if possible and report the incident.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 95 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 95)