Roadwise States Arkansas Driving lessons Inspecting your vehicle Arkansas driving lesson · Vehicle Inspection & Testing
Inspecting your vehicle A 4-minute lesson from the Arkansas course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 4 minutes
Course unit Vehicle Inspection & Testing
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 94, 95, 96 A vehicle in poor condition may not respond in an emergency, and it could leave you stranded or cause a crash. Take a moment before you drive to check seats, mirrors, brakes, lights, glass, tires and more.
10 inches Distance from the center of the steering wheel to your breastbone; the airbag risk zone is its first 2–3 inches of inflation
Handbook p. 94 ↗ Adjusting mirrors (before you start driving): Inside mirror: see the whole rear window moving only your eyes, not your head Drivers 6 feet or taller: flipping the inside mirror upside down raises its bottom edge 1–2 inches Driver's side mirror: head against the left window, then just barely see your car's side on the right edge Passenger mirror: head just above the center console, then just barely see the car's side on the left edge Handbook p. 94 ↗ Know the rule
Mirrors are for detecting objects. Don't hang items from the mirror or clutter the windshield with decals, and replace missing or damaged mirrors.
Handbook p. 95 ↗ Know the rule
Objects may be closer than they appear, and mirrors don't show blind spots; glance over your shoulder in the direction you're moving.
Handbook p. 95 ↗ Signs of brake trouble (see a licensed mechanic): A noise from under the vehicle when you press the brake pedal A foul smell during heavy braking Pressing the pedal gives little or no braking Handbook p. 95 ↗ Know the rule
Check turn signals, brake lights, taillights and headlights by turning them on and walking around the car; have a partner press the brake while you look for red lights on each side.
Handbook p. 95 ↗ 6 months to 1 year How often to replace wiper blades, or sooner if visibility changes
Handbook p. 95 ↗ Reject a windshield if: Damaged glass blocks the driver's view to the front, left, right or rear It lacks safety glass in all doors, windows and windshield (vehicles after July 1, 1951) More than one crack is in the 8-inch-wide strip through the center under the driver's wiper Handbook p. 95 ↗ 1/16 inch Tread depth at which tires are generally unsafe and should be replaced
Handbook p. 96 ↗ Know the rule
Penny test: put a penny in the tread with Lincoln's head upside down facing you. If you can see the top of his head, you need new tires.
Handbook p. 96 ↗ Cold tire A tire that hasn't been driven for at least three hours, not a reference to the weather. Recommended tire pressures are for cold tires.
Handbook p. 96 ↗ Know the rule
Tire safety means proper pressure, not exceeding load limits, avoiding road hazards, and checking for cuts and slashes.
Handbook p. 96 ↗ Know the rule
If the steering doesn't move the wheels when you first turn it, have a mechanic check it.
Handbook p. 96 ↗ Know the rule
Exhaust fumes can kill in a very short time. Never let the engine idle in a garage or enclosed area without an open window; in winter, crack a window now and then.
Handbook p. 96 ↗ Know the rule
Always set the parking brake before starting the engine, and keep your horn in working condition.
Handbook p. 96 ↗ Put it into practice
You put a penny head-first into your front tire's tread and can see the top of Lincoln's head. The tread is worn to the replacement point, so replace the tires before your road test; badly worn tires can get your test refused.
A useful reminder A "cold" tire means not driven for 3 hours, not cold weather.
Check your understanding Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
How should you adjust the inside rearview mirror? So you can see the entire rear window only by moving your whole head So it shows the back seat only So you can see the entire rear window by moving only your eyes So it angles toward the driver's face Answer: So you can see the entire rear window by moving only your eyes
The inside mirror should be adjusted so the whole rear window is visible with just an eye movement, not a head turn.
Handbook p. 94 ↗ How should you adjust the driver's side-view mirror? So it shows only the lane behind you, with no part of your car So the side of your car fills half the mirror So it matches the passenger mirror's angle exactly So you can just barely see the side of your own car in it Answer: So you can just barely see the side of your own car in it
The driver's side mirror should be set so the side of the car is just barely visible at its edge.
Handbook p. 94 ↗ For airbag safety, about how far should the driver's breastbone be from the steering wheel? 2 inches 10 inches 5 inches 15 inches Answer: 10 inches
Since the airbag's risk zone is the first 2-3 inches of inflation, 10 inches gives a clear margin of safety.
Handbook p. 94 ↗ A windshield should be rejected if there is more than one crack in an eight-inch-wide area where? Anywhere on the rear window Only in the top corner of the windshield Running horizontally through the wiper area on the driver's side Only outside the wiper area Answer: Running horizontally through the wiper area on the driver's side
More than one crack in an eight-inch horizontal band through the driver's wiper area is grounds for rejection.
Handbook p. 95 ↗ Tires are generally considered unsafe and should be replaced when the tread wears down to what depth? 1/2 inch 1/4 inch About 1/8 of an inch 1/16 of an inch Answer: 1/16 of an inch
Tires are unsafe once tread wears down to 1/16 of an inch.
Handbook p. 96 ↗ What does "cold" mean when checking tire pressure? The outside temperature is below freezing The tire hasn't been driven on for at least three hours The tire has never been used The vehicle has been parked overnight only Answer: The tire hasn't been driven on for at least three hours
A cold tire is one that hasn't been driven on for at least three hours, not one measured by outside temperature.
Handbook p. 96 ↗ Previous lesson Crashes: what to do & reporting Next lesson The skills (road) test More in Vehicle Inspection & Testing About the source Roadwise’s Arkansas course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 94, 95, 96. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
For current application requirements, fees, appointments, and the format that applies to your age or license type, check Arkansas’s DFA. Roadwise provides study material and does not issue permits or licenses.