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Idaho driving lesson · The Driving Task

Defensive driving

A 3-minute lesson from the Idaho course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
The Driving Task
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
88, 89, 90

Most crashes are caused by driver error, including other drivers' errors. Defensive driving means seeing trouble early, expecting the worst, and deciding what to do before you're forced to react.

Give plenty of room to drivers who may not see you:

  • Drivers entering from intersections or driveways with blocked views
  • Drivers backing out of driveways or parking spaces
  • Drivers whose windows are covered with ice or snow
Handbook p. 88 ↗

Allow extra room for people who may be distracted:

  • Delivery and construction workers; children playing
  • Drivers who are talking, tending children, or otherwise distracted
  • Tourists figuring out a complicated intersection; drivers looking for a house number
Handbook p. 88 ↗

Know the rule

Help drivers in trouble: if someone passes as you approach a curve, hill, or oncoming car, slow down and let them back in. Make room for a driver about to be forced into your lane.

Handbook p. 89 ↗

Know the rule

Keep both hands on opposite sides of the wheel at about the nine o'clock and three o'clock positions. Check your owner's manual for hand placement with airbags.

Handbook p. 89 ↗

Scanning

Keeping your eyes moving and reading the road, instead of a fixed straight-ahead stare that lets you drift into daydreams.

Handbook p. 89 ↗
10 to 15 seconds

How far ahead good drivers watch; about a block in city driving

Handbook p. 89 ↗

Know the rule

Look to both sides wherever cars, people, or animals may cross your path. Don't rely on lights or stop signs; other drivers may run the light.

Handbook p. 89 ↗

Know the rule

Check traffic behind you several times a minute to spot tailgaters and fast or passing vehicles. Most rear-end collisions are caused by vehicles following too closely.

Handbook p. 90 ↗

Blind spots

Areas near the left and right rear corners of your vehicle that your mirrors don't show. Without a right-side mirror, the right blind spot is larger.

Handbook p. 90 ↗

Know the rule

Before any move to the side, turn your head to check your blind spot; never rely on mirrors alone. Avoid driving in other drivers' blind spots.

Handbook p. 90 ↗
Blind spot zones in different lanes
Mirror views and blind spots

Crash prevention formula

Crash prevention formula
StepWhat you do
IdentifySpot hazards that could make you slow, speed up, or turn
PredictPredict what will happen; assume the worst
DecideChoose your action ahead of time
ExecuteCarry it out smoothly and predictably, in time
Handbook p. 90 ↗

Put it into practice

You see kids playing on a corner ahead. Identify them as a hazard, predict that one may run into the street, decide to slow and cover your brake, and execute that early and smoothly.

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.

Good drivers keep an eye on what's happening how far ahead?
  1. About 10 to 15 seconds ahead
  2. 2 to 3 seconds ahead
  3. Only the car directly in front
  4. 30 to 45 seconds ahead

Answer: About 10 to 15 seconds ahead

Looking 10-15 seconds ahead helps you avoid last-minute reactions.

Handbook p. 89 ↗
Blind spots are located:
  1. directly in front of the hood
  2. near the left and right rear corners
  3. only on the passenger side
  4. only on the driver's side

Answer: near the left and right rear corners

Blind spots are areas near the left and right rear corners of your vehicle not visible in your mirrors.

Handbook p. 90 ↗
Before moving to the side, you should always:
  1. sound your horn first
  2. rely solely on your mirrors
  3. turn your head to check your blind spot
  4. flash your turn signal twice

Answer: turn your head to check your blind spot

A head check confirms your blind spot is clear before moving over.

Handbook p. 90 ↗
The first step of the standard crash-prevention formula is:
  1. predicting the worst case
  2. executing a decision
  3. braking immediately
  4. scanning the road

Answer: scanning the road

Scanning comes first in the identify-predict-decide-execute sequence.

Handbook p. 89 ↗
After identifying a hazard, the 'predict' step means you should:
  1. expect the worst-case outcome
  2. assume it will resolve itself
  3. wait for the hazard to react first
  4. ignore minor hazards

Answer: expect the worst-case outcome

Predicting the worst case is the safest approach.

Handbook p. 90 ↗
The correct hand position on the steering wheel, per the handbook, is approximately:
  1. ten o'clock and two o'clock
  2. eight o'clock and four o'clock
  3. nine o'clock and three o'clock
  4. twelve o'clock and six o'clock

Answer: nine o'clock and three o'clock

The handbook recommends the 9-and-3 hand position.

Handbook p. 89 ↗
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