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Kentucky driving lesson · Before You Drive

Tires, seat & mirrors

A 3-minute lesson from the Kentucky 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
Before You Drive
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
34, 35

You can't control other drivers or road conditions, but you can control your vehicle's condition and your setup behind the wheel. Tires, seating position and mirror aim all affect how well you see and control the car.

Check tire pressure monthly:

  • Get a tire pressure gauge
  • Find the 'PSI' number on the sticker inside the door jamb
  • Check tires when they are cold
  • Too high? Let air out. Too low? Inflate until the numbers match
Handbook p. 34 ↗

Know the rule

Penny test: hold a penny and put Lincoln's head first into the deepest-looking groove. If you can see all of his head, your tires are too worn—don't drive on them; replace them.

Handbook p. 34 ↗

Seat position:

  • Sit upright, back against the seat, feet on the floor—slouching makes restraints less effective
  • Your foot should pivot smoothly from brake to accelerator with your heel on the floor
  • Top of the wheel no higher than the top of your shoulders, and below chin level
  • Don't move so far forward you can't steer easily, and don't recline the seat
Handbook p. 34 ↗
10 inches

Space to keep between your chest and the steering wheel

Handbook p. 34 ↗

Head restraint

Designed to prevent whiplash. Adjust it so it contacts the back of your head, not below the level of your ears.

Handbook p. 34 ↗

Know the rule

The inside mirror is your primary view to the rear—adjust it to frame the rear window. Set a day/night mirror for the time of day you're driving.

Handbook p. 35 ↗

Setting outside mirrors:

  • Left: rest your head against the closed window; set the mirror to barely show the car's rear edge
  • Right: lean so your head is below the rearview mirror; set it to barely show the car's right side
  • Result: 12 to 16 degrees of extra viewing area on each side of the vehicle
Handbook p. 35 ↗

Keep windows and mirrors clear:

  • Keep the windshield clean—sun or headlights on a dirty windshield reduce vision
  • Keep washer fluid full (in winter it also helps prevent freezing)
  • Clean inside glass often, especially if you smoke
  • Remove snow, ice and frost from all windows before driving
  • Hang nothing from the mirror and don't clutter windows with decals—they're unlawful
  • Excessive window tinting is not allowed
Handbook p. 35 ↗

Put it into practice

Your little sister drove last: seat reclined and far forward, headrest at her neck. Before you go, sit upright, slide back until there's 10 inches between your chest and the wheel, raise the headrest to the back of your head, then re-aim all three mirrors.

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 much space should there be between your chest and the steering wheel?
  1. 20 inches
  2. 2 inches
  3. 5 inches
  4. 10 inches

Answer: 10 inches

The manual recommends 10 inches between your chest and the steering wheel for proper seating.

Handbook p. 34 ↗
To adjust your left outside mirror correctly, you should:
  1. Sit upright; show mostly the side of your car
  2. Lean right; show the rear edge clearly
  3. Lean on the window; barely show the rear edge
  4. Sit upright; aim it at the lane beside you

Answer: Lean on the window; barely show the rear edge

Rest your head against the closed window and adjust the mirror to barely show the vehicle's rear edge.

Handbook p. 35 ↗
Properly adjusted outside mirrors add how many degrees of additional viewing area to each side?
  1. 30 to 40 degrees
  2. 2 to 4 degrees
  3. 12 to 16 degrees
  4. 5 to 8 degrees

Answer: 12 to 16 degrees

This adjustment method adds 12 to 16 degrees of additional viewing area to each side of the vehicle.

Handbook p. 35 ↗
To check tire tread depth with a penny (Lincoln's head placed first into the groove), your tires are too worn if:
  1. Only the top of his hair shows
  2. You can see all of Lincoln's head
  3. You cannot see any part of Lincoln's head
  4. The penny won't fit in the groove

Answer: You can see all of Lincoln's head

If you can see all of Lincoln's head, the tread is too shallow and the tires should be replaced.

Handbook p. 34 ↗
Where can you typically find your vehicle's recommended tire pressure (PSI)?
  1. On the tire tread itself
  2. On a sticker inside the door jamb
  3. In the glovebox manual only
  4. On the vehicle registration card

Answer: On a sticker inside the door jamb

Open your car door and look for a sticker on the inside jamb listing the recommended PSI.

Handbook p. 34 ↗
Which of the following is explicitly against the law regarding your windshield?
  1. Displaying certificates required by law
  2. Hanging objects from the rearview mirror or cluttering it with decals
  3. Having one wiper on the driver's side
  4. Using factory tinting along the top edge

Answer: Hanging objects from the rearview mirror or cluttering it with decals

Hanging items from the mirror or cluttering the windshield with decals is unlawful because it blocks vision.

Handbook p. 35 ↗
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