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.
Driving is one of the riskiest tasks you'll do in your lifetime, and doing it safely depends on good health and correct decisions. Your eyes, your ears and how rested you are all decide how quickly you spot trouble and respond.
Protect your vision:
Have your eyes checked regularly by an eye doctor
If you're required to wear corrective lenses, always wear them when driving
Avoid dark or tinted corrective lenses at night
Use side vision ('out of the corner' of your eyes) to spot vehicles creeping up beside you
Judge distances well so you know where you are relative to other vehicles and objects
Many people who see clearly in daytime have trouble at night—some can't make things out in dim light, others struggle with glare from oncoming headlights.
Hearing warns you of horns, sirens and screeching tires, and sometimes reveals vehicles you can't see. Hearing loss can come on so slowly you don't notice, so get tested periodically. Drivers who know they have hearing problems can adjust by relying more on vision.
Physical or mental tiredness caused by physical or mental strain, repetitive tasks, illness or lack of sleep. It can affect your vision and increase the time you need to make decisions.
Two hours into the drive home from college, you're yawning and drifting toward the line. Don't push on—exit at the next rest area, have some caffeine, and take a 15-to-20-minute nap, or find a place to sleep for the night.
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.
Most people need how many hours of sleep to maintain proper alertness while driving?
5 to 6 hours
7 to 9 hours
4 to 5 hours
10 to 12 hours
Answer: 7 to 9 hours
The manual recommends 7 to 9 hours of sleep to maintain proper alertness during the day.