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Oklahoma driving lesson · Driving Tips and Emergencies

Distracted driving and animals

A 3-minute lesson from the Oklahoma 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
Driving Tips and Emergencies
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
60, 61

Oklahoma law requires drivers to give their full attention to the road. Distracted driving, meaning any activity that takes your attention off driving, puts you, your passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists in danger.

Three main types of distraction:

  • Visual: taking your eyes off the road
  • Manual: taking your hands off the steering wheel
  • Cognitive: thinking about anything other than driving
Handbook p. 61 ↗

Know the rule

Distractions include eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, and texting.

Handbook p. 61 ↗
3,000+

People killed nationwide in 2014 in crashes involving distracted drivers (another 431,000 injured)

Handbook p. 61 ↗

Know the rule

As of 2015, texting while driving is illegal in Oklahoma. Commercial drivers and public transit drivers are also prohibited from making hand-held phone calls while driving.

Handbook p. 61 ↗

Know the rule

Learner Permit or Intermediate License holders can be suspended or have their license canceled for using a hand-held electronic device while driving, except for a life-threatening emergency.

Handbook p. 61 ↗

Phone safety tips:

  • Whenever possible, pull off the road before calling
  • Don't unbuckle your seat belt to reach for a phone
  • Use memory dial and voice-activated dialing
  • Don't eat, drink, smoke, read or write while you talk and drive
  • Keep calls short; ask your passenger to handle calls
  • Know your limits: if the phone distracts you, limit use or pull off the road
Handbook p. 61 ↗

Know the rule

If an animal suddenly runs in front of your vehicle, DO NOT swerve to avoid it. Swerving may cause a more serious crash than hitting the animal.

Handbook p. 61 ↗

To reduce your chance of hitting an animal:

  • Use caution at dawn and dusk, when animals are most active
  • Be extra alert on roads marked with animal crossing signs
  • Scan the roadsides for your headlights reflecting in animals' eyes
  • Slow down when approaching an animal standing near the road
Handbook p. 61 ↗
October to December

When deer/vehicle crashes most often occur

Handbook p. 61 ↗

Put it into practice

At dusk in November, a deer bounds onto the two-lane road ahead. Brake firmly and hold your lane. Don't swerve toward the ditch or the oncoming lane, where the crash could be far worse.

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.

Since what year has texting while driving been illegal in Oklahoma?
  1. 2010
  2. 2020
  3. 2015
  4. 2005

Answer: 2015

Texting while driving became illegal in Oklahoma as of 2015.

Handbook p. 61 ↗
An animal darts into the road in front of you. What should you do?
  1. Swerve sharply to avoid it
  2. Speed up to pass before it reaches you
  3. Flash your high beams and keep going
  4. Don't swerve to avoid it

Answer: Don't swerve to avoid it

Swerving to avoid an animal can cause a more serious crash than hitting it.

Handbook p. 61 ↗
Deer/vehicle crashes are most common during the summer months.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

Deer/vehicle crashes most often occur from October to December.

Handbook p. 61 ↗
Thinking about anything other than driving is which category of driver distraction?
  1. Manual
  2. Visual
  3. Auditory
  4. Cognitive

Answer: Cognitive

The manual lists three categories: visual (eyes off the road), manual (hands off the wheel) and cognitive (thinking about anything other than driving).

Handbook p. 61 ↗
A Learner's Permit holder uses a hand-held phone while driving for a non-emergency reason. What can happen?
  1. Nothing, phone use is unrestricted for permit holders
  2. Their license can be suspended or canceled
  3. They receive a warning letter only
  4. They must retake the written test

Answer: Their license can be suspended or canceled

Learner's Permit or Intermediate License holders risk suspension or cancellation for hand-held device use.

Handbook p. 61 ↗
When are animals most active on or near roadways, according to the manual?
  1. Midday
  2. Only after midnight
  3. Dawn and dusk
  4. Only during rainstorms

Answer: Dawn and dusk

Use extra caution at dawn and dusk, when animals are most active.

Handbook p. 61 ↗
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