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Washington driving lesson · Vehicle Equipment

Know your vehicle and its safety technology

A 3-minute lesson from the Washington 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
Vehicle Equipment
Checkpoint questions
5
Source pages
44, 45, 46, 47, 184

Every vehicle handles differently, and many now come with systems that warn you or even brake and steer for you. These systems help, but they have blind spots of their own. You're still fully responsible for driving the car.

Know the rule

Read the owner's manual for every vehicle you drive to learn its systems, devices, gauges, and instruments before you drive.

Handbook p. 44 ↗

Know the rule

Each time you get in, adjust the steering wheel, seat, and mirrors for good visibility, so you can easily reach the pedals and instruments.

Handbook p. 44 ↗

ADAS

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems: vehicle safety technology that intervenes, warns, or assists drivers. Vehicle Safety Technology (VST) works alongside it.

Handbook p. 184 ↗

Know the rule

VST and ADAS are meant to assist your healthy driving habits, not replace them. You are still fully responsible for operating your vehicle.

Handbook p. 45 ↗

Why you can't rely on the tech alone:

  • It can flag a car in your blind spot but not one two lanes over that's also merging
  • It might not detect people walking, rolling, or riding near your vehicle
  • Sensors can get dirty
  • Road markings can fade, making the technology hard to use
Handbook p. 45 ↗

Know the rule

Leave these features on unless the weather is so severe that the notifications become a distraction.

Handbook p. 45 ↗

Key VST and ADAS features:

  • Collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking, forward collision and lane departure warnings
  • Adaptive cruise control: holds a set speed but adjusts for the distance to the car ahead
  • Lane keeping assistance: steers or alerts you if you drift out of your lane
  • Blind spot detection: sensors alert you to a vehicle in the adjacent lane
  • Parking assistance: sensors and cameras guide you, even automatic parallel parking
  • Traffic sign recognition: cameras read signs and show limits and rules
  • Driver monitoring: alerts you to signs of drowsiness or distraction
  • Cross traffic alert: warns of traffic from the side, like when backing out of a space
Handbook p. 46 ↗

Two more features:

  • Automatic high beam control: adjusts headlight brightness for oncoming traffic
  • Collision mitigation: pre-crash seatbelt tensioning and post-collision braking when a crash can't be avoided
Handbook p. 47 ↗

Know the rule

To learn your vehicle's safety technologies, read the manual, ask a car dealership, or visit mycardoeswhat.org.

Handbook p. 45 ↗

Put it into practice

Your blind spot monitor shows no warning as you prepare to merge left on I-5. Still check over your shoulder: the system won't see a car two lanes over that's moving into the same space.

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.

Vehicle safety technology can alert you to a car in your blind spot. What is a key limitation of this tech?
  1. It might not detect a second vehicle two lanes over also preparing to merge
  2. It always works even with a dirty sensor
  3. It replaces the need to check mirrors
  4. It can detect pedestrians in all lighting conditions

Answer: It might not detect a second vehicle two lanes over also preparing to merge

Blind spot systems can miss vehicles further away that are also preparing to merge, so you still must check yourself.

Handbook p. 45 ↗
What does adaptive cruise control (ACC) do that basic cruise control doesn't?
  1. Automatically parks your car
  2. Keeps you centered in your lane
  3. Prevents lane departures entirely
  4. Adjusts your speed based on the distance to the vehicle ahead

Answer: Adjusts your speed based on the distance to the vehicle ahead

ACC maintains a set speed but adjusts it based on the distance to the vehicle in front to keep a safe following distance.

Handbook p. 46 ↗
What does blind spot detection technology do?
  1. Detects only pedestrians, not vehicles
  2. Brakes automatically for stopped traffic
  3. Uses sensors to alert you to a vehicle in your blind spot
  4. Automatically changes lanes for you

Answer: Uses sensors to alert you to a vehicle in your blind spot

Blind spot detection uses sensors to monitor blind spots and alert you to a vehicle in an adjacent lane.

Handbook p. 46 ↗
According to the handbook, what can keep vehicle safety technology from working properly?
  1. Having cruise control turned on
  2. Dirty sensors or faded road markings
  3. Driving faster than 40 mph
  4. Driving in bright daylight

Answer: Dirty sensors or faded road markings

Dirty sensors or faded road markings can make it difficult for safety technology to function properly.

Handbook p. 45 ↗
Vehicle safety technology and ADAS are meant to replace your own healthy driving habits.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

These systems are meant to assist your already-healthy driving habits, not replace them; you're still fully responsible.

Handbook p. 45 ↗
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