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West Virginia driving lesson · Defensive Driving and Weather

Road, vehicle and driver conditions

A 3-minute lesson from the West Virginia 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
Defensive Driving and Weather
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
74, 75

You can't safely drive 10 feet or 10 miles in an unsafe vehicle, and you can't drive safely when you're exhausted or upset. Check the road, the car and yourself before every trip.

Road conditions to consider:

  • Curves and hills
  • Pavement width and multiple lanes
  • Road surfaces
  • Poorly marked or unmarked roads
  • Shoulders and drop-offs
Handbook p. 74 ↗

Know the rule

West Virginia requires a biannual (every two years) inspection of passenger vehicles at an official inspection station.

Handbook p. 74 ↗

Know the rule

A passing vehicle gets a windshield sticker showing the month and year of the next inspection. Removing it is against the law.

Handbook p. 74 ↗

Common vehicle defects that cause crashes:

  • Faulty tires, brakes or lights
  • Bad windshield wipers or defrosters
  • Faulty mufflers and exhaust system
  • Broken horn or mirrors
  • Unusable seat belts
Handbook p. 75 ↗

Know the rule

Common driver conditions that affect safe driving are fatigue, alcohol, emotional state, and defective eyesight or hearing.

Handbook p. 75 ↗

Know the rule

Fatigue comes from lack of sleep or driving too long; it dulls your mind and slows reaction time. If alone and tired, pull off and rest; if another licensed driver is along, switch drivers.

Handbook p. 75 ↗
Every 2 hours

On a long trip, take a 10-minute rest break outside the vehicle at least this often

Handbook p. 75 ↗

Know the rule

Rolling the window down, turning on the radio, or singing can reduce monotony.

Handbook p. 75 ↗

Know the rule

Anger, worry and fear affect your driving; gain self-control before you drive.

Handbook p. 75 ↗

Put it into practice

You're driving six hours to the beach. Plan a 10-minute break at least every two hours; get out, walk around, grab a soft drink. If you start feeling tired between stops, hand the keys to another licensed driver.

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.

Under the handbook's State Inspection Law section, how often must passenger vehicles be inspected?
  1. Every year
  2. Every two years (biannual)
  3. Every six months
  4. Every four years

Answer: Every two years (biannual)

The State Inspection Law section (p.74) says WV requires a biannual inspection, every two years.

Handbook p. 74 ↗
On a long trip, how often should you take a 10-minute rest break to fight fatigue?
  1. At least every two hours
  2. At least every hour
  3. At least every four hours
  4. Only when you feel very tired

Answer: At least every two hours

The handbook recommends a 10-minute rest break outside the vehicle at least every two hours on a long trip.

Handbook p. 75 ↗
What should you do if you are alone and become tired while driving?
  1. Open the windows and keep driving
  2. Increase your speed to reach your destination sooner
  3. Turn the radio off and focus harder
  4. Pull off the road and rest

Answer: Pull off the road and rest

If alone and tired, you should pull off the road and rest rather than push through fatigue.

Handbook p. 75 ↗
Which of these is listed as a common vehicle defect that causes crashes?
  1. Faded exterior paint
  2. A cracked dashboard cover
  3. Faulty tires, brakes, or lights
  4. Worn seat upholstery

Answer: Faulty tires, brakes, or lights

Common crash-causing vehicle defects include faulty tires, brakes, lights, wipers, and mirrors.

Handbook p. 75 ↗
It is against the law to remove the state inspection sticker from your windshield.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Removing the inspection sticker showing your next inspection date is against the law.

Handbook p. 74 ↗
Emotional states like anger, worry, or fear have no real effect on safe driving ability.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

The handbook lists emotional states as a driver condition that should be controlled before driving.

Handbook p. 75 ↗
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