Driving is a responsibility and a privilege. Are you ready to be a good driver? Do you know the risks of driving? Penn National Insurance offers this quiz to help you see how ready you are to get behind the wheel. Take a few minutes to answer these questions, then check your answers at the end.

1. More than _______ young people between the ages of 15 and 20 are killed each year in traffic crashes. (National Safety Council)
   1. 1,200
   2. 2,500
   3. 6,400
   4. 10,000
2. Approximately _____ percent of crashes killing young people involve alcohol. (National Safety Council)
   1. 6
   2. 16
   3. 26
   4. 36
3. What percent of teen passenger deaths occur when another teen is driving? (NHTSA)
   1. 42
   2. 65
   3. 19
   4. 90
4. Most young people who die in passenger vehicle crashes are wearing their seatbelts. (NHTSA)
   1. True
   2. False
5. Two-thirds of teens killed in motor vehicle crashes are female. (NHTSA)
   1. True
   2. False
6. More than 40 percent of fatal crashes involving teens occur during what time? (NHTSA)
   1. 9 PM - 6 AM
   2. 6 PM - 12 AM
   3. 12 PM - 8 PM
   4. 9 AM - 2 PM
7. When a traffic light changes from red to green, what should you do?
   1. Floor it.
   2. Wait until the driver behind you beeps his horn.
   3. Be sure cross traffic is cleared and no pedestrians are in the crosswalk before accelerating slowly.
   4. Ease your way into the intersection, checking for cross traffic as you go.
8. When an emergency vehicle approaches, you should:
   1. Do nothing unless they are approaching from behind.
   2. Safely pull over to the right side of the road and slow down.
   3. Safely pull to the right side of the road and stop, regardless of the direction of their approach.
   4. Wave as they go by.
9. When you come upon a flashing yellow light, you should:
   1. Reduce your speed and proceed with caution.
   2. Stop.
   3. Ignore the light.
   4. Check for cross traffic as you cruise through the intersection.
10. How do you know if you are following a vehicle at a safe distance?
    1. There is at least a car length between you and the other vehicle.
    2. You are paying close attention to the other driver’s speed, acceleration and braking.
    3. You can see the rear tires of the other vehicle.
    4. There is a two-second interval between when the other vehicle passes a fixed point and you pass the same fixed point.
11. The right-of-way is to be:
    1. Taken.
    2. Given.
    3. Presumed to be yours.
12. When you see a flashing red signal light, you should:
    1. Slow down and proceed with caution.
    2. Stop.
    3. Ignore it.
    4. Check for an oncoming train.
13. When your vehicle begins to skid, what should you do?
    1. Start honking your horn to warn other drivers.
    2. Stop accelerating and steer in the same direction that the rear wheels are skidding.
    3. Press the brakes as hard as you can to stop the car.
    4. Accelerate slowly.
14. If you are in an accident, you should:
    1. Check for injuries and call for medical assistance if necessary. Once any injuries are addressed, call the police for help.
    2. Exchange insurance information with the other driver(s) immediately.
    3. Call your parents, let them know what happened, and ask for help in contacting your insurance agent.
    4. All of the above.
15. The estimated annual cost of insurance fraud is estimated to be:
    1. $15 billion
    2. $55 billion
    3. $79 billion
    4. $94 billion
16. If you become stranded during bad weather, you should:
    1. Stay with your car unless you are within eyesight of possible help.
    2. Run your car for 10 minutes every hour until help arrives.
    3. Keep one window open slightly to allow for circulation.
    4. All of the above.

Answers:

1: c. Traffic crashes are the number one cause of death of children and young adults. Young drivers are involved in fatal traffic accidents more than twice as often as the rest of the population.

2: d. Nearly 1,000 young people lose their lives each year because of a traffic accident caused by an impaired driver—either themselves or someone else. Remember, it is illegal in every state for individuals under the age of 21 to purchase alcoholic beverages. No matter how old you are, never drink and drive. If you are ever in a situation where the person giving you a ride may have been drinking—a friend or an adult—even if they seem fine, don’t get in the car with them. Call your parents or another trusted adult to give you a ride.

3: b. Teen drivers may be more distracted with friends in the car. You can help your friends be safer drivers by talking in quiet tones, playing the radio softly, and helping them watch for unexpected distractions in traffic. If your friend is not driving safely, ask them to drop you off and call someone to come pick you up. Your concern may be the encouragement they need to change the way they drive.

4: b, false. In 1997, more than 60 percent of youth (age 16-20) who died in passenger vehicle crashes were NOT wearing their seat belts. Your seat belt can save your life. Buckle up!

5: b, false. Two out of three teens killed in motor vehicle crashes are male. As a group, males are more likely to be risk takers and have a higher incidence of accidents.

6: a. Teens are more likely to have an accident during the nighttime hours. Many states have a graduated licensing process that limits the hours teens can drive until they have gained enough experience to handle the challenges of nighttime driving.

7: c. It is true that a green light signals that you have the right-of-way. However, you must still check for traffic and pedestrians that may be crossing the intersection. Before accelerating, be sure that all objects, vehicles and pedestrians are out of your way.

8: c. By law, other drivers must yield the right-of-way to any authorized emergency vehicle, by pulling to the right side of the road and stopping. This is important for the safety of you and other drivers, and allows the emergency driver to help those in need.

9: a. When you come across a flashing light, highway officials are cautioning you to slow down and proceed carefully. Reduce your speed and keep your eyes open for potential changes in traffic conditions.

10: d. The two-second rule will help you gauge whether or not you are following at a safe distance. It is very easy, particularly at higher speeds or if you are in a hurry, to follow another vehicle too closely. Take your time and use good judgment. If you leave late, expect to arrive late. Don’t be in a hurry and endanger yourself and others.

11: b. Right-of-way should be given—never assume that you have the right-of-way, even if the traffic situation dictates such. Other drivers may be distracted or seeing the same situation from a different point of view. Always use caution and drive defensively.

12: b. A flashing red signal light requires the same driver actions as a stop sign. You must stop, give way to other traffic, and then proceed once the way is clear.

13: b. Turning into a skid will help you regain control of the car. Applying the brakes can increase the intensity of the skid, as can acceleration.

14: d. Accidents can be scary, so all of the above steps are important. Stay calm and take things one step at a time. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of the officer(s) on the scene if there is something you don’t understand. Tell your parents the truth and work together with them to address the situation.

15: c. The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud estimates the annual cost of insurance fraud to be $79 billion per year. This means each family pays more than $900 each year for goods and services—in excess of actual costs—just because of insurance fraud. Committing insurance fraud is a crime, and states are becomingly increasingly aggressive at detecting and stopping insurance fraud.

16: d. All of the above. If you have a car phone, call for help. If you have flares in your car, light two and put one in front and one in back of your car to alert other drivers. Trust your instincts and use your best judgment as in any emergency situation.