You are about to drive a car last used by a much taller driver. When should you adjust the seat and mirrors?
Correct answer: Before moving the car.
Set your seating position and mirrors before driving so you can reach the controls and observe traffic without making distracting adjustments in motion.
Source: Connecticut Driver's Manual, revised March 2023; printed p. 12; PDF p. 14 — Interior Equipment: Mirrors ↗
Before a trip, you want the recommended tire pressure for your car. Which reference does the manual identify?
Correct answer: The owner's manual or the driver-side door-jamb label.
Use the vehicle manufacturer's recommended pressure. Appearance and another car's settings do not establish the right pressure for your vehicle.
Source: Connecticut Driver's Manual, revised March 2023; printed p. 11; PDF p. 13 — Exterior Equipment: Tires ↗
You are warming up a car in a closed garage. What is the safe decision?
Correct answer: Do not run the engine in the closed garage.
Exhaust gases can be deadly. The manual warns never to run the engine in a closed garage; smell is not a dependable warning.
Source: Connecticut Driver's Manual, revised March 2023; printed p. 12; PDF p. 14 — Exterior Equipment: Exhaust System ↗
A bottle is loose on the driver's floor and a heavy bag is loose on the rear seat. What should happen before driving?
Correct answer: Secure them so they cannot strike someone or interfere with a pedal.
Loose objects can become hazards in a sudden stop. An object rolling beneath the brake pedal can also prevent effective braking.
Source: Connecticut Driver's Manual, revised March 2023; printed p. 12; PDF p. 14 — Interior Equipment: Loose Objects ↗
An adult rear-seat passenger says airbags make a seat belt unnecessary. What is the correct response?
Correct answer: The passenger still needs to wear the seat belt.
Connecticut requires seat belts for drivers and passengers. Airbags supplement restraints; they do not replace the belt.
Source: Connecticut Driver's Manual, revised March 2023; printed p. 12; PDF p. 14 — Connecticut Seat Belt Laws ↗
A child is 18 months old and weighs 33 pounds. Which restraint direction is required?
Correct answer: Rear-facing, in an appropriate child safety seat.
Being younger than two is enough to require rear-facing even when weight exceeds 30 pounds. Age and weight must both be considered.
Source: Connecticut DMV — What are Connecticut Child Passenger Safety Laws? rear-facing requirement ↗
A six-year-old weighs 50 pounds. Which choice meets the DMV's stated restraint category?
Correct answer: A suitable booster seat or five-point-harness restraint.
The DMV places this age and weight in the booster or five-point-harness category. Use an appropriate restraint according to its fit and manufacturer's instructions.
Source: Connecticut DMV — What are Connecticut Child Passenger Safety Laws? ages five to eight ↗
The front passenger seat has a working airbag. Where must you not place a rear-facing child restraint?
Correct answer: In that front passenger seat.
Connecticut prohibits placing a rear-facing child restraint in front of a functional passenger-side airbag. A rear-facing child seat must not be exposed to that deploying airbag.
Source: Connecticut Driver's Manual, revised March 2023; printed p. 12; PDF p. 14 — Child Safety Requirements: active passenger airbag ↗
Rain requires you to switch on the windshield wipers. What else should you switch on?
Correct answer: The headlights.
The manual states that when wipers are used, headlights must also be on. Headlights help other road users see your vehicle in the rain.
Source: Connecticut Driver's Manual, revised March 2023; printed p. 38; PDF p. 40 — Lights: wipers and headlights ↗
During ordinary braking, your car consistently pulls to one side and the pedal feels abnormal. What should you do?
Correct answer: Have the braking system checked and serviced before relying on the car for normal travel.
Pulling, unusual pedal behavior, noise or odor can indicate a braking problem. The manual directs drivers to have defective brakes checked rather than continuing to compensate for them.
Source: Connecticut Driver's Manual, revised March 2023; printed p. 11; PDF p. 13 — Exterior Equipment: braking system ↗
Frost covers the car's windows before a winter trip. What should you do?
Correct answer: Clear all windows so you have an unobstructed view before driving.
Clear snow, ice and frost from all windows, not just a small forward patch. You need side and rear visibility as well as a clear windshield.
Source: Connecticut Driver's Manual, revised March 2023; printed p. 11; PDF p. 13 — Exterior Equipment: windshield, wipers and windows ↗
