After another person drives your car, you find the seat too far back and the mirrors poorly aimed. When should you correct them?
Correct answer: While safely stopped, before entering traffic.
Set the seat and mirrors before moving so you can reach the controls and observe traffic without distracting adjustments.
Source: Kansas Driving Handbook, revised February 2022, printed/PDF page 26: Seat and Mirror Adjustments ↗
A head restraint sits low behind your neck. What adjustment better protects you in a rear impact?
Correct answer: Raise it to support the back of your head, following the vehicle’s adjustment instructions.
A head restraint should support the head rather than sit low at the neck. Correct adjustment helps limit harmful head movement in a rear impact.
Source: Kansas Driving Handbook, revised February 2022, printed/PDF page 26: Head Restraints ↗
A passenger puts the shoulder belt under an arm for comfort. What is the safer correction?
Correct answer: Place the shoulder belt across the chest and the lap belt low across the hips.
Proper belt routing spreads crash forces over stronger parts of the body. Do not route the shoulder belt under an arm or rely on airbags instead.
Source: Kansas Driving Handbook, revised February 2022, printed/PDF page 27: Safety Belts ↗
Your car has front and side airbags. What should every occupant still do before the car moves?
Correct answer: Use the appropriate properly fastened restraint.
Airbags supplement restraints; they do not replace them. Proper restraints help keep occupants in position and protect in crashes where an airbag may not deploy.
Source: Kansas Driving Handbook, revised February 2022, printed/PDF page 27: Air Bags and Safety Belts ↗
A three-year-old is riding in a passenger car. What restraint is required rather than an adult belt alone?
Correct answer: An appropriate rear-facing or forward-facing child car seat.
Kansas requires children under four to ride in a child car seat. Select and install a seat appropriate for the child using the manufacturer’s instructions.
Source: Kansas Highway Patrol, Child Passenger Safety: Children under four years of age; current page reviewed September 29, 2026 ↗
A six-year-old has outgrown the harnessed seat but weighs 45 pounds and is 4 feet tall. A lap-and-shoulder belt is available. What is the appropriate next restraint?
Correct answer: A properly used booster seat with the lap-and-shoulder belt.
This child has not reached the age or size conditions for leaving the booster requirement. A booster positions the lap-and-shoulder belt correctly; continue to follow the seat’s limits and instructions.
Source: Kansas Highway Patrol, Child Passenger Safety: Children 4 through 7 years of age; current page reviewed September 29, 2026 ↗
You are installing a rear-facing infant seat and the front passenger airbag is active. Which location should you avoid?
Correct answer: The front seat directly in front of that active airbag.
Never put a rear-facing child seat in front of an active airbag. Use a suitable rear position and follow the vehicle and child-seat instructions.
Source: Kansas Driving Handbook, revised February 2022, printed/PDF page 28: Child Passenger Safety ↗
Before a trip, which reference should you use to set the car’s recommended tire pressure?
Correct answer: The vehicle’s door-jamb label or owner’s manual, checked with a pressure gauge.
Use the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressure and a gauge. Visual appearance and the tire’s maximum rating do not establish the proper pressure for the car.
Source: Kansas Driving Handbook, revised February 2022, printed/PDF page 96: External Inspection—Tires ↗
During a walk-around, you find a badly damaged tire and an unexplained fluid puddle. What should you do?
Correct answer: Have the problems checked and corrected before driving.
A walk-around is meant to find unsafe conditions before a trip. Tire damage and fluid loss can indicate failures that starting the engine will not reveal.
Source: Kansas Driving Handbook, revised February 2022, printed/PDF page 96: External Inspection—Leaks and Tires ↗
After the engine overheats, you want to inspect the coolant. What should you avoid?
Correct answer: Opening the radiator cap while the engine is hot.
The handbook warns never to open the radiator cap on a hot vehicle. Let it cool before following the appropriate inspection procedure.
Source: Kansas Driving Handbook, revised February 2022, printed/PDF page 97: Check Your Fluids—Coolant ↗
Rain is forecast and your wipers leave a broad smear across the windshield. What is the best preparation?
Correct answer: Repair or replace the faulty wiping equipment before relying on it in rain.
Worn or damaged wipers reduce visibility. Windows, washers and wipers need to be in usable condition before adverse weather makes them essential.
Source: Kansas Driving Handbook, revised February 2022, printed/PDF page 97: Windows, Wipers and Washers ↗
You checked behind the car before getting in, but children are playing nearby. As you back out, what should you do?
Correct answer: Back slowly while continuing to look directly behind and check around the vehicle.
People can enter the area after an initial check. Back slowly and keep checking the rear and surrounding area; mirrors do not show everything.
Source: Kansas Driving Handbook, revised February 2022, printed/PDF page 32: Backing ↗
