This chapter covers the driving habits that keep you and others safe: defensive driving, safe following distances using the three-second rule, adjusting speed for road and weather conditions, and recognizing drowsy driving.
It also covers driving in fog, rain, high winds, and winter conditions, plus expressway merging and lane use, night driving, and how to react to curves, head-on approaches, and skidding — these situational rules are heavily tested.
A common mistake is braking hard when a vehicle skids or hydroplanes; the correct response is to ease off the gas or brakes, not brake suddenly. The chapter also covers what to do in emergencies such as vehicle fires, being stranded, or a tire blowout — in each case the instinct to brake hard or panic is usually wrong.
What is the three-second rule and why does it matter?⌄
Pick a fixed point on the road, like a sign; when the vehicle ahead of you passes it, start counting "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two..." If you reach that point before "one-thousand-three," you are following too closely. It's the standard way Illinois drivers are taught to judge a safe following distance, and it should be increased in poor weather.
What should you do if your vehicle starts to skid?⌄
Ease off the gas pedal or brakes, steer in the direction of the skid until you regain traction, and then straighten the vehicle. Braking hard or steering opposite the skid can make you lose control.
What is the safest response to a tire blowout?⌄
Ease your foot off the gas pedal, keep a firm grip on the steering wheel, and pull safely off the roadway before checking the tires — do not brake suddenly.