Testing your road knowledge
Massachusetts drivers know less about driving than almost anyone else in the country. That's the conclusion of a recent survey by the GMAC Insurance Group that found drivers in 44 other states know more about the rules of the road than we do.
Naturally, I'd be the first to say that we could all benefit by improving our driving know-how. Our scant knowledge on everything from busted traffic lights to passing on the right is what's kept this column, entering its fourth year this week, relevant to our daily driving lives.
Still, I hardly see GMAC's survey as a badge of shame. Massachusetts drivers got nearly 15 of the 20 test questions right. In the top two states, Idaho and Wisconsin, drivers averaged just over 16 questions right. That's a puny difference between first and near-last.
You're welcome to take the test on GMAC's website (www.gmacinsurance.com/SafeDriving/), but allow me to offer another challenge, based, of course, on everything you've (hopefully) learned from this column. Since we don't have space for 20 questions, we'll stick to 10. They're tough, so 50 percent is a passing grade. Thanks for reading, and good luck.
1) Which of the following was an actual excuse for a getting out of a parking ticket, according to Boston assistant parking cerk Gina Fiandaca?
A) Aliens abducted my car and accidentally returned it to a no-parking zone
B) Just as I was about to feed the meter I was transported back in time to 1977 like the cast of "Lost"
C) I vowed not to drive my car on Earth Day, thus, I couldn't move it for the street sweeper
D) I thought yellow paint on the curb meant that yellow cars CAN park there
E) I used an old "Standing Liberty" quarter from 1930 that the parking meter failed to recognize
2) By law, when are you supposed to put on your turning signal?
A) 100 feet before turning
B) 500 feet before exiting a highway
C) The car in front of me didn't, so why bother?
D) The law doesn't dictate a set distance
E) A and B
3) What's the recommendation when using a factory-issued spare tire?
A) It's just like any other tire, so don't drive any differently
B) You shouldn't drive more than 100 miles on one
C) You should never drive off-road on it
D) Try not to go faster than 60 miles per hour
4) How many different licenses does a Duck Boat captain need - 1, 2, 3 or 4? Bonus: can you name them? 5) You're in a fender-bender, but no one is hurt. Under what conditions do you have to report the accident to the police?
A) You report it only if you and the other driver can't reach a settlement
B) By law you must report it if $750 of damage has been caused
C) By law you must report if $1,000 or more in damage has been caused
D) If it's not your fault and your car isn't damaged, you never have to report it
6) Could Paul Revere make his midnight ride today without breaking traffic rules? A) Nope. Horses aren't allowed on paved roads
B) He could ride only in Concord and Lincoln where old farming rules still apply
C) Yes. On local roads horses still have the right of way
D) Yes, but he'd have to wear a bicycle helmet and headlight
E) He'd be nabbed on pooper-scooper laws for sure
7) State law deems you are tailgating if you are not:
A) At least three car lengths behind the next car
B) Trailing by a car length's distance for every 10 miles of speed
C) Trailing by at least 20 feet on local roads; 50 feet on highways
D) State laws don't specify a specific distance for tailgating
8) Is it dangerous to be on your cellphone while pumping gas? A) Yes. State fire officials say that static electricity from a phone can spark a fire
B) No. The "spark" warning is unproven, so state fire officials say you should be perfectly safe
9) Your car battery is dead because you left the lights on overnight. Have you harmed the battery? A) Your battery might be 10 percent less effective
B) Your battery might be more susceptible to leaks
C) You've caused no long-term damage
D) As long as your battery is less than 3 years old you should be fine
10) You come to an intersection where the traffic lights are all powered off. What does the law say you're supposed to do?
A) Stop, of course
B) Stop and honk your horn before proceeding
C) You merely need to slow down before crossing
D) Stop, then yell a warning like, "Ready or not, here I come!"
Answer key:
1) A 2) D, though A and B are good recommendations 3) D 4) Four. They are a commercial driver's license, a launch tender's license from the Coast Guard, and licenses from Boston and Cambridge to conduct sightseeing tours 5) C 6) Answer: C, but he would indeed have to scoop the poop 7) D, but B is a good recommendation 8) B 9) A 10) C 