GMAC Test

[DUD]

I received this from My Nephew in Nashville, He stated that 1 in 11 people Who took the test made below 70%. I took it and missed Number 13, and made 95%. See what You can do. Bill

http://www.gmacinsurance.com/SafeDriving/2006/test.asp

[crokett]

I did not miss any. The pedestrian right of way was tricky.

[gmack5]

Horay!

I got them all right, 100% !!
If an old man can do it, what's wrong with you youngsters?

[cabinetman]

The bright oncoming headlights got me.



A THING OF BEAUTY IS A JOY FOREVER - John Keats

[LarryG]

I got 95%, missing #7. However, I disagree with the "correct" answer:

7. When waiting to make a left turn, you should give the right-of-way to vehicles coming from the opposite direction: (Select one)

a. Until at least two vehicles have passed
b. Until dangerously close cars have passed
c. Until all of the cars have passed

I said B, interpreting "dangerously close cars" to mean those I could not turn in front of without a reasonable and prudent margin of safety. The "correct" answer is supposedly C. But what if I can see on oncoming car a quarter mile down the road ... I'm legally supposed to wait until he passes? No way. As the question is worded, the correct answer is "B."

[cabinetman]

I got 95%, missing #7. I said B, interpreting "dangerously close cars" to mean those I could not turn in front of without a reasonable and prudent margin of safety. The "correct" answer is supposedly C. But what if I can see on oncoming car a quarter mile down the road ... I'm legally supposed to wait until he passes? No way. As the question is worded, the correct answer is "B."

Changing direction requires you to yield to oncoming cars. What if that oncoming car decided to "gun" it? What if you misjudged his/her speed or combination of speed and distance?



A THING OF BEAUTY IS A JOY FOREVER - John Keats

[LarryG]

Changing direction requires you to yield to oncoming cars. What if that oncoming car decided to "gun" it? What if you misjudged his/her speed or combination of speed and distance?

All right, what if I can see twice as far, a half mile down the road, like I easily can at night, on the road on which I live? C'mon.

Everything about driving is about judgment. If there's more than enough room to safely pass, and I sit there and wait ... and wait ... and wait ... if there's a policeman in the car behind me, he's going to walk up to my window and tell me to get the h3ll out of the way, to stop holding up traffic.

[TheRic]

Got 100%!!

Larry I agree with you. I debated about that one for a while. There were a few I thought were "Come on, someone doesn't know that!", others I thought about what about in this instance, or that, it could be one of several answers.

[cabinetman]

All right, what if I can see twice as far, a half mile down the road, like I easily can at night, on the road on which I live? C'mon.

Everything about driving is about judgment. If there's more than enough room to safely pass, and I sit there and wait ... and wait ... and wait ... if there's a policeman in the car behind me, he's going to walk up to my window and tell me to get the h3ll out of the way, to stop holding up traffic.

Yeah, then you get outta the way. In fact, according to your scenario, if you do turn, and the oncoming car has to swerve and crashes into a Dairy Queen hitting 5 people standing in line, and demolishing 2 of those really cool concrete benches with the tile inserts, and the driver suffers permanent stress symptoms that have to be treated every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, you would be responsible.



A THING OF BEAUTY IS A JOY FOREVER - John Keats

[TB Roye]

100 % now maybe LOML will stop right seat driving.

Tom

[Mrs. Wallnut]

I got 85%, and missed #1 and #7. I agree with Larry on #7, around here we can usually see for a ways so I think that one is a judgement type call. But hey I was pretty proud of myself for only missing those.

I think living with a truck driver helped me remember some of those things, because when I drive and he is with me he reminds me of those kinds of things all the time.

[LarryG]

All right, cabman, tell me this: if you're making a left turn across a traffic lane, and can see an oncoming vehicle, NO MATTER HOW FAR AWAY IT IS, do you sit and wait for him to pass?

The law requires a driver to yield to any vehicle close enough to be a hazard. Which is another way of saying "dangerously close."

[cabinetman]

All right, cabman, tell me this: if you're making a left turn across a traffic lane, and can see an oncoming vehicle, NO MATTER HOW FAR AWAY IT IS, do you sit and wait for him to pass?

Heck no. I'll cut the S.O.B. off. I don't wait for anybody.



A THING OF BEAUTY IS A JOY FOREVER - John Keats

[crokett]

All right, cabman, tell me this: if you're making a left turn across a traffic lane, and can see an oncoming vehicle, NO MATTER HOW FAR AWAY IT IS, do you sit and wait for him to pass?

Larry, ya gotta remember this is an insurance co giving the test. I looked at that one too, then gave the answer I knew they wanted. But in the real world, I am not waiting for all the cars to pass.

[LarryG]

Good point, David.

Here's the relevant excerpt from my state's Driver's Handbook. This is not the actual traffic code, but it is a plain-language interpretation in an official State publication:

"When making a left turn within an intersection or into an alley, driveway,
or private road, you must yield the right of way to any vehicle approaching
from the opposite direction when it is within the intersection or so
close as to constitute an immediate hazard."

I also did a Google search and found a similar interpretation of the New York State traffic code. The words are a little different but it says exactly the same thing:

"For any left turn, the law requires you to yield to any approaching traffic close enough to be a hazard. Deciding when traffic is too close takes experience and judgment. If you have any doubt, wait for traffic to pass before turning left."