One of the strategies of defensive driving is:
- Looking straight ahead as you drive.
- Staying alert and keeping your eyes moving. ✓
- Expecting that other drivers will make up for your errors.
- Being confident that you can avoid danger at the last minute.
Answer: B. Staying alert and keeping your eyes moving.
The correct choice is staying alert and keeping your eyes moving.
Why this is the answer
The New York manual says traffic conditions change continuously and that you should always scan the road ahead. It warns against focusing only on the road or the vehicle in front. It advises keeping your eyes moving, watching what happens at the sides of the road, and checking your mirrors every few seconds. It also says to anticipate mistakes by other drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. That supports staying alert and keeping your eyes moving instead of relying on a fixed stare or expecting others to correct errors.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Looking straight ahead as you drive. — Looking straight ahead as you drive is wrong because the manual says not to use the road or the vehicle ahead as your only points of focus.
- C. Expecting that other drivers will make up for your errors. — Expecting other drivers to make up for your errors is wrong because the manual says to anticipate errors by others and think about what you will do if one occurs.
- D. Being confident that you can avoid danger at the last minute. — Being confident that you can avoid danger at the last minute is wrong because the manual emphasizes looking ahead to prevent or decrease possible problems.
Remember it
Think of your eyes as a scanning tool: ahead, sides, mirrors, repeat.