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DMV Permit · Emergencies

What is the danger of driving while distracted (such as texting)?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

Distraction takes your eyes, hands, and attention off driving, greatly increasing the risk of a crash — texting is especially dangerous because it involves all three

  1. A There is no danger
  2. B It is only dangerous at night
  3. C It improves reaction time
  4. D Distraction takes your eyes, hands, and attention off driving, greatly increasing the risk of a crash — texting is especially dangerous because it involves all three

Why this is the answer

DISTRACTED DRIVING greatly increases crash risk because it takes your EYES off the road (visual), HANDS off the wheel (manual), and/or MIND off driving (cognitive). TEXTING is especially dangerous because it involves ALL THREE types of distraction at once. DMV/permit test. At highway speed, looking away for even a few seconds means traveling the length of a football field essentially blind. Many states BAN texting/handheld phone use while driving. Other distractions: eating, grooming, adjusting controls, passengers. The safest practice is to put the phone away and focus solely on driving. Understanding the dangers of distracted driving (especially texting) is a heavily emphasized, commonly tested safety concept.
Source: DMV Permit — Distracted Driving

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About this topic: Emergencies

Blowouts, brake failures, off-road excursions, and skids are rare but high-stakes. Practiced responses prevent panic reactions that can turn a recoverable situation into a fatal one. This is one of 11 DMV Permit questions on emergencies, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our DMV Permit exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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