So after spending the last few months illegally driving our car, I was finally able to actually apply and take the test to get my Asian driver's license. (Lack of a U.S driver's license and then the wrong kind of visa made it so I couldn't get it done earlier, I'm not just a total slacker.) A few weeks ago I had to fill out paperwork, travel half way across the city to apply for a test appointment and get an "eye exam", but then this morning was the big day of my actual test. When you already have a valid foreign driver's license, you don't have to take a road test, just a written one. In order to prepare for the test, when you register for a test time they give you a manual to study.
Well I got my manual 3 weeks ago, but it wasn't until yesterday afternoon while cleaning up for Miriam's birthday party that I found it under the coffee table and remembered that I actually needed to study and prepare for my test. That set me off on a small panic attack because it is a huge hassle to take the test and I was really worried that I might not pass the test and have to do it all over again. So after the kids got to bed last night, I grabbed the manual and started my cram session.
Unlike what you might expect, the driver's license manual is not a manual containing all the traffic laws and regulations. It is a set of around 1000 multiple choice and true/false questions. The questions cover a whole range of traffic-related (and sometimes not-so-related) topics, and when you take the test the computer randomly chooses 100 of these questions for you to answer. In order to pass the test, you must answer at least 90 of the questions correctly. So studying for the test is not really so much about learning actual traffic laws and regulations as it is about learning the answers to the questions.
The more I read of the manual, the more material for this blog I found. Because I would estimate that only about 40% of the questions in the book were on topics actually important or useful to someone trying to learn the traffic rules for this country. And maybe I'm being really generous with the 40%. If I think about what percentage of what I learned actually informed me of something that would impact how I drive, the percentage would be maybe 2%.
Most of the questions were merely useless, but some were astoundingly useless, humorously obvious, or at least completely irrelevant to determining if a person understands the traffic rules necessary to safely drive a vehicle. Here are a few random samplings:
No unit or individual is allowed to illegally assemble a motorized vehicle. Answer: Right
The motorized vehicle driver should apply to the issuing vehicle management station for license change, within 90 days after the expiration of his driving license. Answer : Wrong (unfortunately I only know this answer is wrong, not what the right answer is...)
The objects of compensation liability of the mandatory traffic accident insurance of motorized vehicles include the drivers of the insured vehicles. Answer: Wrong (so my accident insurance doesn't cover either me or the other driver? Then who does it cover?)
When running at high speed, the steering wheel can have a feel of "being deprived" due to the impact of __________. The driver should firmly hold the steering wheel and drives at a lower speed.
A. Ice and snow
B. Heavy rain
C. Side Wind
D. Fog
I included this one because I never remembered feeling deprived when driving before. (Answer C)
The main impact of the road conditions at night on safe driving is ____________.
A. The visibility is low and unfavorable for observing road traffic conditions
B. The road surface is complex and changing
C. The physical strength of the driver decreases
D. The driver can easily have impulse and Illusion
When another driver asks directions while driving, the driver should __________
A. Ignore it
B. Answer with patience
C. Find an excuse to reject
D. Answer for a pay
When discovering the persons injured in a traffic accident need rescue while driving, the driver should __________.
A. Send the injured persons to hospital in a timely manner or make emergency call
B. Dodge as much as possible
C. Leave as fast as possible
D. Find an excuse to dodge the scene
Does anyone else find the last 3 answers to be remarkably similar? And btw, the last three answers are exactly what 95% of the population would do
When overtaking, the driver should _____ if the vehicle in front refuses to reduce speed or yield.
A. Continuously honk and speed up to overtake
B. Speed up to overtake forcefully
C. Stop overtaking
D. Overtake by using the lane for non-motorized vehicles
This really made me laugh because A,B and D are what happen every time this situation occurs here.
When discovering a congestion at the intersection ahead, the correct way to deal with thi situation is to _________.
A. Continue to weave through
B. Find space and overtake one vehicle after another
C. Honk to indicate the vehicle in front to speed up
D. Stop and wait in line
Same thing...happens every time
When a head-on collision is unavoidable, the driver should free the steering wheel, raise the legs and lie sideward on the right seat at the moment of the head-on collision. This can ensure his body is not stuck by the steering wheel. Answer: Right. Is it just me or does it seem like if the guy can do all that he might want to focus his energies a little more on slowing the vehicle down or avoiding the collision?
The pressure indicated by the engine oil pressure meter represents the engine oil pressure of the _______ of the engine.
A. Main oil route
B. Crankshaft box
C. Fuel inlet pipe of the engine oil pump
D. Engine oil pump
I didn't realize I needed to be a mechanic to drive a car. The relevance of this to me??
The accelerator pedal designed to control _______ of the engine or oil pump plunger is used to control the rotation speed of the engine.
A. The accelerator
B. The air throttle
C. The clutch
D. The fuel injector
Honestly?
The maximum free adjustment angle of the steering wheel of a motor vehicle is no more than ________.
A. 5 degrees
B. 30 degrees
C. 10 degrees
D. 20 degrees
When checking a tire, the depth from the tire surface to the bottom of the tread groove should not be less than _______. Otherwise, the tire should be replaced.
A. 1.6mm
B. 1.2mm
C. 1.0mm
D. 0.8mm
I'm offering a prize to anyone who can successfully answer all the mechanic questions :)
When there is a bleeding in an upper limb or shank without bone fracture or joint damage, the bleeding can be stopped by _________.
A. Tourniquet
B. Compression dressing
C. Cushioned limb folding
D. Pressure bondage
You also need a medical degree to drive apparently. The correct answer is C
Stopping bleeding with tourniquet refers to ligating an elastic rubber tube an rubber band at _______ of the upper limb or the middle thigh of the wounded person.
A. One-third
B. One-half
C. Two-thirds
D. Three-quarters
Answer is A in case you ever need the tourniquet definition
When putting a bone fracture in the upper limb in position, the limb must be straightened and tied up. Answer: Wrong. I am terrified at the idea of a random roadside person attempting to do anything to put a bone fracture of my upper limb in position, especially if they are only told what not to do.
My very "favorite" questions of all are the ones about police hand-signals. There are a bunch of pictures of police officers making various traffic hand signals and you are supposed to tell what the hand signals mean. There are two different questions with the absolutely identical picture of the police officer holding his left hand palm-out with his head turned to the right. In the first question, it says this position indicates "a signal for turning left gently". In the second question, it means, "a signal for turning right". Good thing I've never seen a traffic cop giving hand signals. I might run him over in my confusion.
Well I am happy to report that my cram session paid off and I got 99 out of the 100 questions right! Fortunately the hand signals didn't make it onto my test and as of Friday I will have my very own driver's license. Now that I can legally drive my goal is still to do it as infrequently as possible.
