You're driving on a multi-lane Oregon street and another vehicle is alongside you in the next lane. What's the side-cushion recommendation?
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A.
Match speed and stay parallel to keep traffic flow predictable.
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B.
Keep a steady lateral distance between the vehicles.
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C.
Drop back a little or move ahead so you're not parallel. Correct
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D.
Change lanes to put more distance between you and the other vehicle.
The answer is "Drop back a little or move ahead so you're not parallel."
Be cautious when driving alongside other vehicles on multi-lane streets; someone may crowd your lane or try to change into it. Where possible, drop back a little or move ahead so you're not parallel for an extended time. Driving in the center of your lane also gives room to move left or right if a problem develops. D swaps in a lane change for the manual's actual instruction, which keeps you in your lane and shifts your longitudinal position instead.
The traps in the wrong answers
A. Match speed and stay parallel to keep traffic flow predictable.
Staying parallel is exactly what the handbook tells you to avoid; drop back or move ahead. This answer inverts the rule. The manual tells you to drop back or move ahead specifically so you are not parallel for an extended time.
B. Keep a steady lateral distance between the vehicles.
Static lateral spacing is not the goal; the manual tells you to drop back or move ahead so you're not parallel. This answer treats the side cushion as a fixed lateral gap to maintain while parallel, when the rule is a positional change that breaks parallel travel.
D. Change lanes to put more distance between you and the other vehicle.
The side-cushion rule adjusts your position within your lane (drop back or move ahead); it does not call for a lane change. This answer substitutes a lane change for the manual's actual instruction, which keeps you in your lane and shifts your longitudinal position instead.
This question tests your knowledge of Defensive Driving in Oregon. Source: Oregon Driver Manual, "Side Space Cushion," p.28..
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