When backing up your vehicle, what is the safest practice?
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A.
Use only the rearview mirror: it gives the clearest view.
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B.
Turn your body and head to the right, look out the rear window, back slowly. Correct
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C.
Back up at normal forward speed to clear the area quickly.
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D.
Rely on the backup camera alone; it shows everything behind you.
The answer is "Turn your body and head to the right, look out the rear window, back slowly."
Mirrors do not give a full view when backing up. The handbook tells you to turn your body and head to the right and look out through the rear window, glance to either side for pedestrians and approaching traffic, then back up slowly so you have time to stop if something appears. D leans on modern equipment the manual never authorizes as a substitute: a backup camera shows a limited area and does not replace turning to look out the rear window yourself.
The traps in the wrong answers
A. Use only the rearview mirror: it gives the clearest view.
The handbook says mirrors do not give you a full view; you must turn your body and head and look out the rear window. This answer treats mirrors as sufficient, contradicting the handbook's explicit statement that mirrors do not give a full view.
C. Back up at normal forward speed to clear the area quickly.
The handbook directs you to back up slowly; fast backing leaves no time to react to a pedestrian or vehicle. This answer ignores the handbook's instruction to back up slowly and substitutes a normal forward speed.
D. Rely on the backup camera alone; it shows everything behind you.
The handbook's method is to turn your body and head and look out through the rear window. A camera shows a limited area and does not replace the direct look. This answer substitutes camera reliance for the handbook's turn-your-body-and-look-out-the-rear-window procedure, which the manual does not authorize.
This question tests your knowledge of Defensive Driving in Oregon. Source: Oregon Driver Manual, "Backing Up," p.29..
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