Driver's License Test Prep
Oregon Practice Safety Belts & Restraints

According to the manual, where should you never put the shoulder strap of a safety belt?

  1. A.
    Under the arm or behind the back. Correct
  2. B.
    Across the chest from shoulder to opposite hip.
  3. C.
    Snug against the chest with no slack.
  4. D.
    Over the front of the shoulder.
The Why

The answer is "Under the arm or behind the back."

The manual prints exactly two shoulder-strap prohibitions: never under your arm and never behind your back. Either routing defeats the belt's job of holding your upper body in a collision. The other three positions describe a properly worn belt: the strap crosses the chest from the shoulder to the opposite hip, rests over the front of the shoulder, and stays snug, because the manual also says not to leave slack in the lap or shoulder portion. Read the stem closely: the question asks for the forbidden placement, and the snug, slack-free fit is the required condition, not the prohibited one.

Why the others miss

The traps in the wrong answers

B. Across the chest from shoulder to opposite hip.

Across the chest from shoulder to opposite hip is the proper routing for the shoulder strap, not a position the manual forbids. Misreading: Mistakes the proper across-the-chest routing for one of the positions the manual prohibits.

C. Snug against the chest with no slack.

A snug, slack-free fit is what the manual requires. 'Do not leave slack' is a command to keep the belt snug, not a prohibited position. Misreading: Inverts the manual's 'do not leave slack' instruction, reading the required snug fit as the forbidden condition.

D. Over the front of the shoulder.

The strap is supposed to rest over the front of the shoulder on its way across the chest; the manual prohibits under the arm, not over the shoulder. Misreading: Confuses the proper over-the-shoulder contact point with the prohibited under-the-arm routing.

The Rule

This question tests your knowledge of Safety Belts & Restraints in Oregon. Source: Oregon Driver Manual, "Safe & Responsible Driving, Safety Belts," p.73..

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