Key points
90% of driving decisions are based on what you see.
Source: Handbook p. 49
“Driving requires decision making and critical thinking, and 90% of driving decisions are based on what we see.”
Montana Driver Manual, Handbook p. 49Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds; at 55 mph that is a football field driven blind.
Source: Handbook p. 49
“Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field while blindfolded.”
Montana Driver Manual, Handbook p. 49Look at least 10 seconds ahead. In the city that is about one block; on the highway about a quarter of a mile.
Source: Handbook p. 52
“In the city, 10 seconds is about one block. When you drive in city traffic, try to look at least one block ahead. On the highway, 10 seconds is about four city blocks or a quarter of a mile.”
Montana Driver Manual, Handbook p. 52Watch for red light runners, especially just after your light turns green.
Source: Handbook p. 53
“Always be watchful for red-light runners. This is especially important just after your light has turned green.”
Montana Driver Manual, Handbook p. 53Before changing lanes, look over your shoulder: blind spots cannot be seen in your mirrors.
Source: Handbook p. 54
“These areas are called “blind spots” because you cannot see them through your mirrors. You have to turn your head and look.”
Montana Driver Manual, Handbook p. 54When backing, turn and look directly through the rear window instead of relying on mirrors.
Source: Handbook p. 55
“Place your right arm on the back of the seat and turn around so that you can look directly through the rear window.”
Montana Driver Manual, Handbook p. 55Tinted and some photo gray lenses can cut up to 30% of your night vision.
Source: Handbook p. 55
“Even tinted and some “photo gray” lenses can detract up to 30% of your night vision.”
Montana Driver Manual, Handbook p. 55On long drives, stop at least every two hours for a short break.
Source: Handbook p. 55
“When you are fatigued, stop at least every two hours for a short break”
Montana Driver Manual, Handbook p. 55If you must stop where others do not expect it, tap the brake pedal three or four times quickly.
Source: Handbook p. 58
“tap your brake pedal three or four times quickly to let those behind you know you are about to slow down.”
Montana Driver Manual, Handbook p. 58Montana requires at least 20/40 vision in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses.
Source: Handbook p. 70
“This test measures that you have at least 20/40 vision in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses.”
Montana Driver Manual, Handbook p. 70
Numbers to know
| Number | What it means | Manual |
|---|---|---|
| 90% | share of driving decisions based on what you see | Handbook p. 49 |
| 5 seconds at 55 mph | eyes off the road to send or read a text | Handbook p. 49 |
| 10 seconds | how far ahead to look: one city block or a quarter mile on the highway | Handbook p. 52 |
| 30% | night vision lost with tinted lenses | Handbook p. 55 |
| 2 hours | take a break at least this often when tired | Handbook p. 55 |
| 3 or 4 taps | brake taps to warn drivers behind you | Handbook p. 58 |
| 20/40 | minimum vision in at least one eye | Handbook p. 70 |
3 questions from the Montana practice test
1. What share of driving decisions are based on what we see, according to the Montana manual?
- 50 percent
- 25 percent
- 10 percent
- 90 percent
Show answer
90 percent. Driving requires decision making and critical thinking, and 90 percent of driving decisions are based on what we see, which is why the vision test requires at least 20/40 in one eye and why night driving is so much harder. At night you must be able to stop within the roughly 400 feet your headlights illuminate. Keep windows and lights clean.
2. Which check is required immediately before changing lanes?
- Look over your shoulder for traffic in the blind spot
- Rely on the rearview mirror without turning your head
- Check only the lane ahead and ignore traffic behind
- Turn on hazard flashers and move without signaling
Show answer
Look over your shoulder for traffic in the blind spot. Mirrors cannot show every area beside and behind a vehicle. Montana tells drivers to look over the shoulder in the direction of movement because the rear corners are blind spots. Mirror-only scanning can miss a motorcycle or car positioned outside the reflected view. Ignoring traffic behind removes a crucial safety check, and hazard flashers do not communicate which lane you intend to enter. Signal, inspect the mirrors, then make a quick shoulder check immediately before moving so the decision reflects current traffic.
3. At an uncontrolled intersection, what should a Montana driver do?
- Stop every time, even when the roadway is empty
- Maintain speed because no sign assigns right of way
- Cover the brake, look left, right, and left, and be ready to yield
- Yield only to vehicles approaching from the left
Show answer
Cover the brake, look left, right, and left, and be ready to yield. At an uncontrolled intersection, the driver should remove the foot from the accelerator, cover the brake, scan left, right, and left again, and prepare to yield. Maintaining speed ignores hidden hazards, while stopping every time overstates the rule. Limiting attention to the left misses traffic from the other direction and pedestrians. The repeated scan is the practical cue before crossing or turning through the intersection.
Practice this topic
Lock it in with safe driving questions from the free Montana practice test. Every answer comes with a plain English explanation.
Source: the Montana Driver Manual, Chapter 5: How to Drive Safely. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.