Louisiana Class D Chauffeur's License Practice Test

What should you do if your brake lights do not work?

1. Use your hand signals to indicate stopping or turning

2. Drive cautiously and hope others see you

3. Turn on your hazard lights to alert others

4. Install new brake lights immediately

The correct answer is: Use your hand signals to indicate stopping or turning

Using hand signals to indicate stopping or turning is the correct course of action if your brake lights are not functioning. When driving, effective communication with other road users is crucial for safety. If your brake lights are out, other drivers may not be aware of your intentions to slow down or make a turn, which could lead to misunderstandings and accidents. Hand signals, such as extending your arm straight out to indicate a left turn or bending your arm upwards to signal a right turn, provide a visual cue to drivers behind you. This helps ensure that they have some form of warning regarding your movements, thereby enhancing safety on the road even in the absence of functional brake lights. While using hazard lights might seem like a reasonable alternative to alert other drivers, they serve a different purpose and may not effectively convey your specific driving intentions. Driving cautiously and hoping others see you does not provide adequate communication and puts you at risk. Installing new brake lights should indeed be done promptly, but it does not address the immediate need for communication while driving with defective lights.