Accident Avoidance Course
Army Accident Avoidance Course covering the Smith System 5 Keys, defensive driving techniques, skid control, following distance, adverse weather driving, night driving, vehicle inspection (PMCS), and risk management for military vehicle operations.
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01What are the 5 Keys of the Smith System of defensive driving?
1) Aim High in Steering, 2) Get the Big Picture, 3) Keep Your Eyes Moving, 4) Leave Yourself an Out, 5) Make Sure They See You.
02What is the mnemonic to remember the Smith System 5 Keys?
'All Good Kids Like Milk' — Aim high, Get the big picture, Keep your eyes moving, Leave yourself an out, Make sure they see you.
03What does 'Aim High in Steering' mean in the Smith System?
Look well ahead of your vehicle — at least 15 seconds of eye-lead time — to see potential hazards early, allowing more time for decisions and actions.
04What does 'Get the Big Picture' mean in the Smith System?
Maintain awareness of the entire traffic environment around your vehicle, not just the road directly ahead. Fewer mistakes are made when you have the complete traffic picture.
05What does 'Keep Your Eyes Moving' mean in the Smith System?
Continuously scan the driving environment — check mirrors and gauges every 5 to 8 seconds. Proper scanning separates safe drivers from those who make costly errors.
06What does 'Leave Yourself an Out' mean in the Smith System?
Maintain adequate space around your vehicle at all times. Space is all that separates you from a collision — always have an escape route available.
07What does 'Make Sure They See You' mean in the Smith System?
Ensure other drivers are aware of your presence and intentions through proper use of turn signals, headlights, horn, and making eye contact when appropriate.
08How often must personnel retake the Army Accident Avoidance Course?
Every 4 years. The AAC certificate is valid for 4 years from completion.
09Who is required to complete the Army Accident Avoidance Course?
All Soldiers, civilian employees, and contractor employees who operate any Army-owned or leased vehicles.
10What is PMCS?
Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services — a systematic inspection of a military vehicle before, during, and after operation to ensure it is safe and mission-ready.
11When should PMCS be performed?
Before operation (before-operation checks), during operation (during-operation checks), and after operation (after-operation checks).
12What is the recommended following distance in normal driving conditions?
At least 2-4 seconds behind the vehicle ahead. Use the 'two-second rule' as a minimum — pick a fixed object and count the time between when the lead vehicle passes it and when you pass it.
13How should following distance be adjusted in adverse conditions?
Increase following distance significantly — at least double in rain, and up to 10 times the normal distance on ice or snow.
14What is the primary responsibility of an operator involved in a vehicle accident?
Report the accident immediately through the chain of command, no matter how minor it appears.
15What are the three main types of driver distraction?
Visual (taking your eyes off the road), Manual (taking your hands off the wheel), and Cognitive (taking your mind off driving).
16What is the leading cause of traffic fatalities among military personnel?
Privately owned vehicle (POV) accidents, often involving speeding, alcohol, fatigue, or failure to use seatbelts.
17What risk factors contribute to vehicle accidents among military personnel?
Speeding, alcohol consumption, fatigue, medications, distractions, aggressive driving, failure to use restraint systems, adverse environment, increased vehicle occupancy, and weekend/early morning driving.
18What are the leading indicators of a high-risk driver?
Age (18-25), gender (male), licensing status, history of traffic citations, and level of leader engagement.
19What should you do if you experience a front-wheel skid?
Remove your foot from the accelerator, do not brake, and look and steer in the direction you want to go. The vehicle will regain traction as speed decreases.
20What should you do if you experience a rear-wheel skid?
Take your foot off the brake and accelerator, then steer in the direction the rear of the vehicle is sliding (steer into the skid) until you regain traction.
21What is hydroplaning?
When a layer of water builds between the tires and road surface, causing the vehicle to lose traction. It can occur at speeds as low as 35 mph on wet roads.
22How should you handle hydroplaning?
Take your foot off the accelerator, do not brake suddenly, and steer straight ahead until you regain contact with the road surface.
23What are key safety considerations for night driving?
Reduce speed, increase following distance, use headlights properly, avoid staring at oncoming headlights (look to the right edge of the road), ensure clean windshield and working lights, and allow extra time for your eyes to adjust.
24What is the proper technique for driving in fog?
Use low-beam headlights (not high beams which cause glare), reduce speed, increase following distance, use fog lights if equipped, and avoid passing other vehicles.
25What is the purpose of a vehicle ground guide?
To safely direct a military vehicle during backing, parking, or operating in areas with limited visibility. The ground guide walks ahead of the vehicle and signals the driver.
26What system is used to report Army vehicle accidents?
The Army Accident Reporting System (REPORTIT).
27What is Composite Risk Management (CRM) in the context of vehicle operations?
A five-step process to identify hazards, assess risks, develop controls, implement controls, and supervise/evaluate — applied to all driving operations to reduce accident risk.
28What are the five steps of Composite Risk Management?
1) Identify hazards, 2) Assess hazards, 3) Develop controls and make risk decisions, 4) Implement controls, 5) Supervise and evaluate.
29What effect does fatigue have on driving ability?
Fatigue impairs reaction time, judgment, and attention similar to alcohol impairment. Drowsy driving causes thousands of accidents annually. Drivers should stop and rest if fatigued.
30What is the proper seatbelt policy for Army vehicles?
All occupants of military and privately owned vehicles must wear seatbelts at all times when the vehicle is in motion. This is a mandatory Army regulation.
31How does alcohol affect driving performance?
Alcohol impairs judgment, reduces reaction time, decreases coordination, narrows peripheral vision, and creates a false sense of confidence. Even small amounts affect driving ability.
32What should you do if a tire blows out while driving?
Grip the steering wheel firmly, take your foot off the accelerator (do not brake), let the vehicle slow gradually, steer straight, then gently pull off the road when safe.
33What is the safe procedure for driving through a curve?
Slow down before entering the curve (not while in it), maintain a steady speed through the curve, and accelerate gently when exiting. Braking in a curve can cause loss of control.
34What does 'eye-lead time' refer to in defensive driving?
The distance ahead that a driver scans while driving — ideally 15 seconds ahead in highway driving and 4-6 seconds in city driving — to provide maximum time to identify and react to hazards.
35How often should commanders conduct POV safety briefings?
Quarterly, with emphasis on seasonal driving hazards, restraint systems, driving while fatigued, alcohol use, and speeding.
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What the Accident Avoidance Course is
The Army Accident Avoidance Course (AAC) is the online defensive-driving course required under the Army's driver standardization program (AR 600-55) for Soldiers, Army civilians, and contractor employees who operate Army-owned or -leased vehicles. It is taken through the Army Learning Management System (ALMS), and the completion certificate is valid for four years — after that you retake the course. Vehicle accidents, especially in privately owned vehicles, are the leading cause of fatalities among military personnel, which is why the course spends as much time on judgment (fatigue, alcohol, distraction, risk management) as on car control.
Current Army driving-safety campaigns and statistics are published by the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center, which also runs the accident-reporting tooling the course references.
The Smith System, condensed
Most of the exam hangs off the Smith System's 5 Keys, remembered with “All Good Kids Like Milk”:
- Aim high in steering — look at least 15 seconds of eye-lead time down the road, not at the bumper ahead.
- Get the big picture — track the whole traffic environment around the vehicle, not just your lane.
- Keep your eyes moving — scan continuously; check mirrors and gauges every 5 to 8 seconds.
- Leave yourself an out — keep space on as many sides as possible; space is all that separates you from a collision.
- Make sure they see you — signals, lights, horn, and eye contact so other drivers know you exist and what you intend.
The space rules attach numbers to key four: at least 2–4 seconds of following distance in good conditions, at least double that in rain, and up to ten times the normal gap on the worst surfaces.
Emergencies: the one common thread
The skid, hydroplaning, and blowout questions all reward the same instinct: get off the accelerator, do not stab the brakes, and steer deliberately. Front-wheel skid — off the gas, no brake, look and steer where you want to go. Rear-wheel skid — off the gas and brake, steer in the direction the rear is sliding. Hydroplaning — ease off and hold the wheel straight until the tires grip again. Blowout — grip the wheel firmly, stay off the brake, and let the vehicle slow itself before pulling off. Slow before a curve, never in it.
Risk management behind the wheel
The course wraps driving inside the Army's five-step Composite Risk Management process — identify hazards, assess them, develop controls and make risk decisions, implement controls, then supervise and evaluate — the same process drilled in the Composite Risk Management CBT. Expect questions on the profile of a high-risk driver (age 18–25, male, citation history), the big killers (speed, alcohol, fatigue — which impairs you much like alcohol does — and the three distraction types: visual, manual, cognitive), PMCS checks before, during, and after operation, mandatory seatbelt use, immediate accident reporting through the chain of command via REPORTIT, and quarterly commander POV safety briefings.
Frequently asked questions
How often do I have to retake the AAC?
Every four years — the certificate is valid for four years from the completion date.
Who is required to take it?
All Soldiers, Army civilian employees, and contractor employees who operate any Army-owned or -leased vehicle.
Does it cover POV driving or just military vehicles?
Both. POV accidents are the leading cause of fatalities among military personnel, so the fatigue, alcohol, seatbelt, and distraction material applies squarely to your own car.
What else should I study alongside this?
The Driving for Life course overlaps heavily, and TCCC / first aid covers the post-accident side. Stuck on questions from a different version? The AI Study Assistant will identify your exact set.
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