Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) Practice Exam

Which of the following should not be checked on a vehicle at the scene?

1. Tires

2. Brakes

3. Headlights

4. Windshield Wipers

The correct answer is: Brakes

In assessing the choice of what should not be checked on a vehicle at the scene, the focus is on the practicalities of conducting an immediate evaluation. Generally, when officers arrive at the scene of an incident, such as a crash or a vehicle stop, they prioritize checks that can quickly provide essential information about vehicle safety and operational status. While tires, headlights, and windshield wipers are critical components that can impact immediate road safety and visibility, brakes are typically not inspected in a standard scene assessment. This is because checking the brakes often requires a more thorough examination, including the ability to test their functionality, which cannot be sufficiently done at the scene without proper tools or when the vehicle is not safely operational. Moreover, verifying brake performance usually involves driving the vehicle, which can be impractical in many situations, particularly if the vehicle is damaged or obstructing traffic. Prioritizing visibility-related checks—like tires for proper inflation and tread, headlights for visibility, and windshield wipers for clearing rain or debris—ensures that officers can quickly ascertain whether the vehicle is potentially hazardous without engaging in in-depth inspections that complicate the situation at hand.