Are You As Smart As You Think?

Living Safer

Question: When walking, you should always walk in the direction of traffic. True or False?

Answer: False

You should walk facing traffic so you can see approaching cars. Learn more dos and don’ts when walking your way around town.

Question: It’s better to be tired at the wheel then under the influence. True or False?

Answer: False

A study conducted by the AAA Foundation found driving after going 20+ hours without sleep is equivalent to driving with a blood alcohol content of .08, the legal limit in most states. Learn more about staying safe while driving.

Question: The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, allows those traveling to or living in a foreign country to register information about their trip so the State Department can assist them in an emergency. True or False?

Answer: True

STEP is a great way to increase your safety when traveling, but there are a lot more measures you can take to ensure a safe trip. Learn more about travel safety.

Working Safer

Question: If you choose to go into the military and sign a military contract, you have entered into a legally binding agreement and must abide by the terms set forth in the contract. True or False?

Answer: True.

In fact, if a recruiter or someone else from the military promised you something in your interview and it is not included in the signed contract, then it is not guaranteed. Get the most out of your military career.

Question: It is okay to give personal information on an online job site as long as the web page has a reputable logo featured. True or False?

Answer: False.

Con artists can be very convincing and may use company letterhead and corporate logos to deceive you. Learn more about online scams associated with fake job opportunities.

Question: A salaried position receives the same amount of money per pay period, regardless of the hours worked. True or False?

Answer: True.

Generally only hourly employees will see a fluctuation in their paycheck, depending on the number of hours they work each week. Get more details about pay checks, pay periods, gross pay versus net pay, and more.

Social Safety

Question: Common date rape drugs include ketamine, GHB, and Rohypnol, but only Rohypnol is legal in the United States. True or False?

Answer: False.

In fact, Ketamine, used in veterinary clinics as an anesthetic, and GHB, prescribed to treat narcolepsy, are considered legal in the United States. But unfortunately they are used illegally by predators. Learn more to ensure your safety in dating situations.

Question: As long as an adult 21 or older has purchased the alcohol and is around while individuals under 21 are consuming the alcohol, it is legal for them to drink. True or False?

Answer: False.

If you are younger than 21 years old and are found in possession of alcohol, you can be charged with a misdemeanor and face up to $1,000 in fines and six months in jail. Learn more about the consequences of underage drinking.

Question: Drunk driving laws vary state by state. True or False?

Answer: True.

In most states, a first-time DUI (driving under the influence) conviction is considered a misdemeanor. However, depending on the circumstances (i.e., blood alcohol level or injuries to others); a first-time offense can be charged as a felony. Learn more and driving under the influence.

Financial Safety

Question: A budget should only include fixed and variable expenses. True or False?

Answer: False.

When creating a budget, you need to consider fixed, variable, and one-time expenses, such as events or emergency items you might need. Learn more about budgeting and these types of expenses.

Question: Having credit cards is a bad idea and they should only be used in emergencies. True or False?

Answer: False.

Credit cards are an easy way to build credit and learn financial responsibility. Learn more credit card myths.

Question: Conventional loans are loans that are not overseen by a government agency. True or False?

Answer: True.

Mortgages, for example, are conventional loans. These loans tend to be long-term, entail fees, down payments, insurance, etc. Learn about all types of loans, including dangerous loans to avoid.

Surfing Safer

Question: Downloading, transferring files, hacking, and pirating media and audio clips that are copyright and trademark protected are all examples of digital intellectual property theft. True or False?

Answer: True.

Using the Internet to steal another’s ideas, concepts, or work is the definition of digital intellectual property theft and can be a criminal offense. Learn more about digital intellectual property theft.

Question: Phishing schemes, online scams using the Internet and social media to trick people into divulging sensitive information and transferring money, are one of the top threats on the Internet today. True or False?

Answer: True.

In fact, statistics released from an RSA Security Solutions report estimated more than $687 million in monetary losses came from phishing schemes in just the first half of 2012. See what phishing schemes on the Internet look like.

Question: If I send a sexually explicit text of my friend, who is 17, to another friend, I can’t get in trouble with the law. True or False?

Answer: False.

To date, more than 20 states have passed laws, under child pornography statues, against anyone under 18 years of age who sends a sexually explicit text message. And, if you’re older than 18 and you send sexually explicit messages to someone 17 years or younger, the punishment, if convicted, can be much more severe. Get a full understanding of legal implications involved in sexting.