When would you not salute an officer in a vehicle?

• A. When the vehicle is stationary.
• B. When military personnel are acting as drivers of a moving vehicle, they should not initiate a salute.
• C. When the officer salutes you first.
• D. When wearing civilian clothes.

Answer: (B)

Saluting is a formal sign of respect, but safety comes first when a vehicle is in motion. A moving vehicle requires the driver’s full attention and both hands on the wheel; initiating a salute would take a hand off the wheel and distract from driving, increasing the risk of an accident. That’s why, when you’re the driver of a moving vehicle, you do not initiate a salute. If the vehicle is stationary, or if you can safely acknowledge a salute later, you may exchange the gesture when it’s safe. The fact that you’re in civilian clothes isn’t the deciding factor here—the key rule is keeping attention on driving while the vehicle is moving.