How Many of These Car Facts Can You Get Right?

AUTO

By: Robin Tyler

6 Min Quiz

Image: itsskin/E+/Getty Images

About This Quiz

Since their invention in the late 1800s, cars have been part of our daily lives. They are an important part of our routines, taking us to and from work, to the store and back, on vacation or just out for a day trip. Imagine a world without them. It would be terrible, would it not? Our independence would simply not exist at the level it does today.

That said, cars can be dangerous, especially when we or others drive recklessly. So let's test your knowledge about a range of car facts, ranging from accident figures, safety devices, world records, top speeds and the like. 

For instance, do you know the world record for the most people in a Smart car? Or whose limousine did President Franklin Roosevelt 'borrow' in 1941. What about the number of people injured in car accidents around the world, or more tragically, the number of people killed in accidents each year? And when it comes to your safety, how long does it take for an airbag to deploy or what should your car horn only be used for?

These are just some of the interesting facts you will discover in our Car Facts Quiz.

Do you think you can ace it?

What percentage of cars produced by Rolls-Royce are still on the road?

Simply incredible. Well we know that Rolls-Royce models are incredibly well built but you would agree, 75% is a sensational number.

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What percentage of new cars sold in Brazil are powered by fuel made from sugar cane (ethanol)?

That's a staggering figure but great for the environment. Now if only other countries could catch on!

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How many cars are on the road globally?

Yes, 1 billion cars, that's almost a car for every eight people on the planet! No wonder cars have contributed so significantly to the greenhouse effect.

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And how many cars are built around the world each and every day?

Yes, a staggering 165,000 vehicles are built each day in the world. So over 20 working days - a month - that totals up to over 3.2 million! Incredible.

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How many parts are there to be found in the average car?

Most of the cars made in the world today are put together from 30,000 parts. It's like a big puzzle.

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Volkwagen owns a number of prestigious car brands. Which one is NOT owned by the German car maker?

Although they own a number of prestigious car brands, Ferrari is not one of them.

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In what year did the first car accident occur in the United States - in Ohio as a matter of fact?

Yes, believe it or not, the first car accident occurred at the dawn of motoring.

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How long does the average America car commuter spend in traffic each year?

38 hours! That's about 38 hours too much. We hate traffic but it's a fact of modern life...

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What did some American lawmakers want to ban when they first became available for cars?

Yes, when car radios were first introduced, a number of lawmakers across many states in the US wanted them banned, saying that they would distract the driver.

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In many parts of the world, honking your horn is illegal unless you have an ________.

Yes, you should only honk your horn in an emergency. It is not to be used to say hello to your friends!

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Although they are made to drive in _______% of a car's lifetime is spent parked.

Yes, as much as 95% of a car's lifetime is spent not moving.

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That 'new car' smell. We all love it, don't we? Scientists have found that it produced by how many different organic compounds?

Yes, that smell is thanks to the organic components found throughout the new car. 50 of them, in fact.

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If you could travel to the moon by car traveling at 60 mph, how long would it take?

Yes, the moon certainly is not that far away ... if a car could travel in space and you could sit for 6 months without a gas station break.

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Do you know the odds for losing your life in a car accident?

That's pretty low, isn't it? Be careful out there, please.

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In what country is it a criminal offense to drive in a dirty car?

Really? Yes, really! Better keep your car clean if you live in Russia.

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Cruise control is great for long trips isn't it. Did you know that the inventor of this feature was _______.

Yes, the inventor of the cruise control, Ralph Teetor, was indeed blind. He also invented invented early versions of the powered lawn mower.

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In an accident, how long does it take for airbags to inflate?

That's seriously quick. But it needs to be to protect you in an accident.

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Cassette decks were once standard on many cars. The Lexus SC430 was the last car produced with one. What year did the last SC430 roll off the production line with this old audio playback technology?

Unbelievable, Lexus still had cassette decks in the SC430 until 2010.

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In 1941, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt drove in a limousine that once belonged to which gangster?

Al Capone's limousine, a Cadillac, had been impounded in after the gangster's arrest. It was used in 1941 for President Roosevelt after the US declared war on Japan.

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What is the percentage of Americans who can drive a car with a manual gearbox?

Yes, only close to a fifth of all American drivers can drive a manual gearbox car.

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What do lawmakers in the US and Europe demand of any electric car?

Electric motors are very quiet, sometimes often silent. For that reason, they must be made audible enough for pedestrians to be able to hear an electric car as well as see it.

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The world's first speeding citation was issued in what year?

Yes, it didn't take long for authorities to try to control the speed of vehicles. The first ticket was issued for a driver traveling at 8 mph in 2 mph zone. Who knows how they measured his speed back in those days.

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The first car race took place in 1895. What was the top speed recorded?

Not very fast, but hey, the car had just been invented! Racing cars do go a lot faster now, though!

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Modern cars are _________% recyclable.

Incredibly, 80% of modern cars are now recyclable. That's pretty awesome!

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Where were the first licenses for self-driving cars issued?

Yes, Nevada issued the first licenses for self-driving cars as far back as 2012.

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In the early 20th century, the 'pollution' caused by _______ meant the car was seen as a 'green' alternative.

Horse-drawn carriages were the prominent form of transport when cars were first invented. And horses poop, which generally meant a massive mess. Cars didn't do this so were seen as a cleaner alternative.

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Accident analysis reveals that a large percentage of drivers have not hit the brakes on their vehicles by the time an accident happens. What is that percentage?

That's an incredibly high number. It just shows you how quickly accidents happen. Stay safe out there while driving and always remain vigilant.

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Car accidents are the number one cause of death for Americans under what age?

When we are younger, we are certainly more reckless. That might be the reason for figures like this.

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There are more cars than people in which American city?

The population of the City of Angels certainly likes their cars. It might have something to do with high-paid Hollywood actors, don't you think?

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How many girls can you shove into a Smart car?

Yes, 19! This world record was achieved by a group of students in Pakistan.

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Which automaker did Hitler beg for money before his rise to power in Germany?

It would have to be a German brand, would it not? Mercedes flatly refused to give the future Fuhrer any funds, however.

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What is the highest mileage ever recorded for a single vehicle?

Simple incredible! Yes, Irvin Gordon has driven his 1966 Volvo 1800S over 3 million miles! He has been driving the car for over 60 years.

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In 1941, Henry Ford was experimenting with new materials for car construction, including plastics. These materials included an interesting component. Do you know what it was?

Yes, soybeans formed part of Ford's experimentation in the 1940s. In 2011, Ford announced that soybeans would be used in the manufacture of the seats on their Explorer model.

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Joe Ranft, a co-writer and co-director on one of Pixar's biggest animation hits, sadly died in a car accident before the movie was released. What movie was it?

A sad story indeed. "Cars" was a massive hit for Pixar and who can ever forget Lightning McQueen.

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One of the founders of Chevrolet, Louis Chevrolet, died penniless.

A sad story indeed.

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How many people are injured in accidents around the world each year?

A staggering 50 million people are injured in road accidents each year. Stay safe while driving, please!

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Your chances of having an accident while texting increase by how much each time you do it?

Yes, texting and driving is a killer. Don't do it!

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Accidents worldwide kill how many people each year?

Over 1,25 million people are killed on roads around the world as a result of accidents.

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What percentage of the world's population drives on the left-hand side of the road?

In countries like England, people drive on the left-hand side of the road. There are others as well, and left-hand drivers make up 35% of the world's driving population.

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