Final answer:
The question about how much faster one must drive to safely pass another vehicle doesn't have a definitive answer in mph as it varies with traffic laws and conditions. Safe passing requires accelerating to a speed that is faster than the vehicle being overtaken, ensuring a safe and legal pass without surpassing speed limits.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question about passing speed doesn't have a single correct answer in the form of choices A) 5 mph, B) 10 mph, C) 15 mph, or D) 20 mph because it depends on various factors such as road conditions, traffic laws, and the speed of the vehicle ahead. In practical driving scenarios, to safely pass another vehicle, a driver must ensure they have enough clearance and time to pass without causing danger to themselves or others. One must assess the traffic situation and speed up sufficiently to overtake the other vehicle safely; however, this does not necessarily translate to a specific number of mph faster. The answer often lies not in a set number, but in the ability to make a safe and legal maneuver that includes accelerating to a speed that is faster than the vehicle ahead to complete the pass in a timely manner without exceeding speed limits.