Commercial Drivers License (General Knowledge) : Safety

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Commercial Drivers License (General Knowledge)

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Safety

If your vehicle has been involved in an accident, the best way to help prevent another accident as cars pass the site is to _____________.

Possible Answers:

Sit still in the cab of your vehicle

Put out highly visible warning flags, markers, or devices on the road for passing cars to see

Leave your vehicle and seek the high ground to wave at coming cars

Run, as far and as fast as your legs will carry you

Correct answer:

Put out highly visible warning flags, markers, or devices on the road for passing cars to see

Explanation:

The best thing to do is, rather obviously, to place markers on the road to help other cars avoid running into the accident site. Leaving the car and signaling with your arms is nowhere near as efficient as a highly visible, and well-placed marker.

Example Question #1 : Road Conditions

In judging the safe speed on a deep downgrade, one must consider all of the following except ________________.

Possible Answers:

how fragile the cargo inside the vehicle is

the quality and condition of the road

how heavy the vehicle and cargo are combined

how steep the grade is

Correct answer:

how fragile the cargo inside the vehicle is

Explanation:

In assessing your safe speed on a downgrade, your primary concern must be the safety of yourself and the other drivers or pedestrians nearby. The fragile nature of your cargo is far from the greatest concern, as compared to safe travel for all humans involved or nearby.

Example Question #2 : Road Conditions

A hazard is ________________.

Possible Answers:

a term for materials that are toxic or flammable

not a relevant term related to commercial vehicle safety

a road condition that could potentially cause danger

any road condition or driver that could potentially cause danger

Correct answer:

any road condition or driver that could potentially cause danger

Explanation:

Hazard is a broad term that refers to any road condition or driver that could potentially cause danger. Hazardous materials are toxic or flammable. A patch of ice and a drunk driver are both considered hazards, by this definition.

Example Question #1 : Inspection

Under which of the following conditions is it safe to remove the radiator cap on your vehicle?

Possible Answers:

The engine is not overheated, but the engine has been in recent use

None of these; the radiator cap should never be removed

The radiator is undamaged and the engine is warm

The entire engine system is completely cooled

Correct answer:

The entire engine system is completely cooled

Explanation:

In order for it to be remotely safe to remove your radiator cap, the entire engine system must be completely cooled. Even in that condition, removing the radiator cap should be only be done with extreme caution.

Example Question #1 : Shifting Gears

In order to correctly and safely shift gears, you should NOT _________________.

Possible Answers:

shift into a higher gear while pushing in the clutch

accelerate before initially pressing in the clutch

release the clutch

accelerate while releasing the clutch

Correct answer:

accelerate before initially pressing in the clutch

Explanation:

The basics of shifting gears are as follows: release the accelerator, push the clutch, shift into neutral, release the clutch, let the engine and gears slow sufficiently, then push in the clutch and shift into the appropriate higher gear, release the clutch and LAST press the accelerator. Pressing your accelerator should always be the last step in this process.

Example Question #5 : Safety

Stopping distance is _________________.

Possible Answers:

the same thing as perception distance

the sum total of the perception and braking distance

the same thing as braking distance

the sum total of the perception, reaction, and braking distances

Correct answer:

the sum total of the perception, reaction, and braking distances

Explanation:

This is a simple definition question. Stopping distance is the combination of all the stopping related distances, perception, reaction, and braking.

Example Question #6 : Safety

If, on a clear and dark winter's evening, you are driving, and the temperature suddenly drops far below freezing, about which of the following areas should you be most cautious?

Possible Answers:

The middle of your lane of traffic

Clear, open highway

A bridge

None of these

Correct answer:

A bridge

Explanation:

Once the temperature dips below freezing, you should just become generally more cautious/vigilant for slippery areas of the road. But, the MOST dangerous area of the ones listed is clearly bridges, which are among the first areas of the road to gather thin slippery layers of ice.

Example Question #7 : Safety

The primary function of an Antilock Braking System is to _________________.

Possible Answers:

allow a vehicle to brake suddenly while shifting gears

allow for smoother shifting of gears

keep a vehicles brakes from locking up when the driver overbrakes or has to brake suddenly

increase the raw power of a vehicles braking system

Correct answer:

keep a vehicles brakes from locking up when the driver overbrakes or has to brake suddenly

Explanation:

The only purpose listed that is true of ABS is that they are designed to prevent a vehicles brakes from locking. Obviously this is more important for large or heavy vehicles, whose brakes lock more easily than other vehicles, and which pose a much greater threat when moving across a road with locked brakes.

Example Question #8 : Safety

Which of the following is NOT a valid indicator that your vehicle is equipped with an Antilock Braking System?

Possible Answers:

A manufacture date from AFTER March 1, 1998

The presence of a yellow malfunction lamp on the panel

The presence of a speedometer with both miles and kilometers per hour

The presence of wheel speed sensor wires emanating from the back of your brakes

Correct answer:

The presence of a speedometer with both miles and kilometers per hour

Explanation:

The main indicator that your vehicle is equipped with an ABS is the yellow malfunction light in your instrument panel. If your vehicle is to code, and it was produced after March 1998 it should be equipped with an ABS. Also, you can always just physically get out of the cab and look at the back of your brakes for the telltale presence of wheel speed sensor wires. Your speedometer indicating both miles and kilometers per hour is not related to your ABS (it may mean your truck was manufactured in Canada).

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