Safe Driving Practices

Study questions with answers

12 sample Safe Driving Practices questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.

1. 1. What does a retarder do when you completely release the accelerator?

   Correct answer: Applies braking power to the drive wheels

   When switched on, a retarder slows the vehicle through the drive wheels each time you let fully off the accelerator, saving brake wear.

   Source: Alabama CDL Manual - Section 2.3.4 (Retarders)

2. 2. At night you must keep your speed low enough that you can stop:

   Correct answer: Within the distance lit by your headlights

   Driving so you can halt inside the range of your headlights prevents outrunning your sight distance in the dark.

   Source: Alabama CDL Manual - Section 2.11.4 (Vehicle Factors - Headlights)

3. 3. A driver whose rear window is blocked by cargo is a hazard mainly because that driver:

   Correct answer: Cannot see vehicles behind or beside them

   Blocked vision drivers - such as loaded vans or trucks with covered rear windows - may not know you are there and could move into you.

   Source: Alabama CDL Manual - Section 2.8.3 (Drivers Who Are Hazards)

4. 4. Sudden lane changes, hesitation, and stopping mid-block are clues that a nearby driver is:

   Correct answer: Confused

   Confused drivers - often tourists or people looking for an address - change direction abruptly or stop without warning.

   Source: Alabama CDL Manual - Section 2.8.3 (Drivers Who Are Hazards)

5. 5. Steering wheel play greater than about how many degrees can make a vehicle hard to steer?

   Correct answer: 10 degrees (about two inches at the rim)

   More than roughly 10 degrees of play - about two inches measured at the outer edge of a 20-inch wheel - signals a steering problem.

   Source: Alabama CDL Manual - Section 2.1 (Vehicle Inspection - Steering System Defects)

6. 6. On slippery winter roads you should avoid using the engine brake or speed retarder because they can:

   Correct answer: Cause the drive wheels to skid

   Retarders and engine braking act on the drive wheels and can send them into a skid on ice or snow, so leave them off.

   Source: Alabama CDL Manual - Section 2.13.2 (Driving - Slippery Surfaces)

7. 7. The manual says the only real cure for driver fatigue is:

   Correct answer: Rest

   No stimulant substitutes for sleep - only rest actually cures fatigue, and drugs that mask it are dangerous.

   Source: Alabama CDL Manual - Section 2.22.2 (Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Driving - Other Drugs)

8. 8. How far ahead do good drivers typically look while driving?

   Correct answer: About 12 to 15 seconds ahead

   Looking 12 to 15 seconds ahead - roughly a block in town or a quarter mile on the highway - gives time to react smoothly.

   Source: Alabama CDL Manual - Section 2.4.1 (Seeing Ahead)

9. 9. Why is a helper valuable when you back a large vehicle?

   Correct answer: The helper can watch the blind spots you cannot see

   A helper stationed at the rear covers areas hidden from your view; you should agree on hand signals, especially one for stop.

   Source: Alabama CDL Manual - Section 2.2.4 (Backing Safely)

10. 10. A quick way to check whether a wet-looking road is starting to ice over is to:

    Correct answer: Feel the front of the mirror, its support, or the antenna for ice

    If ice has formed on the mirror, its arm, or the antenna, the road surface is probably icing up too.

    Source: Alabama CDL Manual - Section 2.13.2 (Driving - Slippery Surfaces)

11. 11. What minimum tread depth must the front tires of a commercial vehicle have in each major groove?

    Correct answer: 4/32 of an inch

    Front (steer) tires need at least 4/32 inch of tread, while other tires require a minimum of 2/32 inch.

    Source: Alabama CDL Manual - Section 2.1.3 (What to Look For - Tire Problems)

12. 12. Which tires are prohibited on the front wheels of a bus?

    Correct answer: Regrooved, recapped, or retreaded tires

    A bus may not run regrooved, recapped, or retreaded tires on its front wheels.

    Source: Alabama CDL Manual - Section 2.1.3 (What to Look For - Tire Problems)