Delaware CDL — General Knowledge practice
Delaware CDL — General Knowledge: Handling Emergencies practice test
What to do when things go wrong — brake failure, tire blowouts, skids, and stalling on railroad tracks.
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026
15 questions · pass with 12 correct. You get instant feedback and an explanation after every answer.
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12 sample Handling Emergencies questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.
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1. Your vehicle begins to hydroplane. Which action does the manual specifically warn against?
Correct answer: Using the brakes to slow down
To regain control you release the accelerator and push in the clutch so the wheels turn freely and the vehicle slows. The manual says not to brake while hydroplaning.
Source: Delaware Commercial Driver's Manual — Section 2.6.2, Matching Speed to the Road Surface
2. Why must hazardous materials shipping papers be easy to find quickly after a crash?
Correct answer: You could be hurt and not able to tell responders what you are carrying
After an accident, spill, or leak, an injured driver may be unable to communicate the hazards. Firefighters and police can limit damage and injury if they can locate the papers fast.
Source: Delaware Commercial Driver's Manual — Section 2.23.2, Why Are There Rules?
3. When does the manual say you should study the instructions printed on your fire extinguisher?
Correct answer: Before you ever need to use it
Fires have been made worse by drivers who were unsure what to do. The manual says to know how the extinguisher works and to read its instructions ahead of time.
Source: Delaware Commercial Driver's Manual — Section 2.21.3, Fire Fighting
4. Your brakes are badly maintained, but the vehicle has ABS. What does the manual say?
Correct answer: ABS will not make up for bad brakes or poor brake maintenance
ABS is an add-on to the normal brakes, not a replacement. The safety reminders say it cannot compensate for bad brakes or poor maintenance, and it does not let you follow closer or drive faster.
Source: Delaware Commercial Driver's Manual — Section 2.18.8, Safety Reminders
5. In which emergency braking method do you brake as hard as possible while keeping the wheels from locking and steering only slightly?
Correct answer: Controlled braking
Controlled braking means the hardest braking you can manage short of wheel lockup, with very small steering movements. Stab braking instead applies the brakes fully and releases them each time the wheels lock.
Source: Delaware Commercial Driver's Manual — Section 2.17.2, How to Stop Quickly and Safely
6. Why can ABS prevent wheel lockup that a driver could not?
Correct answer: It works far faster than a driver can respond
Sensors detect a wheel about to lock, and the electronic control unit cuts brake pressure to prevent it. The manual says this happens much faster than a driver could react.
Source: Delaware Commercial Driver's Manual — Section 2.18.1, How Antilock Braking Systems Work
7. On a slippery road in a vehicle without ABS, what happens when the steering wheels lock up under hard braking?
Correct answer: You lose steering control
Locked steering wheels cannot steer. The manual adds that when the other wheels lock, the vehicle may skid, jackknife, or even spin.
Source: Delaware Commercial Driver's Manual — Section 2.18.4, How ABS Helps You
8. When you notify authorities about an accident, what does the manual tell you to try to work out so you can report it?
Correct answer: Exactly where you are
The manual says to try to determine your location so you can give authorities the exact place. With a cell phone or CB, you call before getting out of the vehicle.
Source: Delaware Commercial Driver's Manual — Section 2.20.2, Notify Authorities
9. Why must you never remove the radiator cap until the cooling system has cooled?
Correct answer: Steam and boiling water can spray out under pressure and cause severe burns
The pressurized system can release steam and boiling water with force. The manual's rule of thumb: a cap you can comfortably hold with a bare hand is probably cool enough to open.
Source: Delaware Commercial Driver's Manual — Section 2.14.1, Vehicle Checks
10. A drive-wheel braking skid ends in a 'spin out' in some vehicles and a jackknife in others. Which vehicles does the manual say spin out?
Correct answer: Buses and straight trucks
Locked rear wheels slide sideways trying to catch up with the front. A bus or straight truck slides sideways into a spin out, while a vehicle towing a trailer can be pushed into a jackknife.
Source: Delaware Commercial Driver's Manual — Section 2.19.1, Drive-wheel Skids
11. On the manual's extinguisher chart, which type is listed for Class A, B, C, or D fires?
Correct answer: Multi-purpose dry chemical
The chart lists multi-purpose dry chemical for classes A, B, C, or D. Regular dry chemical and carbon dioxide are listed for B or C, and water with antifreeze for A only.
Source: Delaware Commercial Driver's Manual — Section 2.21.3, Fire Fighting
12. One tire of a dual pair fails on your vehicle. According to the manual, what may be the only way to find out?
Correct answer: Getting out and looking at the tires
After any suspected tire failure you stop and check every tire, even if handling seems fine. With duals, the manual notes, a failed tire may show itself only when you get out and look.
Source: Delaware Commercial Driver's Manual — Section 2.17.4, Tire Failure
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