Speed & Space Management

Study questions with answers

9 sample Speed & Space Management questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.

1. 1. When following a large truck or bus that blocks your view, you should:

   Correct answer: Increase your following distance so you can see ahead

   Drop back and leave more space when behind a large vehicle. The extra distance lets you see farther ahead and gives the truck driver a chance to see you in the mirrors.

   Source: California Driver Handbook — Following Distance

2. 2. You should increase your following distance when:

   Correct answer: The road is wet or your view is blocked

   Increase your following distance in rain, fog, or ice, when being tailgated, when following a motorcycle, or when behind a large vehicle that blocks your view.

   Source: California Driver Handbook — Following Distance

3. 3. When you plan to exit a freeway, you should signal and move into the proper lane approximately how long before the exit?

   Correct answer: About five seconds (roughly 400 feet)

   Signal about five seconds — roughly 400 feet — before you exit, once you are in the correct lane.

   Source: California Driver Handbook — Merging and Exiting

4. 4. If another driver is following you too closely (tailgating), the safest response is to:

   Correct answer: Increase your following distance and let them pass

   If you are being tailgated, increase the space in front of you and, when safe, move over or slow gently to let the tailgater pass. Do not brake suddenly to 'teach them a lesson.'

   Source: California Driver Handbook — Space Management

5. 5. When you merge onto a freeway, you should:

   Correct answer: Match the speed of freeway traffic and merge into a gap

   Use the on-ramp to accelerate to the speed of freeway traffic, then merge smoothly into a gap. Entering too slowly is dangerous.

   Source: California Driver Handbook — Freeway Driving

6. 6. To keep a cushion of space around your vehicle in traffic, you should:

   Correct answer: Avoid driving alongside or in other drivers' blind spots

   Keep space on all sides of your car. Avoid driving directly beside other vehicles or lingering in their blind spots so you always have room to react and an escape path.

   Source: California Driver Handbook — Managing Space

7. 7. If another vehicle merges into your lane too closely ahead of you, the best response is to:

   Correct answer: Ease off the accelerator to create space

   Take your foot off the accelerator to open up space between you and the vehicle that just merged in front of you.

   Source: California Driver Handbook — Following Too Closely

8. 8. Under good conditions, you should keep a following distance of at least:

   Correct answer: Three seconds

   Keep at least a three-second following distance under good conditions, and more when the road is wet, visibility is poor, or you are being tailgated.

   Source: California Driver Handbook — Following Distance

9. 9. Before passing another vehicle on a two-lane road, you should be able to see the road ahead clearly for at least:

   Correct answer: One-third of a mile

   You need roughly a third of a mile of clear sight past any hill or curve so there is enough room to finish the pass safely.

   Source: California Driver Handbook — Passing