Handling Emergencies

Study questions with answers

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.

1. 1. What best describes the controlled braking method in an emergency?

   Correct answer: Applying the brakes as hard as you can short of locking the wheels

   Controlled braking means pressing the brakes as hard as possible without locking the wheels, using only small steering movements, and easing off if the wheels lock or you must steer more.

   Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 2 (Stopping Quickly)

2. 2. Which of these is one of the four ways a skid is caused?

   Correct answer: Over-acceleration that spins the drive wheels

   Skids come from over-braking, over-steering, over-acceleration, or simply driving too fast for conditions. Most serious skids trace back to excessive speed.

   Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 2 (Skid Control)

3. 3. Which fires is a B:C rated fire extinguisher designed to handle?

   Correct answer: Electrical fires and burning liquids

   A B:C extinguisher works on electrical fires and burning liquids. An A:B:C type also handles burning wood, paper, and cloth.

   Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 2 (Use the Right Fire Extinguisher)

4. 4. What are the three basic steps to take at any accident scene?

   Correct answer: Protect the area, notify authorities, and care for the injured

   At any accident, protect the area to prevent another crash, notify the authorities, and care for the injured as best you can.

   Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 2 (Accident Procedures)

5. 5. If your brakes fail on a downgrade, what offers your best chance to stop safely?

   Correct answer: An escape ramp built into the grade

   An escape ramp is your best hope after brakes fail on a hill. Signs mark them, and they use soft material, sometimes with an upgrade, to bring a runaway vehicle to a stop.

   Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 2 (Brake Failure on Downgrades)

6. 6. When a tire blows out, what should you do about the brakes?

   Correct answer: Stay off the brake until the vehicle slows, then brake gently

   Stay off the brake until the vehicle slows, because braking right after a blowout can cause loss of control. Hold the wheel firmly, then brake gently once you have slowed and pull off the road.

   Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 2 (Respond to Tire Failure)

7. 7. What does an antilock braking system (ABS) do for the driver?

   Correct answer: It keeps the wheels from locking so you can steer while braking hard

   ABS keeps the wheels from locking during hard braking, helping you keep steering control. It does not necessarily shorten your stopping distance.

   Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 2 (Antilock Braking Systems)

8. 8. Using the proper braking technique on a downgrade, when do you release the brakes after slowing?

   Correct answer: Once your speed drops to about 5 mph below your safe speed

   Apply the brakes hard enough for a definite slowdown, then release once your speed is about 5 mph below your safe speed. The application should last roughly three seconds, and you repeat as needed.

   Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 2 (Proper Braking Technique)

9. 9. What should you do with the doors of a van or box trailer that has a cargo fire inside?

   Correct answer: Keep them closed to avoid feeding the fire oxygen

   Keep the doors shut on a cargo fire in an enclosed trailer, especially with hazardous materials aboard. Opening them feeds oxygen to the fire and can make it flare up fast.

   Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 2 (Fires)

10. 10. Besides an escape ramp, what maneuver can help slow a vehicle whose brakes have failed?

    Correct answer: Turning the vehicle uphill

    Steering uphill, onto an open field, or up a side road that turns upward uses gravity to slow and stop the vehicle. Make the move early, before speed builds too high.

    Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 2 (Brake Failure)

11. 11. If the steering suddenly feels heavy, which tire has most likely failed?

    Correct answer: A front steering tire

    Heavy steering usually signals that a front tire has failed. A loud bang points to a blowout, and a thumping vibration often means a flat, sometimes the only sign from a rear tire.

    Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 2 (Tire Failure)

12. 12. What is brake fade, which can occur on a long downgrade?

    Correct answer: A loss of braking power from overheating that forces harder and harder pedal pressure

    Brake fade is a loss of braking power from excessive heat, so you must press the brakes harder and harder for the same effect. Continued hard use can leave you unable to slow at all.

    Source: Ohio CDL Driver Manual, Section 2 (Brake Fading or Failure)