Washington CDL — General Knowledge practice
Washington CDL — General Knowledge: Sharing the Road practice test
Driving safely around motorcycles, bicycles, large trucks, pedestrians, and school buses — and knowing who has the right of way.
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026
13 questions · pass with 10 correct. You get instant feedback and an explanation after every answer.
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12 sample Sharing the Road 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. When you are about to pass a pedestrian or bicyclist, what should you assume?
Correct answer: Assume they do not see you and could move into your path
Whenever you pass a pedestrian, bicyclist, or another vehicle, assume they do not see you and could move into your path.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (When Passing)
2. What are the two main dangers of traveling right alongside other vehicles?
Correct answer: A driver may turn into you, or you may get trapped
Another driver may suddenly change lanes into you, or you may be trapped and unable to change lanes when you need to.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Traveling Next to Others)
3. Because of off-tracking, what can happen if you start a left turn too soon?
Correct answer: The left side of your vehicle may hit another vehicle
If you turn too soon, the left side of your vehicle may strike another vehicle because the rear wheels off-track inside the front wheels.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Left Turns)
4. You notice the driver next to you appears distracted. How should you handle this?
Correct answer: Give them plenty of room and keep a safe distance
Give a distracted driver plenty of room and keep a safe following distance, because they may drift in front of you.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Watch Out for Other Distracted Drivers)
5. A driver behind you is tailgating. What is one safe way to reduce the risk of a crash?
Correct answer: Increase the space in front of your own vehicle
Increase your own following distance so you can avoid sudden speed or direction changes and give the tailgater room to get around you.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Dealing with Tailgaters Safely)
6. You are approaching a stopped bus. What hazard should you watch for?
Correct answer: Passengers crossing in front of or behind the bus
Be careful around a stopped bus because passengers may cross in front of or behind it and often cannot see you.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Parked Vehicles Can Be Hazards)
7. Strong winds are a special problem for which vehicles, and where can they be especially bad?
Correct answer: Worse for lighter vehicles, especially leaving tunnels
Strong winds make it hard to stay in your lane, are usually worse for lighter vehicles, and can be especially bad coming out of tunnels.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Strong Winds)
8. You pass a disabled vehicle on the shoulder with its hood raised and someone working on it. Why is this a hazard clue?
Correct answer: They may step into traffic without watching for you
People fixing a disabled vehicle often do not pay attention to passing traffic and can be careless, so raised hoods or jacked-up wheels are hazard clues.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Drivers Who Are Hazards)
9. Why are drivers of rental trucks or vans with blocked rear vision a special hazard to watch for?
Correct answer: Their blocked vision means they may not see you
People whose vision is blocked are dangerous because they often cannot see you; rental-truck drivers may not be used to their limited side and rear vision.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Drivers Who Are Hazards)
10. Your truck cannot make a right turn without swinging into another lane. What is the correct way to turn?
Correct answer: Turn wide as you complete the turn
Turn wide as you complete the turn, not as you begin it; swinging wide to the left first invites drivers to pass you on the right.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Right Turns)
11. To keep safe clearance on both sides in a wide commercial vehicle, where should you position the vehicle in its lane?
Correct answer: Centered in the lane
Keep your vehicle centered in the lane so you have as much clearance as possible on either side.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Space to the Sides)
12. When you make a right turn wide enough to complete it safely, where should you keep the rear of your vehicle?
Correct answer: Close to the curb to block passing on the right
Keep the rear of your vehicle close to the curb so other drivers cannot try to pass you on the right.
Source: Washington CDL Guide — Section 2: Driving Safely (Right Turns)
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