Mississippi CDL — General Knowledge practice
Mississippi CDL — General Knowledge: Safe Driving Practices practice test
Following distance, scanning, blind spots, using your lights, and the habits that prevent crashes and keep you in control.
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026
14 questions · pass with 11 correct. You get instant feedback and an explanation after every answer.
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.
Show all 12 questions with answers
1. When should mirror adjustment be checked, and when is it accurate?
Correct answer: Before each trip, with the trailer or trailers straight
Check mirrors before you start any trip. They can only be adjusted accurately when the trailers are straight behind the tractor.
Source: Mississippi CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Seeing to the Sides and Rear)
2. According to the manual, how does sleeping six hours or less affect your crash risk?
Correct answer: It triples the risk
Sleeping six hours or less makes a crash three times as likely. Adults need 8 to 9 hours of sleep to stay alert.
Source: Mississippi CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Driver Factors)
3. Which of these is a warning sign that you are too tired to keep driving?
Correct answer: You can't recall the last few miles you drove
Other signs include heavy eyelids, repeated yawning, drifting from your lane, and missing exits. If you notice them, stop and rest.
Source: Mississippi CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Driver Factors)
4. Before you begin backing, how should you check your path?
Correct answer: Get out and walk around, checking clearance to the sides and overhead
Look at your line of travel first. Walking around the vehicle shows you side and overhead obstacles you can't see from the seat.
Source: Mississippi CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Backing Safely)
5. Why should the heaviest cargo be loaded beneath the lightest cargo?
Correct answer: Keeping the load low lowers the center of gravity and the chance of tipping over
A high center of gravity makes a rollover more likely, especially on curves or when swerving. Distribute cargo so it sits as low as possible.
Source: Mississippi CDL Manual — Section 3: Transporting Cargo Safely (Don't Be Top-heavy)
6. What is the manual's best advice for driving in fog?
Correct answer: Don't drive in it; wait at a rest area or truck stop until you can see better
Fog can thicken quickly. If you must drive, slow down before entering it, use low beams and fog lights, and turn on your four-way flashers.
Source: Mississippi CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Driving in Fog)
7. Compared with a flat mirror, how do things look in a convex ('fisheye') mirror?
Correct answer: Smaller and farther away than they really are
Convex mirrors show a wider area, but everything appears smaller and more distant. Allow for that when judging gaps.
Source: Mississippi CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Seeing to the Sides and Rear)
8. When you must back up, how fast should you go?
Correct answer: As slowly as possible, in the lowest reverse gear
Backing slowly lets you correct steering mistakes more easily and stop quickly if needed.
Source: Mississippi CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Backing Safely)
9. Where should a helper stand while guiding you as you back up?
Correct answer: Near the back of the vehicle, where you can see them
Helpers cover blind spots, but only if you can see them. Agree on hand signals before you start.
Source: Mississippi CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Backing Safely)
10. Dialing a phone takes a driver's eyes off the road for about 3.8 seconds. At 55 mph, about how far does the vehicle travel in that time?
Correct answer: About 306 feet, close to a football field's length
At 55 mph you cover roughly 80.7 feet per second, so 3.8 seconds of looking away is about 306 feet driven blind.
Source: Mississippi CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Cell/Mobile Phones)
11. Why is an exhaust leak especially dangerous in winter?
Correct answer: With windows rolled up, carbon monoxide can enter the cab, causing drowsiness or death
Poor cab ventilation in cold weather lets carbon monoxide build up. Inspect the exhaust for loose connections and any sign of leaking.
Source: Mississippi CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Driving in Winter)
12. On a long trip, about how often should you take a break to stay alert?
Correct answer: About every 100 miles or 2 hours
Regular breaks help you stay alert. If you are already drowsy, nothing but sleep will fix it, so leave the road and rest.
Source: Mississippi CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Driver Factors)
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