Pennsylvania CDL — General Knowledge: Right-of-Way Practice Test

Question 1

Before you start across an intersection with a large, slow-accelerating vehicle, what must you be sure of?

Accepted Answer

That you can clear the road before traffic reaches you — Since a heavy vehicle accelerates slowly, be certain you can clear the entire roadway before approaching traffic arrives.

Answer

That the light will stay green for one full minute

Answer

That another truck is behind you to block traffic

Answer

That your trailer brakes are released

Question 2

Why should you never try to race a train to a railroad crossing?

Accepted Answer

Judging a train's speed and distance is extremely difficult — Because a train's speed and distance are so hard to judge accurately, you should never try to beat one across the tracks.

Answer

Trains always slow down at crossings

Answer

The train has to yield to highway traffic

Answer

Your horn will make the train stop

Question 3

Why should you be especially cautious around a stopped bus?

Accepted Answer

Passengers may cross near the bus and cannot see you — People getting off a stopped bus often step out in front of it or behind it and may not see you, so use extra caution.

Answer

Buses always pull back into traffic without signaling

Answer

The bus driver controls the traffic lights

Answer

Buses are exempt from all traffic laws

Question 4

When entering a roundabout, who has the right-of-way?

Accepted Answer

The traffic already circulating in the roundabout — You must yield on entry — the traffic already circulating in the roundabout has the right of way.

Answer

The vehicle entering has priority over circulating traffic

Answer

Whichever vehicle is larger

Answer

The driver who arrives first, regardless of position

Question 5

You approach a pedestrian who wants to cross where there is no marked crossing. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Never wave them into traffic; other drivers may not stop — Waving a pedestrian out into traffic is never safe — particularly at mid-block or unmarked spots — since other drivers may not be stopping.

Answer

Wave them across so they can hurry over

Answer

Sound your horn to move them along

Answer

Speed up to pass before they step off the curb

Question 6

When making a left turn at an intersection with a large vehicle, how far should you go before starting the turn?

Accepted Answer

Reach at least the middle of the intersection first — Make sure you are at least halfway through the intersection before you begin a left turn, so off-tracking does not put your left side into another vehicle.

Answer

Begin turning as soon as you reach the intersection

Answer

Start turning from the left-most lane immediately

Answer

Wait until you are past the intersection entirely

Question 7

Compared with a car, what does a large commercial vehicle need before crossing or entering traffic?

Accepted Answer

A much larger gap in traffic — Because of slow acceleration and the space the vehicle takes up, you need a much larger gap in traffic than a car would.

Answer

A shorter gap because trucks accelerate faster

Answer

The same gap a passenger car uses

Answer

No gap is needed if you have the green light

Question 8

While completing a wide right turn, oncoming vehicles are waiting. Why should you not back up to give them room?

Accepted Answer

You might strike a vehicle that pulled up behind you — Do not back up for oncoming vehicles during a turn, because you might hit a vehicle that has moved in behind you.

Answer

Backing up is faster than completing the turn

Answer

Your trailer brakes will lock if you reverse

Answer

It is illegal to move oncoming traffic

Question 9

At a crossing with more than one track, why must you double-check before proceeding after a train passes?

Accepted Answer

A passing train can hide a second train on another track — A train on one track can hide a train coming on another track, so look both ways and be sure no other train is near before crossing.

Answer

The signals reset only after five minutes

Answer

Multiple tracks always mean the crossing is closed

Answer

You must count the cars of the first train

Question 10

Besides yielding to circulating traffic, what else must you yield to when navigating a roundabout?

Accepted Answer

Yield to pedestrians — A key rule for roundabouts is to yield to pedestrians in addition to yielding on entry to circulating traffic.

Answer

Yield only to emergency vehicles

Answer

Yield to traffic waiting to enter behind you

Answer

There is nothing else you must yield to

Question 11

If there are two left-turn lanes available, which one should a large vehicle use?

Accepted Answer

The right-hand turn lane of the two — Always take the right-hand turn lane, because starting from the inside lane may force you to swing right to complete the turn.

Answer

The inside (left-most) turn lane

Answer

Either lane, as long as you signal

Answer

Straddle both lanes through the turn

Question 12

At a passive railroad crossing with no traffic-control devices, who decides whether it is safe to proceed?

Accepted Answer

The driver alone must decide — Because a passive crossing has no control devices, whether to stop or go is entirely up to you — spot the crossing, look for a train, and decide if there is room to clear it.

Answer

A flagman stationed at the crossing

Answer

The train engineer's signal

Answer

Automatic gates lowered by the railroad

Pennsylvania CDL — General Knowledge: Right-of-Way practice test

Study questions with answers

1. Before you start across an intersection with a large, slow-accelerating vehicle, what must you be sure of?

2. Why should you never try to race a train to a railroad crossing?

3. Why should you be especially cautious around a stopped bus?

4. When entering a roundabout, who has the right-of-way?

5. You approach a pedestrian who wants to cross where there is no marked crossing. What should you do?

6. When making a left turn at an intersection with a large vehicle, how far should you go before starting the turn?

7. Compared with a car, what does a large commercial vehicle need before crossing or entering traffic?

8. While completing a wide right turn, oncoming vehicles are waiting. Why should you not back up to give them room?

9. At a crossing with more than one track, why must you double-check before proceeding after a train passes?

10. Besides yielding to circulating traffic, what else must you yield to when navigating a roundabout?

11. If there are two left-turn lanes available, which one should a large vehicle use?

12. At a passive railroad crossing with no traffic-control devices, who decides whether it is safe to proceed?

More CDL — General Knowledge topics

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