Sharing the Road

Study questions with answers

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.

1. 1. When you are approaching or passing a bicyclist, what should you do first?

   Correct answer: Slow down to a safe speed

   As you come up on or overtake a bicycle, first reduce to a safe speed and look for oncoming traffic before committing to the pass.

   Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Drivers Who Are Hazards)

2. 2. Strong winds make it hard to stay in your lane. This problem is usually worst for which vehicles?

   Correct answer: Lighter vehicles

   Strong winds make holding your lane harder, a problem that hits lighter vehicles worse and can be particularly severe as you exit a tunnel.

   Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Strong Winds)

3. 3. How should you treat another driver who appears to be distracted?

   Correct answer: Give them plenty of room and keep your distance

   Give a distracted driver plenty of room, keep your safe following distance, and be very careful when passing since they may drift in front of you.

   Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Watch Out for Other Distracted Drivers)

4. 4. When an aggressive driver confronts you, what should be your very first response?

   Correct answer: Make every effort to get out of their way

   Your top priority is to move out of the aggressive driver's path; never challenge them by accelerating or refusing to give up your lane.

   Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Aggressive Drivers/Road Rage)

5. 5. When a heavy load holds your speed down while climbing a hill, what is the right thing to do?

   Correct answer: Stay in the right lane

   Keep to the right lane when a heavy load holds you back on an upgrade, and avoid passing another slow vehicle unless you can complete the pass quickly and safely.

   Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Stay to the Right)

6. 6. Why do motorcyclists require special attention from commercial drivers?

   Correct answer: They can be hard to see and easy to overlook

   Because a motorcycle is easily missed or difficult to spot, always stay ready for motorcyclists sharing the road.

   Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Drivers Who Are Hazards)

7. 7. When reporting an aggressive driver to authorities, what information is most useful to provide?

   Correct answer: Vehicle description, plate number, location, and direction

   Report an aggressive driver by giving a vehicle description, license plate number, location, and direction of travel, and a description of the driver if possible.

   Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (What You Should Do When Confronted by an Aggressive Driver)

8. 8. What does the manual say about using your horn near bicyclists?

   Correct answer: Do not honk near them unless needed to avoid a crash

   Keep from honking near a bicyclist except when it is necessary to prevent a collision.

   Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Drivers Who Are Hazards)

9. 9. What is one danger of traveling alongside another vehicle in an adjacent lane?

   Correct answer: The other driver may turn into you, or you may get trapped

   The other driver could swerve into you with a sudden lane change, or you could get boxed in just when you must move over yourself.

   Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Traveling Next to Others)

10. 10. What is 'off-tracking' when a long vehicle turns a corner?

    Correct answer: The rear wheels track a tighter, different path from the front ones

    Off-tracking means the rear wheels follow a different, tighter path than the front wheels, so a tractor's path is wider than the rig itself.

    Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 6: Combination Vehicles (Turn Wide)

11. 11. When making a right turn that your vehicle cannot complete within one lane, what should you do?

    Correct answer: Keep the rear close to the curb and turn wide at the end

    Hold your vehicle's rear near the curb while swinging wide only as you finish the turn, which blocks other drivers from slipping past on your right.

    Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Right Turns)

12. 12. On slippery roads, what is the manual's advice about driving next to other vehicles?

    Correct answer: Avoid driving alongside other vehicles

    When the road is slippery, avoid running beside other vehicles, leave extra following distance, and stay out of spots that force abrupt maneuvers.

    Source: Pennsylvania CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Adjust Space to Conditions)