Parking & Stopping

Study questions with answers

12 sample Parking & Stopping questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.

1. 1. At a crossing with a painted white stop line, where must the front of a school bus remain while stopped?

   Correct answer: Behind the painted stop line

   The front of the school bus must stay behind the white stop line painted before the tracks while it is stopped at the crossing.

   Source: South Carolina CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Pavement Markings)

2. 2. Why should you never let traffic conditions leave you stopped on railroad tracks?

   Correct answer: A train could strike you before you can move clear

   Confirm your vehicle can clear the entire crossing before you set off, since getting stuck on the rails is extremely dangerous.

   Source: South Carolina CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Crossing the Tracks)

3. 3. Before backing into an area, what should you get out and check for overhead?

   Correct answer: Overhanging branches or wires

   Get out and look for overhanging objects such as tree branches or electric wires, which are easy to miss while backing.

   Source: South Carolina CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Space Overhead)

4. 4. What should you always do when you leave your vehicle?

   Correct answer: Set the parking brake

   Apply the parking brake whenever you leave the vehicle so it cannot roll.

   Source: South Carolina CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Basic Control of Your Vehicle)

5. 5. Where there is no painted stop line, how far from the nearest rail must a vehicle required to stop at a crossbuck stop?

   Correct answer: Between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail

   Where no stop line is painted, a vehicle required to halt must do so between 15 and 50 feet away from the closest rail.

   Source: South Carolina CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Cross-buck Signs)

6. 6. When stopping normally, how should you apply the brake pedal?

   Correct answer: Press it down gradually for a smooth stop

   Ease the pedal down bit by bit and manage the force so the truck settles into a gentle, safe halt.

   Source: South Carolina CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Stopping)

7. 7. When must you release the parking brake so you do not roll back while starting?

   Correct answer: Only after enough engine power is applied to prevent rolling back

   Wait to let off the parking brake until you have fed in enough power to stop the truck from drifting back.

   Source: South Carolina CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Accelerating)

8. 8. When you stop a manual-transmission vehicle on an upgrade, how can you keep from rolling back as you start again?

   Correct answer: Partly engage the clutch before releasing the brake

   Partly engage the clutch before taking your foot off the brake, and use the parking brake as needed to keep from rolling back.

   Source: South Carolina CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Accelerating)

9. 9. When you park, how should you position the vehicle to make leaving safer?

   Correct answer: So you can pull forward when you leave

   Try to park so you can pull forward when you leave, since backing is always the more dangerous maneuver.

   Source: South Carolina CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Backing Safely)

10. 10. When stopping at a railroad crossing, what should you do about traffic behind you?

    Correct answer: Watch for traffic behind you and stop gradually

    Check for traffic behind you as you stop gradually, use a pullout lane if one exists, and turn on your four-way flashers.

    Source: South Carolina CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (Stopping Safely at Railroad-highway Crossings)

11. 11. Why should you not rely on your taillights alone when parked beside the road at night?

    Correct answer: Drivers may think the taillights mean you are moving

    Drivers have crashed into parked vehicles believing the taillights meant the vehicle was moving normally, so use the flashers instead.

    Source: South Carolina CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (When Parked at the Side of the Road)

12. 12. After leaving the travel lanes and coming to a stop, what is especially important to switch on at night?

    Correct answer: The four-way emergency flashers

    Turn on your four-way emergency flashers when stopped, because you cannot rely on taillights to warn approaching drivers.

    Source: South Carolina CDL Manual — Section 2: Driving Safely (When Parked at the Side of the Road)