Basics of Controlling Your Vehicle

Q1: What is a major cause of fatal crashes?

Driving too fast
Q2: You must adjust your speed depending on what?
Driving conditions
Q3: You must adjust your speed depending on driving conditions. What does this
include?
1. Traction
2. Curves
3. Visibility
4. Traffic
5. Hills
Q4: What three factors should be added together to determine total stopping distance?
1. Perception distance
2. Reaction distance
3. Braking distance
Q5: What is the definition of perception distance?
The distance your vehicle travels in ideal conditions; from the time your eyes see a
hazard until your brain recognizes it.
Q6: What can affect your perception distance?
Mental and physical conditions
Q7: Perception distance can be affected greatly depending on what?
Visibility and the hazard itself
Q8: What is the average perception time for an alert driver?
1 3/4 seconds
Q9: How many feet does the average perception time (1 3/4 seconds) account for at 55
mph?
142 feet traveled
Q10: What is the definition of reaction distance?
The distance you will continue to travel, in ideal conditions; before you physically hit the
brakes in response to a hazard seen ahead
Q11: What is the reaction time of the average driver?
3/4 second to 1 second
At 55 mph, how many feet have been traveled, based on the average driver reaction
Q12: time of 3/4 second to 1 second?
61 feet
Q13: What is the definition of braking distance?
The distance your vehicle will travel, in ideal conditions; while you are braking.
Q14: How many feet will it take to stop on dry pavement with good brakes, at 55 mph?
216 feet
Q15: What is the definition of total stopping distance?
The total minimum distance your vehicle has traveled, in ideal conditions; with
everything considered, including perception distance, reaction distance and braking
distance, until you can bring your vehicle to a complete stop.
Q16: What is the total stopping distance at 55 mph?
419 feet
Q17: The faster you drive, the great the _____________ or _______________ of your
vehicle.
impact; striking power
Q18: When you double your speed from 20 to 40 mph, the impact is how many times
greater?
4
Q19: In addition to the impact being 4 times greater when you double your speed from
20 to 40 mph, the braking distance is also 4 times _________________.
longer
Q20: If you triple your speed from 20 to 60 mph, how many times greater is the impact
and braking distance?
9 times greater
Q21: At 60 mph, your stopping distance is greater than a _____________________.
football field
Q22: If you increase the speed from 20 mph to 80 mph, the impact and braking distance
are how many times greater?
16 times greater
Q23: High speeds greatly increase the ___________________ and
___________________.
severity of crashes; stopping distances
Q24: By slowing down, what can you reduce?
Breaking distance
Q25: The heavier a vehicle, the ___________________________, and the
___________________.
more work the brakes must do to stop it; more heat they absorb
Q26: The brakes, tires, springs, and shock absorbers on heavy vehicles are designed to
work best in what condition?
When the vehicle is fully loaded
Q27: Why do empty trucks require great stopping distances?
Because an empty vehicle has less traction.
Q28: You can't steer or brake a vehicle unless you have ______________.
traction
Q29: What is the definition of traction?
Friction between the tires and the road
Q30: There are some road conditions that reduce traction and call for
_________________.
lower speeds
Q31: What is true when the road is slippery?
1. It will take longer to stop
2. It will be harder to turn without skidding.
Q32: Wet roads can _____________ stopping distance.
double
Q33: What must you do on a wet road, in order to be able to stop in the same distance
as on a dry road?
Drive slower
Q34: How much should you reduce your speed by on a wet road?
One-third
Q35: On packed snow, how much should you reduce your speed?
By a half or more
Q36: If the surface is icy, what should you do?
Reduce speed to a crawl and stop driving as soon as you can safely do so.
Q37: What are 7 signs of a slippery road?
1. Shaded areas
2. Bridges
3. Melting ice
4. Black ice
5. Vehicle icing
6. Just after rain begins
7. Hydroplaning
Q38: What is important to remember when identifying shaded areas on slippery
surfaces?
Shady parts of the road will remain icy and slippery long after open areas have melted.
Q39: What is important to remember when identifying bridges on slippery surfaces?
When the temperature drops, bridges will freeze before the road will. Be especially
careful when the temperature is close to 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Q40: What is important to remember when identifying melting ice on slippery surfaces?
Slight melting will make ice wet. Wet ice is much more slippery than ice that is not wet.
Q41: What is important to remember when identifying black ice on slippery surfaces?
Black ice is a thin layer that is clear enough that you can see the road underneath it. It
makes the road look wet. Any time the temperature is below freezing and the road looks
wet, watch out for black ice.
Q42: What is important to remember when identifying vehicle icing on slippery
surfaces?
An easy way to check for ice is to open the window and feel the front of the mirror,
mirror support, or antenna. If there's ice on these, the road surface is probably starting
to ice up.
Q43: What is important to remember about slippery surfaces just after rain begins?
Right after it starts to rain, the water mixes with oil left on the road by vehicles. This
makes the road very slippery. If the rain continues, it will wash the oil away.
Q44: What is important to remember about hydroplaning on slippery surfaces?
In some weather, water or slush collects on the road. When this happens, your vehicle
can hydroplane. It's like water skiing--the tires lose their contact with the road and have
little or no traction. You may not be able to steer or brake. You can regain control by
releasing the accelerator and pushing in the clutch. This will slow your vehicle and let
the wheels turn freely. If the vehicle is hydroplaning, do not use the brakes to slow
down. If the drive wheels start to skid, push in the clutch and let them turn freely.
Q45: It does not take a lot of water to cause ______________________.
hydroplaning
Q46: If there is a lot of water, hydroplaning can occur at speeds as low as
______________.
30 mph
Q47: Hydroplaning is more likely if what conditions are present?
1. Tire pressure is low
2. Tread is worn
Q48: Why is hydroplaning more likely if the tread is worn?
The grooves in a tire carry away the water. If they aren't deep, they don't work well.
Q49: What conditions are indicative of standing water, which can cause a vehicle to
hydroplane?
1. clear reflections
2. tire splashes
3. raindrops on the road
Q50: If you take a curve too fast, what two things can happen?
1. The tires can lose their traction and continue straight ahead, so you skid off the road.
2. Tires may keep their traction and the vehicle rolls over.
Q51: Tests have shown that trucks with a high center of gravity can roll over at what
general speed?
The posted speed limit for a curve
Q52: What should you do before you enter a curve?
Slow to a safe speed.
Q53: Why is braking in a curve dangerous?
It's easier to lock the wheels and cause a skid.
Q54: Don't ever exceed what speed in a curve?
The posted speed limit for the curve
Q55: What gear should you be in when going into a curve?
A gear that will let you accelerate slightly in the curve
Q56: Why is it important to be in a gear that will let you accelerate slightly in a curve?
It will help you keep control.
Q57: You should always be able to stop within what distance?
The distance you can see ahead
Q58: Fog, rain, or other conditions may require that you do what?
Slow down to be able to stop in the distance you can see.
Q59: At night, you can't see as far with _________________ as you can with
______________. When you must use _________________, slow down.
low beams; high beams; low beams
Q60: When you're driving in heavy traffic, what is the safest speed?
The speed of other vehicles
Q61: Vehicles going the same direction at the same speed are not likely to what?
Run into one another
62: In many states, speed limits are ___________ for trucks and buses than for cars.
lower
Q63: How much lower can the speed limits be for trucks and buses than for cars?
It can vary as much as 15 mph.
Q64: What should you do when you change lanes or pass on roadways that have lower
speed limits for trucks and buses?
Use extra caution
Q65: What should you do when driving on roadways that have lower speed limits for
trucks and buses, if you can do so without going at an illegal or unsafe speed?
Drive at the speed of traffic.
Q66: What is the main reason drivers exceed speed limits?
To save time
Q67: If you drive faster than the speed of other traffic, what will you have to do?
Keep passing other vehicles
Q68: Why is it dangerous to drive faster than the speed of other traffic and have to keep
passing other vehicles?
1. It increases the chance of a crash.
2. It is more tiring.
Q69: Fatigue increases the chance of what?
A crash
Q70: Going with the flow of traffic is __________ and __________.
safer; easier
Q71: When you are driving on a downgrade, what will happen because of gravity?
Your vehicle's speed will increase
Q72: Your most important objective is to select and maintain a speed that is not too fast
for what conditions?
1. Total weight of the vehicle and cargo.
2. Length of the grade
3. Steepness of the grade
4. Road conditions
5. Weather
Q73: If a speed limit is posted on a downgrade, or there is a sign indicating "Maximum
Safe Speed", what should you not do?
Exceed the speed shown
Q74: Look for and heed warning signs indicating the ____________ and ___________
of a downgrade.
length; steepness
Q75: What must you use as the principal way of controlling your speed on downgrades?
The braking effect of the engine
Q76: When is the braking effect of the engine greatest?
When it is near the governed rpms and the transmission is in lower gears.
Q77: Why is it important to save your breaks when you are driving on a downgrade?
So, you will be able to slow or stop as required by road and traffic conditions.
Q78: What should you do when going into a downgrade?
1. Shift your transmission to a low gear.
2. Use the proper braking techniques.
Q79: What is the number one cause of injury and death in roadway work zones?
Speeding traffic
Q80: What should you observe when approaching or driving through a work zone and
when should you observe them?
Posted speed limits at all times
Q81: When driving through a work zone, what should you do?
1. Watch your speedometer.
2. Don't allow your speed to creep up as you drive through long sections of road
construction.
Q82: In what conditions should you decrease your speed even further when driving
through a work zone?
1. Adverse weather or road conditions
2. When a work is close to the roadway.