SECTION 2 DRIVING SAFELY Flashcards
What is the most important reason you inspect your vehicle?
Safety
Are you required to inspect your vehicle?
Yes. Federal and state laws require drivers to inspect their vehicles.
What happens if a federal or state inspector judges your vehicle to be unsafe?
They will put it “out of service.”
During a trip, how should you check for signs of trouble?
Watch gauges.
Use your senses - look, listen, smell, feel.
Check critical items when you stop.
During a trip, what critical items should you check when you stop?
Tires, wheels, and rims.
Brakes.
Lights and reflectors.
Brakes and electrical connections to trailer.
Trailer coupling devices.
Cargo securement devices.
What should you do at the end of the trip, day, or tour of duty?
Perform an after-trip inspection.
How much tread depth should front tires have?
At least 4/32-inch tread depth in every major groove.
How much tread depth should non-front tires have?
2/32 inch
Is it okay for fabric to show through the tread or sidewall?
No.
Is it okay for dual tires to come into contact with each other or other parts of the vehicle?
No.
Is it okay to use radial and biased-ply tires together?
No.
What is prohibited on front wheels of a bus?
Re-grooved, recapped, or retreaded tires.
What could rust around wheel nuts indicate?
That the nuts are loose. Check their tightness.
What should you do after a tire has been changed?
Stop a short while later and recheck the tightness of nuts
Are wheels or rims with welding repairs safe?
No.
How much steering wheel play is unsafe?
More than 10 degrees (approximately 2 inches movement at rim of a 20-inch steering wheel).
How many broken or missing leaves are allowed in a leaf spring?
If 1/4 or more are missing it will put the vehicle “out of service” but any defect could be dangerous.
What emergency equipment should your vehicle contain?
Fire extinguisher.
Spare electrical fuses. (Unless equipped with circuit breakers)
Warning devices for parked vehicles (e.g. 3 reflective triangles or 6 fusees or 3 liquid burning flares)
What should you inspect regarding cargo?
Make sure truck is not overloaded and that the cargo is balanced and secured before each trip. If cargo contains hazardous materials, you must inspect for proper papers and placards.
If working properly, ABS indicator lights on the dash should come on and then turn off when the engine is started.
True. If it stays on, the ABS is not working properly.
What does it mean if the yellow light on the left rear of the trailer stays on?
The ABS is not working properly.
What does ABS stand for?
Anti-lock braking system.
After starting vehicle, how long before oil pressure gauge should come up to normal levels?
Within seconds.
After starting vehicle, how long for air pressure to build rom 50 to 90 psi?
Within 3 minutes.
After starting, how long for coolant and engine oil temperature to rise to normal range?
After starting, they should begin gradual rise to normal range.
What is idling oil pressure range?
5-20PSI
What is operating oil pressure range?
35-75PSI
What is normal Oil Pressure range?
Idling 5-20PSI
Operating 35-75PSI
What should you do if oil pressure is low, dropping, or fluctuating?
Stop immediately! Without oil the engine can be destroyed rapidly.
What color should rear turn signal lights be?
Red, yellow, or amber
What color should taillights be?
Red
What color should marker lights and reflectors be?
Red at rear, others amber.
How do you test hydraulic brakes for leaks?
With engine started. Pump the pedal 3 times, then apply firm pressure to the pedal and hold for 5 seconds. The pedal shouldn’t move. If it does, there may be a leak.
How do you test the parking brake?
Set brake. Low gear. Pull forward to make sure brake holds.
How to test service brake stopping action?
Go about 5 mph. Push brake firmly. Look for unusual pedal “feel” , delayed stopping action, or pulling to one side.
If transporting cargo, when should you inspect the securement of the cargo?
Within first 50 miles of a trip, and every 150 miles or every 3 hours after ( whichever comes first) .
Is it okay to roll back a little when starting your vehicle?
No.
How to prevent rolling back when starting vehicle?
Put on parking brake and release only when have enough engine power.
Why is rough acceleration bad?
It can cause mechanical damage and can damage coupling if pulling a trailer.
When traction is poor, like in rain or snow, how should you accelerate?
Very gradually.
What could happen if you use too much power to accelerate when traction is poor, such as in rain or snow?
Drive wheels may spin, and you could lose control.
What should you do if drive wheels begin to spin?
Take your foot off of the accelerator.
How should you hold the steering wheel?
Firmly with both hands on opposite sides of he wheel
How do you stop safely?
Push brake pedal gradually. Amount of pressure depends on speed and how quickly need to stop.
When is backing up not dangerous?
Never. Always dangerous because can’t see everything behind vehicle.
How to back up safely?
Avoid backing whenever possible. Try to park so you won’t have to back up.
Start in best position that allows you to back safely.
Look at your path of travel before you begin. Check side and overhead clearance.
Use both side mirrors frequently. Get out and check path if unsure.
Back as slowly as possible.
Back and turn to DRIVER’S SIDE so that you can see better. You can watch the rear of your vehicle out side window. Go around block if necessary to put vehicle in such a position. It’s worth it.
Use a helper if possible. Agree on hand signals and be able to see helper as he stands near back of vehicle.
T or F most heavy vehicles with manual transmission require double clutching to changer gears ? And
True
What is the method for shifting up with double Clutching?
Release accelerator, push in, clutch and shift to neutral at the same time.
Release the clutch.
Let engine and gears slow down to the RPM required for the next gear.
Pushed in clutch and shift to the higher gear at the same time .
Release clutch and pressed accelerator at the same time .
What happens if you stay in neutral too long when double clutching?
You may have difficulty putting the vehicle into the next gear
How do you know when to shift (up or down)?
Use engine speed- learn operating range from manual. when the tachometer reaches the top of the range, shift up.
Use road speed - learn what speed switchgear is good for. Then use the speedometer to know when to shift up.
With either method, you may learn to use engine sounds to know when to shift.
What is progressive shifting?
A feature on some newer vehicles. The rpm at which you shift becomes higheras you move up in the gears.
What is this basic method  for shifting down?
Release, accelerator, push in clutch, and shift to neutral at the same time.
Release clutch.
Press, Excelerator, increase engine and gear speed to the rpm required in the lower gear.
Push inclutch and shift to lower gear at the same time.
Release clutch and press the accelerator at the same time.
Under what special circumstances should you shift down?
Before starting down a hill. Before entering a curve.
What should you do before starting down a hill?us
Slow down and shift down to a speed that you can control without using the brakes hard.
Why shift down before starting down a hill?
Because if you have to use the brakes hard, they can overheat and lose their braking power.
What happens if brakes overheat?
They can lose their braking power.
What gear should you be in before starting down a hill?
Usually a gear lower than the gear required to climb the same hill.
Why downshift before entering a curve?
It lets you use some power through the curve to help vehicle be more stable while turning. It also allows you to speed up as soon as you are out of the curve.
How do you control multi-speed rear axles and auxiliary transmissions?
Usually with a selector knob or switch on the gearshift lever of the main transmission.
With automatic transmission, what should you do before going down a grade. This is very important.
Select Low Range. This gives greater engine braking. It prevents the transmission from shifting up beyond the selected gear
What do retarders do?
help slow a vehicle, reducing the need to use your brakes. they reduce brake wear and give you another way to slow down.
How many types of retarders are there?
4 - exhaust, engine, hydraulic, and electric
Can retarders be turned on and off?
Yes. All can be turned on or off by the driver.
Can retarders be adjusted?
On some vehicles.
How do retarders work?
When turned on, they apply their braking power (to the drive wheels only), whenever you let up on the accelerator all the way.
When should you NOT use a retarder?
When the road is wet, icy, or snow covered, because the retarder may cause the drive wheels to skid when traction is poor.
Also, because they’re noisy, retarders may not be permitted in some areas.
How far ahead should you look while driving?
12 to 15 seconds. At low speeds this is about 1 block. At highway speeds, it’s about 1/4 mile.
When should mirrors be adjusted?
Before the start of any trip and while the trailer is straight.
You mirror should show some part of your vehicle?
Yes. this will give you a reference point for judging the position of the other images.
How should you check you mirrors while driving?
Quickly. Check them quickly and understand what you see.
Do things seem farther away or closer when looking in a covex mirror?
Farther away.
Do things appear larger or smaller in a convex mirror?
Smaller.
Why use a convex mirror?
They show a wider area.
What are three good rules for using turn signals?
Signal early, signal continuously, cancel the signal.
Should you change lanes quickly or slowly?
Slowly and smoothly, so that a driver you didn’t see may have a chance to honk or avoid you.
How to warn drivers behind you that you’ll need to slow down?
Tap lightly on the brake pedal - enough to flash the brake lights.
When should you use the four way flashers?
When you are driving very slowly or are stopped.
What should you do if you see a hazard ahead that will require slowing down?
Tap on brakes a few times to warn the drivers behind you.
T or F Laws regarding the use of 4 way emergency flashers vary from state to state?
True
When should you help direct traffic?
Never. Don’t signal that it is safe to pass. It could cause an accident. you could be blamed and it could cost you money.
What should you do when passing a vehicle, pedestrian, or bicyclist?
Assume they don’t see you. If legal, tap the horn lightly or , at night, flash you lights from low to high beam and back.
Where to put triangles if pulled over on a 2-lane road or on an undivided highway?
What if there’s a hill, curve, or obstruction?
100 feet in front. 10 feet behind to mark the vehicle. and 100 feet behind. (it actually says within 10 feet of the front or rear corners to mark the locaton of the vehicle)
Back beyond any hill, curve, or obstruction that prevents other drivers from seeing the vehicle within 500 feet.
If line of sight view is obstructed due to hill or curve, move the rear most triangle beyond the obstructon (100-500’)
How calculate stopping distance?
Perception distance + Reaction Distance + Braking distance = Total Stopping distance
What is 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.
What is the average perception time for an alert driver? How far will you travel during this time?
1.75 seconds At 55mph, 142 ft traveled
what can affect perception distance?
Visibility and the hazard itself.
What is the definition of reaction distance?
This distance you will continue to travel, in ideal condition, before you physically hit the brakes in response to a hazard seen ahead.
What is the average reaction time for a driver? How fare will you travel during this time?
.75 seconds. At 55mph, 61 ft.
What is definition of braking distance?
The distance your vehicle will travel, in ideal conditions, while you are braking.
What is the average braking distance?
At 55mph on dry pavement with good brakes, it can take about 216 feet.
What is average total stopping distance?
At 55mph, 419 feet. ( 142 + 61 + 216)
When you double your speed from 20 to 40mph, the braking distance is ___ times longer and the striking impact is ____ times greater. When you triple speed from 20 to 60, braking distance and striking impact is ____ times greater. When you quadruple speed from 20 to 80, impact and braking distance is ____ times greater.
4, 4
9,
16
at 45mph, total stopping distance is ____
319 feet
Brakes work harder to stop a heavier vehicle. T or F
True. They work harder and absorb more heat.
Fully loaded trucks require greater stopping distances than empty trucks. T or F
False. Empty trucks require greater stopping distances because they have less traction.
Brakes, tires, springs, and shock absorbers on heavy vehicles are designed to work best when the vehicle is partially loaded. T or F
False. They’re designed to work best when the vehicle is fully loaded.
What is friction between the tire and road called?
Traction
It is still possible to steer and brake a vehicle without traction.
False. You can’t stter or brake a vehicle unless you have traction.
It is harder to stop and harder to turn without skidding when the road is slippery. T or F
True
True or False. Wet roads can double stopping distance.
True
In order to be able to stop in the same distance as on a dry road, you must reduce speed by about ___ on a wet road and by about ___ on packed snow. If road is icy, you should ______.
1/3 (e.g. slow from 55 to 35) on wet road
1/2 or more on packed snow
reduce speed to a crawl and stop driving asap on icy road.
Melting ice is more slippery than ice that isn’t wet. T or F
True
When is cold, ______ areas will remain icy and slippery long after other areas have melted.
Shaded areas
_______ will freeze before the road will
Bridges
When it is below freezing and the road looks wet, watch out for ______
black ice
An easy way to check for ice is to feel the front of _____
the mirror, mirror support, or antenna
Oil left on the road by vehicles makes the road very slippery ____
Just after rain begins. The water-oil mixture is very slippery. If rain continues, it will wash the oil away.
to regain control when hydroplaning, you should
release accelerator and push in the clutch. This will slow vehicle and allow wheels to turn freely
Hydroplaning is like waterskiing T or F
True. the tires lose contact with the road and have little or no traction.
When hydroplaning, lightly apply the brakes to slow down. T or F
False. Don’t use the brakes when hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning can occur at speeds as low as ___
30mph
Hydroplaning is more likely to occur when _____ is low or ______ is worn.
tire pressure, tread
Trucks with a high _____ can roll over at the posted speed limit on curves.
center of gravity
If you take a curve too fast, you could lose traction and ______ or you could keep traction and _____.
skid off the road,
roll over
Accelerating slightly in a curve will help you keep control.
True
Braking in a curve is safe. T or F
False. It’s easier to lock the wheels and cause a skid.
You should always be able to stop within what distance?
Within the distance you can see ahead.
When in heavy traffic, the safest speed is ____.
The speed of other vehicles.
True or false. In many states, speed limits for trucks and buses are lower than for cars.
True.
The principal way to control speed on downgrades is to ______
use the braking effect of the engine. This is greatest when it is near the governed rpms and the transmission is in the lower gears.
Speed increases on downgrades due to ____
gravity
It is okay to exceed the “Maximum Safe Speed” _____.
never
The number one cause of injury and death in roadway work zones is ____
speeding traffic
The vehicle that trucks and buses run into most often is _____
the one in front of them
The most frequent cause of running into the vehicle in front of you is ____
following too closely
How much space should you keep in front of you at speeds below ___? At speeds above ___?
Below 40mph - 1 second for each 10 ft of vehicle length.
Above 40 mph - add 1 second for safety.
Remember, More stopping distance required if road is slippery.
If driving 60 ft vehicle, how much space keep in front of you if travelling below 40 mph. Over 40 mph?
6 secs - 1 sec for each 10 ft of length
7 secs - 1sec/10ft + 1 sec for safety
Remember, More stopping distance required if road is slippery.
If someone is tailgating you, you should ____ . Don’t ____ or _____.
increase you following distance.
Don’t speed up or use tricks (flashing tailights or brake lights).
When travelling, stay center in your lane. T or F
True. gives safer side clearance
When travelling, it’s best to travel alongside other vehicles if possible. T or F
False. Vehicle may change lanes suddenly and turn into you. Or you could be trapped when need to change lanes.
Strong winds affect lighter vehicles more than heavier vehicles.
True
Strong winds are especially a problem when _____.
coming out of tunnels. So don’t exit along side other vehicles if possible.