RV and trailer law test (noncommercial Class A and B) · California DMV
Defensive driving
Questions and answers
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You are driving alone and need to look at a map. What should you do?
Pull off the road at a safe place and stop first
When driving by yourself, pull off at a safe place and stop the vehicle before looking at a map.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Defensive Driving Techniques for All Drivers ↗ -
Why must an RV driver be continually aware of surrounding traffic?
Direction changes are slower and the RV needs more space
An RV changes direction more slowly and needs more space in traffic.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Defensive Driving Techniques for All Drivers ↗ -
Why should you start and shift smoothly?
To prevent wear and tear on the hitch and transmission
Smooth starts and shifts prevent wear and tear on the hitch and transmission systems.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Starting and Shifting ↗ -
How do you turn at an intersection with a long wheel base?
Go further into the intersection before starting the turn
You must turn wider. Go further into the intersection before turning so the rear wheel does not roll over the curb.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Turning Patterns ↗ -
Where in the lane should you be for a right curve in the highway?
In the center of the lane
Staying to the center of the lane keeps the rear wheels from going off the pavement.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Turning Patterns ↗ -
Where in the lane should you be for a left turn or curve when towing?
To the right of the lane
Staying to the right keeps the back of the trailer from tracking into the oncoming lane.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Turning Patterns ↗ -
When should you slow down for a curve?
Before you enter the curve
RVs and some trailers have a high center of gravity, so slow down before entering the curve.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Turning Patterns ↗ -
You carry less than a full load of livestock. What should you do?
Use barriers to keep the livestock together
With a partial load, barriers keep the livestock together so their movement shifts the weight less.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Turning Patterns ↗ -
Why does livestock make a rollover more likely?
The animals move and lean, shifting the center of gravity
Livestock can move around and lean in a curve, which shifts the center of gravity.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Turning Patterns ↗ -
Which winds are the greatest threat to a motor home or trailer combination?
Crosswinds
Crosswinds can push a large motor home or a vehicle and trailer into another lane.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Winds ↗ -
In most cases, what is the best defense against strong winds?
Going slower
In most cases, going slower is the best defense against strong winds.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Winds ↗ -
Your trailer starts to sway in the wind. What helps control it?
Gradually applying the trailer brakes
Gradually applying the trailer brakes helps control a swaying trailer.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Winds ↗ -
What do headwinds require to keep your usual speed?
A heavier throttle
Headwinds require a heavier throttle to maintain usual speeds.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Winds ↗ -
What is the safest thing to do in strong winds?
Pull over and wait it out
You may be able to control the RV, but the safest choice is to pull over and wait.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Winds ↗ -
Which type of vehicle does the handbook single out as especially at risk from crosswinds?
Travel trailers
Being pushed into another lane by a crosswind is especially true for travel trailers.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Winds ↗ -
Towing a trailer in snow country, where are chains needed?
On the tow vehicle and on one axle of the trailer
Chains are needed for both the tow vehicle and one axle of the trailer.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Snow ↗ -
Your motor home has dual-rear wheels. How many chains does it need?
Chains for one tire on each side
A motor home with dual-rear wheels needs chains for one tire on each side.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Snow ↗ -
What should you always carry in snow country?
Drive wheel chains and trailer wheel chains
Always carry drive wheel and trailer wheel chains, and know how to put them on.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Snow ↗ -
How should you tow a trailer on icy roads?
Slowly, especially downhill, using the lower gears
On ice go slowly, especially downhill, and use the lower gears.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Ice ↗ -
How may you gain extra traction for the tow vehicle on ice?
Moderately release the tension of the load equalizing hitch
Moderately releasing the tension of the load equalizing hitch may give the tow vehicle more traction.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Ice ↗ -
You loosened the load equalizing hitch for an icy stretch. What must you do when the ice is behind you?
Readjust the hitch
Always readjust the hitch afterward, because stability may be affected in normal driving.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Ice ↗ -
Which grade is considered extreme?
Any grade steeper than six percent
A grade steeper than six percent is extreme and needs special attention.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Mountain Roads ↗ -
A sign warns of a seven percent downgrade. How does the handbook class it?
As an extreme grade that needs special attention
Seven percent is steeper than six percent, so the grade is considered extreme.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Mountain Roads ↗ -
What is the principal way to control your speed on a long downgrade?
The braking effect of the engine in a lower gear
Use engine braking in lower gears as the main control. The brakes are only a supplement.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Mountain Roads ↗ -
When should you shift to a low gear for a downgrade?
Before starting down the grade
Slow the vehicle and shift to a low gear before starting down.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Mountain Roads ↗ -
On a downgrade in the proper low gear, how hard do you apply the brakes?
Just hard enough to feel a definite slowdown
Apply the brakes just hard enough to feel a definite slowdown.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Mountain Roads ↗ -
In the downgrade braking technique, when do you release the brakes?
At about five mph below your safe speed
Release the brakes when speed has dropped to about five mph below your safe speed.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Mountain Roads ↗ -
Your safe speed on a downgrade is 40 mph. At about what speed do you release the brakes?
35 mph
You brake down to about five mph below the safe speed, which here is 35 mph.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Mountain Roads ↗ -
About how long should each brake application last in the downgrade technique?
About three seconds
Each brake application should last about three seconds.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Mountain Roads ↗ -
After releasing the brakes on a downgrade, when do you apply them again?
When your speed has climbed back to your safe speed
When speed has increased to the safe speed again, repeat the brake application.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Mountain Roads ↗ -
Your RV cannot keep up the legal speed limit on a steep climb. Which lane do you use?
The far right lane
Stay in the far right lane on a steep climb if you cannot maintain the speed limit.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Mountain Roads ↗ -
You are behind slow trucks on a grade and lack the power to pass quickly. What is better?
Drop to a lower gear and slow down
It is better to drop a gear and slow down than to pass slow trucks and tie up the faster lanes.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Mountain Roads ↗ -
On a two-lane road where passing is unsafe, how many following vehicles mean you must pull over to let them pass?
Five or more
With five or more vehicles following, pull to the side wherever you can safely do so.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Narrow Roads ↗ -
Six vehicles are lined up behind your slow motor home on a two-lane road where passing is unsafe. What do you do?
Pull to the side where it is safe and let them pass
Six is more than five, so you pull to the side of the road when you can do so safely.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Narrow Roads ↗ -
A two-lane road has a passing lane. Which lane does your RV use?
The right lane
Stay in the right lane so faster vehicles can use the passing lane.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Narrow Roads ↗ -
On a narrow road, why stay to the right of your lane?
So the drivers behind you can see ahead
Keeping right in the lane lets vehicles behind you see the road ahead.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Narrow Roads ↗ -
What are “turn-out” areas on two-lane roads for?
Pulling in so vehicles behind you can pass
You may pull into a turn-out area and allow vehicles behind you to pass.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Narrow Roads ↗ -
What are escape ramps used for?
Stopping runaway vehicles safely
Escape ramps on steep mountain grades stop runaway vehicles without injuring the people inside.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Escape Ramps ↗ -
How does an escape ramp slow a runaway vehicle?
A long bed of loose, soft material such as pea gravel or sand
The ramp uses a long bed of loose, soft material, sometimes combined with an upgrade.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Escape Ramps ↗ -
Which signs matter in an RV that you may never have noticed in a car?
Bridge weight limits and overpass height clearances
Signs for dead ends, bridge weight limits, height clearance and trailer restrictions all matter in an RV.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Road Signs ↗ -
Why do you need more space when entering a freeway in an RV?
The RV accelerates more slowly
Slower acceleration means you need a larger gap. Freeway traffic has the right-of-way.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Freeway Driving ↗ -
What must you look for when merging onto a freeway?
Gaps large enough for your vehicle or vehicles
Freeway traffic has priority, so look for gaps large enough to accommodate your vehicle.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Freeway Driving ↗ -
What can happen if you swerve quickly because you did not leave enough room to pass?
The trailer may skid, sway or fishtail
A quick swerve can result in a skidding, oversteering, swaying or fishtailing trailer.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Freeway Driving ↗ -
When should you slow down to exit a freeway?
Sooner than you would in a smaller vehicle
Slow down sooner than you would for a smaller vehicle.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Freeway Driving ↗ -
An off ramp curve keeps tightening. Where should you stay?
To the outside of the curve
Staying to the outside keeps the rear wheels from rubbing the curb or dropping off the pavement.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Freeway Driving ↗ -
By law, where must vehicles towing trailers drive?
In the right-hand lane or as close as possible to the right edge or curb
Vehicles towing trailers must stay in the right-hand traffic lane or as close as possible to the right edge or curb.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Freeway Driving ↗ -
You tow a trailer on a divided highway with four lanes in your direction. Which lanes may you drive in?
The right-hand lane or the lane just to its left
With four or more lanes in one direction, you may also drive in the lane just left of the right-hand lane.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Freeway Driving ↗ -
You tow a trailer where four lanes run in your direction and no lane is designated. Which lane may NOT be used to pass?
The far left lane
To pass, use the designated lane, the lane just to the left of the right-hand lane, or the right-hand lane where permitted.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Freeway Driving ↗ -
A sign on a dirt road prohibits trailers. What should you do?
Do not use that road
Believe posted signs. There may be rocks, low trees or washed-out sections ahead.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Dirt or unpaved Roads ↗ -
How can you find out whether a dirt road to a campground suits your vehicle?
Consult a campground directory
A campground directory shows whether a certain road is suitable for your vehicle.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Dirt or unpaved Roads ↗ -
You are traveling on a holiday without a reservation. What is a good idea?
Stop early in the day to get a campsite
Private and public campgrounds fill up quickly, so stop early in the day.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Traveling on a Holiday ↗ -
How long should each rest break be on a long drive?
15 to 30 minutes
Take a 15 to 30 minute rest every two to three hours.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Fatigue ↗ -
How often should you take a rest break while driving?
Every two to three hours
Break up your driving with a rest every two to three hours.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Fatigue ↗ -
What should you do during a rest break?
Get out, walk around and inspect your vehicle
Walking loosens tired muscles and rests your eyes. Use the time to inspect the vehicle.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Fatigue ↗ -
You feel sleepy at the wheel. What is the only safe cure?
Get off the road and get some sleep
If you are sleepy, the only safe cure is to get off the road and sleep.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Fatigue ↗ -
When are most drivers least alert?
At night, particularly after midnight
The body naturally wants to sleep at night, and alertness is lowest after midnight.
Defensive Driving Techniques · Fatigue ↗ -
What does tracking, or offtracking, mean?
The rear wheels follow a different path than the front wheels
In tracking, the rear wheels of a vehicle or trailer follow a different path than the front wheels.
Glossary · Glossary ↗