TX DMV Sharing the Road 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Large commercial trucks have dangerous blind spots called 'No-Zones.' Which area is typically NOT one of a truck's No-Zones?
- Directly behind the trailer
- Directly in front of the cab
- Approximately 100 feet ahead of the truck on the highway (Correct answer)
- Along both sides of the trailer
Correct answer: Approximately 100 feet ahead of the truck on the highway
Truck No-Zones are directly in front, directly behind, and on both sides — not 100 feet ahead, which is open road visible to the truck driver.
Question 2: What is the safest strategy when following a large truck on the highway?
- Stay very close to use the truck's slipstream and save fuel
- Maintain extra following distance so you can see around the truck (Correct answer)
- Stay in the truck's left blind spot to keep away from right-side hazards
- Follow at the same distance you would behind a car
Correct answer: Maintain extra following distance so you can see around the truck
Extra following distance lets you see around the truck and gives you more time to react to hazards ahead.
Question 3: Under Texas law, a motorcycle is entitled to use:
- Only the right half of a travel lane
- Half a lane shared with another motorcycle
- The full width of a travel lane (Correct answer)
- A designated motorcycle lane only
Correct answer: The full width of a travel lane
A motorcycle has the same rights as any other vehicle and is entitled to the full use of a traffic lane.
Question 4: What following distance should you maintain behind a motorcycle compared to a passenger car?
- The same — following distance rules do not vary by vehicle type
- A shorter distance because motorcycles brake faster
- A greater distance because motorcycles can stop more suddenly (Correct answer)
- Double the distance only on highways
Correct answer: A greater distance because motorcycles can stop more suddenly
Motorcycles can stop more quickly than cars, so extra following distance is needed to avoid a rear-end collision.
Question 5: Why do large trucks need much greater stopping distances than passenger vehicles?
- Truck brake systems are less technologically advanced
- Their greater weight creates significantly more momentum to overcome (Correct answer)
- Truck drivers are required by law to brake gradually
- Air brakes activate more slowly than hydraulic brakes
Correct answer: Their greater weight creates significantly more momentum to overcome
A fully loaded truck can weigh 80,000 lbs — far more momentum than a car — requiring substantially longer distances to stop.
Question 6: When you need to pass a large commercial truck, you should:
- Pass on the right to stay out of the truck driver's left blind spot
- Pass quickly and completely on the left side (Correct answer)
- Linger alongside the truck briefly to let the driver see you
- Flash your headlights before passing to signal your intent
Correct answer: Pass quickly and completely on the left side
Pass large trucks on the left, moving through the pass quickly and completely to minimize time spent in blind spots.
Question 7: When a large truck turns right at an intersection, the driver may need to:
- Stay entirely within the right lane to complete the turn legally
- Swing wide to the left first before completing the right turn (Correct answer)
- Use the road shoulder to give the trailer extra room
- Stop and wait until all adjacent lanes are clear
Correct answer: Swing wide to the left first before completing the right turn
Long trucks require extra space and often swing left before turning right to keep the trailer from riding up on the curb.
TX DMV Sharing the Road 3
Large commercial trucks have dangerous blind spots called 'No-Zones.' Which area is typically NOT one of a truck's No-Zones?