Driving Safely
Driving Safely is the largest knowledge area on the NY CDL Passenger exam. It tests whether you can choose a safe speed, keep a space cushion, and recognize hazards before they become emergencies in a vehicle that is longer, heavier, and slower to stop than a car.
Space and following distance
- Use the CDL following-distance formula: one second for each 10 feet of vehicle length at speeds below 40 mph; add one second at 40 mph and above.
- Add more space in rain, snow, darkness, heavy traffic, or when passengers are standing.
- Scan 12-15 seconds ahead and check mirrors every 5-8 seconds; know the blind spots on both sides and directly behind.
Speed and communication
- Slow before curves, exit ramps, work zones, and bridge decks; brake smoothly so standing passengers are not thrown off balance.
- Signal early, change lanes one at a time, and never coast through a stale green light.
- At railroad crossings, passenger vehicles generally must stop unless a police officer or traffic-control signal directs otherwise; look and listen before crossing.
Worked example
A 40-foot bus is traveling 55 mph on dry pavement. Base following distance is 4 seconds (40 divided by 10). Because the speed is 40 mph or above, add 1 second: 5 seconds. At 55 mph the bus travels about 81 feet per second, so 5 seconds is roughly 405 feet. If the pavement is wet, the gap should be larger.
Traps
Using the car three-second rule; forgetting the extra second above 40 mph; watching only the vehicle directly ahead instead of the whole traffic scene; and stopping on railroad tracks when traffic is backed up.