Hawaii CDL — General Knowledge: Right-of-Way Practice Test

Question 1

On the road test, a slow vehicle is moving across the railroad tracks just ahead of you. May you pass it while you are in the crossing?

Accepted Answer

No. Passing, stopping, shifting and lane changes are all off limits until your whole vehicle is clear of the crossing — Before the crossing you slow down, look and listen, and check traffic. Once any part of the vehicle is in the crossing, the manual rules out stopping, changing gears, passing another vehicle and changing lanes.

Answer

Yes, if the crossing has only a single track

Answer

Yes, as long as you signal first

Answer

Only if the other vehicle is a farm tractor

Question 2

You must swing into the oncoming lane to finish a turn, and a car coming toward you has nowhere to go. Why does the manual say not to back up to make room?

Accepted Answer

You could hit someone who is behind you — When a turn takes you into the oncoming lane, you watch for vehicles coming toward you and leave them space to pass or to stop. The manual warns against backing up for them because you could strike a vehicle or person behind you.

Answer

Backing is illegal within 100 feet of an intersection

Answer

The oncoming car is required to back up instead

Answer

Reversing would cancel your turn signal

Question 3

Before pulling a bus away from a stop and into traffic, what does the manual tell you to wait for?

Accepted Answer

A gap in traffic big enough for the bus to accelerate and merge — School and transit buses sometimes clip passing vehicles or lose mirrors as they leave a stop. The manual says to know the size of opening your bus requires to get up to speed and merge, and to wait for that opening before you leave the stop.

Answer

A driver in the lane to flash headlights at you

Answer

The traffic signal behind you to turn red

Answer

Thirty seconds to pass after the last rider sits down

Question 4

On the road test, which of these is NOT part of what you should do as you approach an intersection?

Accepted Answer

Speed up to get through before the signal can change — Approaching an intersection, you check traffic in every direction, slow gently, brake smoothly and shift if necessary, and stop completely if a stop is required. Speeding up to beat a signal is not on the list.

Answer

Check traffic thoroughly in all directions

Answer

Decelerate gently

Answer

Brake smoothly and change gears if needed

Question 5

On the road test you have just cleared an intersection. What does the manual expect next?

Accepted Answer

Keep checking mirrors and traffic, and accelerate smoothly, changing gears as needed — Once through the intersection, you go on checking your mirrors and the traffic around you, and you bring your speed back up smoothly, shifting as necessary.

Answer

Change lanes immediately to the left-most lane

Answer

Coast in neutral until traffic catches up

Answer

Stop at the far curb so the examiner can score the maneuver

Question 6

On the road test, drivers of buses, school buses and placarded vehicles follow a special stop procedure at railroad crossings. At which crossings does the manual say that procedure is not required?

Accepted Answer

Crossings that are exempt — The manual expects these drivers to be ready for the stop, look and listen procedure at each railroad crossing; exempt crossings are the stated exception.

Answer

Crossings with gates

Answer

Crossings inside city limits

Answer

Crossings with only one track

Question 7

A Hawaii CMV driver follows traffic onto a railroad crossing without enough room on the far side and ends up stopped on the tracks. How does Hawaii's front-of-manual list treat this?

Accepted Answer

As a railroad-highway grade crossing offense, with a suspension of no less than 60 days for a first offense — Hawaii's railroad crossing list, which cites HRS 286-240, includes entering a crossing without room to clear it completely. A first offense brings a suspension of at least 60 days.

Answer

As a parking violation with no effect on the CDL

Answer

As a serious traffic violation that counts only on a second conviction

Answer

As a major offense with a lifetime disqualification

Question 8

You are driving a bus and stop for a drawbridge that has no signal light and no attendant. What must you confirm before you drive onto it?

Accepted Answer

That the draw is completely closed — At a drawbridge with no signal light or traffic control attendant, a bus stops at least 50 feet before the draw, and the driver looks to be sure the draw is fully closed before crossing.

Answer

That no boats are within sight

Answer

That the bridge deck is dry

Answer

That every rider has moved to the rear of the bus

Question 9

You are stopped at a single-track crossing in a tractor-trailer and judge that an approaching train is about 10 seconds away. Based on the manual's clearance time, should you go?

Accepted Answer

No. A typical tractor-trailer needs at least 14 seconds to clear even a single track — The manual puts the time for a typical tractor-trailer to clear a single track at 14 seconds or more, and it also warns that a train's speed and distance are very hard to judge. Ten seconds is not enough.

Answer

Yes. A tractor-trailer clears a single track in about 5 seconds

Answer

Yes, as long as you shift to a higher gear while on the tracks

Answer

No, but only because trucks must wait 30 seconds at every crossing

Question 10

A bus driver approaches an intersection where a stop sign controls the cross traffic. What does the manual advise?

Accepted Answer

Use caution anyway, because bus accidents often happen at intersections — The manual notes that bus accidents often happen at intersections and tells drivers to stay cautious there even when a signal or a stop sign is holding the other traffic.

Answer

Proceed at full speed, since the bus has the right-of-way

Answer

Stop and wave the cross traffic through first

Answer

Sound the horn continuously until the bus is clear

Question 11

The examiner tells you a turn is coming up. According to the road test section, what do you do before moving into the lane you need?

Accepted Answer

Check traffic in all directions and use your turn signal — When asked to make a turn, you first look at traffic all around you, then signal and move safely into the lane the turn requires. As you get closer, you signal again to warn others and slow down smoothly.

Answer

Speed up so no one can enter the lane ahead of you

Answer

Stop where you are until the lane is empty

Answer

Sound the horn and move over at once

Question 12

Which two road-test items does Hawaii's manual specifically say may be simulated?

Accepted Answer

The railroad crossing and the student discharge — Hawaii's special instructions for skills testing say the state allows a simulated railroad crossing and a simulated student discharge. If the route has no crossing, the examiner can have you describe and show the procedure at a simulated location.

Answer

The left turn and the right turn

Answer

The expressway merge and the lane change

Answer

The pre-trip inspection and the air brake check

Hawaii CDL — General Knowledge: Right-of-Way practice test

Study questions with answers

1. On the road test, a slow vehicle is moving across the railroad tracks just ahead of you. May you pass it while you are in the crossing?

2. You must swing into the oncoming lane to finish a turn, and a car coming toward you has nowhere to go. Why does the manual say not to back up to make room?

3. Before pulling a bus away from a stop and into traffic, what does the manual tell you to wait for?

4. On the road test, which of these is NOT part of what you should do as you approach an intersection?

5. On the road test you have just cleared an intersection. What does the manual expect next?

6. On the road test, drivers of buses, school buses and placarded vehicles follow a special stop procedure at railroad crossings. At which crossings does the manual say that procedure is not required?

7. A Hawaii CMV driver follows traffic onto a railroad crossing without enough room on the far side and ends up stopped on the tracks. How does Hawaii's front-of-manual list treat this?

8. You are driving a bus and stop for a drawbridge that has no signal light and no attendant. What must you confirm before you drive onto it?

9. You are stopped at a single-track crossing in a tractor-trailer and judge that an approaching train is about 10 seconds away. Based on the manual's clearance time, should you go?

10. A bus driver approaches an intersection where a stop sign controls the cross traffic. What does the manual advise?

11. The examiner tells you a turn is coming up. According to the road test section, what do you do before moving into the lane you need?

12. Which two road-test items does Hawaii's manual specifically say may be simulated?

More CDL — General Knowledge topics

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