On a long, narrow stretch of highway, a truck has just reached a passing lane. The truck is travelling very slowly. What should the driver of the truck do?
- Stay in the left lane and allow the cars to pass on the right.
- Move into the right lane and allow the cars to pass on the left. ✓
- Drive straight down the broken white line.
- Use either lane; cars can pass on either side.
Answer: B. Move into the right lane and allow the cars to pass on the left.
Move the truck into the right lane and let the cars pass on the left.
Why this is the answer
The handbook says a commercial vehicle traveling more slowly than other traffic should use the right lane when a passing lane is provided on a hill. It also says the right-hand lane is best for slower vehicles on a multi-lane highway, while the left lane is meant for higher-speed traffic and passing. Putting the slow truck in the right lane keeps it out of the way of faster cars and lets them pass on the left.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Stay in the left lane and allow the cars to pass on the right. — Staying in the left lane would put a slow truck in the lane the handbook reserves for higher-speed traffic and passing, instead of the right lane for slower vehicles.
- C. Drive straight down the broken white line. — Driving along the broken white line is not a proper lane position and does not move the slow truck into the right lane as the handbook directs.
- D. Use either lane; cars can pass on either side. — Using either lane ignores the handbook’s direction that slower vehicles keep right and leave the left lane for faster traffic and passing.
Remember it
Slow truck, right lane; faster traffic, left lane.