When approaching a narrow bridge from a curve, you should
- (a) know how much off-tracking your vehicle displays.
- (b) adjust your speed appropriately.
- (c) turn on your four-way flashers.
- do both (a) and (b). ✓
Answer: D. do both (a) and (b).
When a narrow bridge sits at the end of a curve, you should do both (a) and (b): know how much off-tracking your vehicle has and adjust your speed to suit the situation.
Why this is the answer
The handbook treats curves as something you set up for before you reach them, not during. It says you must adjust speed so you can get through a curve safely, and that excessive speed before the curve usually forces hard braking. It also explains that large vehicles off-track, so you approach a curve from the outside of the lane to stop the rear wheels from cutting across the top of it. Knowing your off-tracking and choosing your speed work together, and a narrow bridge at the end of a curve leaves even less room for error.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. (a) know how much off-tracking your vehicle displays. — Knowing your off-tracking matters, but on its own it does nothing if you enter the curve and the bridge too fast.
- B. (b) adjust your speed appropriately. — Slowing down is only half of it, because without knowing your off-tracking you can still let the rear wheels cut the curve or leave the lane.
- C. (c) turn on your four-way flashers. — The passages on curves and warning signs say nothing about using four-way flashers when approaching a narrow bridge.
Remember it
A curve asks two things of a big truck: pick your speed before you get there, and line up wide so the back wheels don't cut the corner.