Speed Limits & Following Distance — Minnesota
Minnesota CDL practice test: 458 free practice questions (Based on the official driver handbook). The official format is not yet verified; check the official site before your test. Speed Limits & Following Distance: 21 questions.
Posted speed limits, school and construction zones, stopping and following distance.
This topic page is still being reviewed against the official handbook. Until review is finished it is hidden from search engines.
| Topic / Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Topic | Speed Limits & Following Distance |
| License test | Minnesota CDL permit (CLP) knowledge tests |
| Topic questions | 21 (5% of 458 total) |
| Review status | This topic page is still being reviewed against the official handbook. Until review is finished it is hidden from search engines. |
Official handbook
Not yet verified
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Questions (21)
1. Maintain a following distance of at least ____ for every 10 feet of your vehicle if you are traveling at a speed under 40 mph.
- One second ✓
- Two seconds
- Three seconds
Answer: A. One second
2. If you are being tailgated, you should increase your speed to shake the other driver.
- True
- False ✓
Answer: B. False
False — when someone is tailgating you, you should not speed up, because it is safer to be tailgated at a low speed than at a high speed. The handbook's tailgater section says plainly: don't speed up. It explains that being tailgated at a low speed is safer than being tailgated at a high speed. Instead of adding speed, it tells you to increase your following distance so you have room in front and don't need sudden speed or direction changes, which also lets the tailgater get around you. It also says to signal early and slow down gradually, and to skip tricks like flashing brake lights or turning on taillights.
3. If you are driving at a reduced speed in a construction zone when you spot a construction worker near the road, you should:
- Speed up.
- Stay at your current speed.
- Further reduce your speed. ✓
Answer: C. Further reduce your speed.
You should further reduce your speed when a construction worker is near the road. The handbook says speeding traffic is the leading cause of injury and death in roadway work zones. It tells you to observe posted limits, watch your speedometer so it does not creep up through long construction sections, and slow for bad weather or road conditions. It then says to decrease your speed even further when a worker is close to the roadway. Since you are already driving at a reduced speed in a construction zone, seeing a worker near the road calls for one more reduction, not holding steady or speeding up.
4. A ramp's posted speed limit:
- Is suitable for all vehicles.
- Is suitable for some vehicles, but may be too fast for a large CMV. ✓
- Is just a suggestion and may be exceeded.
Answer: B. Is suitable for some vehicles, but may be too fast for a large CMV.
A ramp's posted speed limit is suitable for some vehicles, but it may be too fast for a large CMV. The handbook says off ramps and on ramps often have posted speed limit signs, and it warns that those speeds may be safe for automobiles but may not be safe for larger or heavily loaded vehicles. That is why the sign is not a guarantee for your truck. A downhill exit that also turns is especially risky because the downgrade makes it hard to slow down, and braking while turning is dangerous. The safe approach is to be going slowly enough before you reach the curved part of the ramp.
5. If being tailgated, you should open up your following distance.
- True ✓
- False
Answer: A. True
True — when someone is tailgating you, you should open up your following distance. The handbook lists increasing your following distance as one of the things to do when you find yourself being tailgated. It explains that extra room ahead lets you avoid sudden speed or direction changes, and it gives the tailgater an easier chance to get around you. The same section also tells you not to speed up and not to use tricks like flashing brake lights. So a larger gap in front is the recommended response, not a smaller one.
6. The weight of a truck:
- Usually has no impact on stopping distance.
- Is a major factor affecting stopping distance. ✓
- Is not as important as the type of cargo in determining stopping distance.
Answer: B. Is a major factor affecting stopping distance.
The weight of a truck is a major factor affecting stopping distance. The handbook's section on speed and stopping distance includes a discussion of how vehicle weight affects stopping distance. It says the heavier the vehicle, the more work the brakes have to do to stop it, and the more heat they absorb. That means a loaded or heavy truck takes more braking effort than a light one, so weight is a big factor in how long it takes to stop, not a minor detail you can ignore when judging your following distance and speed.
7. If you are braking on dry pavement while traveling at 55 mph, how much distance will brake lag add to your overall stopping distance?
- 32 feet ✓
- 45 feet
- 20 feet
Answer: A. 32 feet
Brake lag adds 32 feet to your overall stopping distance. The handbook explains that with air brakes there is a delay while air flows through the lines before the brakes actually work. At 55 mph on dry pavement, that brake lag distance is about 32 feet. The handbook also lists brake lag as one of the four parts of total stopping distance, along with perception, reaction, and braking distance. So the added distance from brake lag is 32 feet.
8. Drivers often tailgate trucks in bad weather.
- True ✓
- False
Answer: A. True
True — in bad weather, many car drivers follow large vehicles closely. The handbook lists bad weather as one of the times you may be tailgated. It says many car drivers follow large vehicles closely in bad weather, especially when it is hard to see the road ahead. That supports the statement directly. The same section tells a truck driver being tailgated to avoid quick changes, signal early, slow down gradually, open a bigger gap ahead, and not speed up. Those steps are about reducing crash chances while someone is close behind.
9. When traveling down a downgrade, the speed of a vehicle will likely:
- Decrease.
- Not change.
- Increase. ✓
- Match the speed of traffic.
Answer: C. Increase.
10. If a speed limit is posted, the posted speed:
- Should never be exceeded. ✓
- May be exceeded if passing another vehicle.
- May be exceeded if driving in a rural area.
Answer: A. Should never be exceeded.
When a speed limit is posted, you should never exceed it. The handbook states plainly that if a speed limit is posted, or a sign shows a "Maximum Safe Speed," you must never go faster than the speed shown. The same section tells you to watch your speedometer so your speed does not creep up through long work zones, and to slow further for bad weather or road conditions. So the posted number is a ceiling you stay under, not a target to beat when it suits you.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook