If you need to pass behind a tractor-trailer that is backing up, you should:
- Pass quickly.
- Wait for the truck to stop backing up before you begin passing. ✓
- Honk to let the driver know you are passing.
- Assume that the driver can see you.
Answer: B. Wait for the truck to stop backing up before you begin passing.
You should wait for the truck to stop backing up before you begin passing.
Why this is the answer
The manual tells you not to go around a large vehicle while it is reversing. A truck driver may have to block the road to back into a loading or unloading area, so being patient is safer than trying to squeeze past. If you try to pass during the backup, you can move into one of the driver's blind spots. That can make your car invisible to the driver and raise the chance of a crash.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Pass quickly. — Passing quickly is unsafe because the manual says passing a backing large vehicle can put you in a blind spot where the driver cannot see you.
- C. Honk to let the driver know you are passing. — Honking is not the handbook's guidance here, and it does not remove the blind-spot danger of passing while the truck is still backing.
- D. Assume that the driver can see you. — Assuming the driver can see you is wrong because the manual warns that passing in this situation can make your vehicle invisible in a blind spot.
Remember it
When a big vehicle is backing, hang back and let it finish.