Speed Limits & Following Distance — Oklahoma
Oklahoma CDL practice test: 421 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: 16 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 | Oklahoma CDL permit (CLP) knowledge tests |
| Topic questions | 16 (4% of 421 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
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Questions (16)
1. When traveling in heavy traffic, the safest driving speed is:
- The posted speed limit.
- The speed of surrounding traffic. ✓
- A speed much slower than the flow of surrounding traffic.
Answer: B. The speed of surrounding traffic.
In heavy traffic, the safest driving speed is the speed of surrounding traffic. The handbook's speed-and-traffic-flow rule says that in heavy traffic the safest speed is the speed of the other vehicles. Vehicles moving the same direction at the same speed are unlikely to run into each other. It also tells you to drive with the traffic flow if you can do so without going at an illegal or unsafe speed. That means matching surrounding traffic is the target, not simply holding the posted limit or crawling far below everyone else.
2. When in heavy traffic, the safest driving speed is:
- Slower than the speed being driven by surrounding traffic.
- The same speed being driven by surrounding traffic. ✓
- Faster than the speed being driven by surrounding traffic.
Answer: B. The same speed being driven by surrounding traffic.
In heavy traffic, the safest speed is the same speed the surrounding traffic is driving. The handbook says directly that when traffic is heavy you should travel at the speed of other vehicles, because vehicles moving the same direction at the same speed are not likely to run into one another. It adds that you should drive with the flow of traffic if you can do so without going at an illegal or unsafe speed. That is why matching surrounding traffic is the correct choice, not picking a speed above or below the pack.
3. While operating on a downgrade, you should brake until you reach a speed that is:
- 5 mph below your safe speed. ✓
- 10 mph below your safe speed.
- 15 mph below your safe speed.
Answer: A. 5 mph below your safe speed.
Brake until you are about 5 mph below your safe speed, then release the brakes. The handbook describes the braking technique for a long or steep downgrade. With the vehicle in the proper low gear, the engine does most of the slowing and the brakes are only a supplement. You apply the brakes enough to cause a clear slowdown, then release them once your speed is roughly five mph under your safe speed. When speed rises back to the safe speed, you repeat the process. That makes five mph below safe speed the release point.
4. An Individual Vehicle Distance Record (IVDR) does not need to include which of the following?
- The dates of a trip
- The total distance traveled
- The number of vehicles passed ✓
Answer: C. The number of vehicles passed
An Individual Vehicle Distance Record does not need to include the number of vehicles passed. The handbook describes the IVDR as a trip record that shows the distance traveled and the fuel purchased for a vehicle running interstate under apportioned registration and IFTA credentials. It also says that although the layout of the form can differ, the information required for proper record keeping stays the same, and the licensee must keep records that back up the quarterly tax return. Counting the vehicles you pass has nothing to do with miles driven or fuel burned, so it falls outside what the record is meant to capture.
5. When traveling at speeds under 40 mph, you should maintain at least ____ of following distance for every 10 feet of your vehicle's length.
- One second ✓
- Two seconds
- Three seconds
Answer: A. One second
At speeds under 40 mph, keep at least one second of following distance for every 10 feet of your vehicle's length. The handbook's space-ahead rule says that at speeds below 40 mph you need at least one second for each 10 feet of vehicle length. It gives the example of a 40-foot vehicle needing 4 seconds, and a 60-foot rig needing 6 seconds. Only when you go above 40 mph do you add another second. So the minimum at lower speeds is one second per 10 feet, not two or three.
6. Doubles combinations:
- Are less likely to jackknife than singles.
- Are less likely to roll over than singles.
- Require a larger reaction time than singles. ✓
Answer: C. Require a larger reaction time than singles.
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. On a slippery surface, stopping distance:
- Is longer than on a regular driving surface. ✓
- Is not as long as on a regular driving surface.
- Is about the same as on a regular driving surface.
Answer: A. Is longer than on a regular driving surface.
On a slippery surface, stopping distance is longer than on a regular driving surface. The handbook says traction is the friction between tires and the road, and slippery conditions reduce it. It states directly that it will take longer to stop when the road is slippery, and wet roads can double stopping distance. That is why you must slow down to stop within the same distance you would need on a dry road. The correct choice simply matches that rule: a slippery surface makes the stop take more distance, not less.
9. The "crack-the-whip" effect is caused by:
- Rearward amplification. ✓
- Driving below the speed limit.
- Heavy traffic.
Answer: A. Rearward amplification.
The crack-the-whip effect is caused by rearward amplification. The handbook says rearward amplification produces the crack-the-whip effect. In a quick lane change, the rear trailer can swing and tip more easily than the tractor. The chart compares combination vehicles, and triples have a rearward amplification of 3.5, meaning the last trailer can roll over much more easily than a five-axle tractor. That is why the handbook tells you to steer gently and smoothly with trailers, because a sudden steering movement can tip a trailer over.
10. If a worker is present in a work zone, you should:
- Continue driving at the posted speed limit.
- Slow to a speed under the posted speed limit. ✓
- Drive in the grass.
Answer: B. Slow to a speed under the posted speed limit.
You should slow to a speed under the posted speed limit when a worker is present in a work zone. The handbook's work-zone section says speeding traffic is the leading cause of injury and death there. It tells you to observe posted limits and watch that your speed does not creep up. It also says to decrease speed for bad weather or road conditions, and to decrease it even further when a worker is close to the roadway. That extra reduction means going below the posted limit around workers.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook