Speed Limits & Following Distance — Oregon
Oregon CDL practice test: 463 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: 13 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 | Oregon CDL permit (CLP) knowledge tests |
| Topic questions | 13 (3% of 463 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 (13)
1. When traveling down a downgrade, the speed of a vehicle will likely:
- Decrease.
- Not change.
- Increase. ✓
- Match the speed of traffic.
Answer: C. Increase.
2. A driver should always:
- Stay in one lane.
- Have an emergency plan. ✓
- Stay in the left lane.
- Travel faster than the speed limit.
Answer: B. Have an emergency plan.
A driver should always have an emergency plan. The handbook says you should always be looking for hazards because they may turn into emergencies. It tells you to plan a way out, think about what could develop, and be ready to act on that plan. That is what having an emergency plan means: you have already decided what you would do before trouble develops. The passage presents this as part of being a prepared, defensive driver, so it fits the general rule better than the other choices.
3. How many seconds of following distance per every 10 feet of vehicle should you maintain when traveling more slowly than 40 mph?
- One second ✓
- Two seconds
- Three seconds
- Four seconds
Answer: A. One second
When you are traveling slower than 40 mph, keep one second of following distance for every 10 feet of vehicle length. The handbook states the space-ahead rule directly: at least one second for each 10 feet of vehicle length at speeds below 40 mph, and at higher speeds you add one more second. So a 40-foot vehicle needs 4 seconds under 40 mph, and a 60-foot rig needs 6 seconds, matching the examples given. The passages also explain the reason for the rule: space ahead is what lets you stop if traffic in front of you slows suddenly, and following too closely is the most common cause of rear-end crashes for large vehicles.
4. A driver should always:
- Stay in their lane.
- Have an emergency plan. ✓
- Stay in the left lane.
- Drive above the speed limit.
Answer: B. Have an emergency plan.
A driver should always have an emergency plan. The handbook says you should always be looking for hazards, because hazards can turn into emergencies. Spotting them early gives you time to think through what could happen and decide what you would do. It then says to be ready to act on those plans. That is exactly the idea behind always having an emergency plan: you are prepared, defensive, and better able to protect yourself and others.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. When driving on the expressway during the skills test, you should:
- Switch lanes frequently.
- Use your mirrors to check traffic as needed. ✓
- Drive on the left side of the lane.
- Drive above the posted speed limit.
Answer: B. Use your mirrors to check traffic as needed.
You should use your mirrors to check traffic as needed while driving on the expressway during the skills test. The handbook's expressway instructions tell you to check traffic and your mirrors thoroughly in all directions when you resume, and its general driving section calls for regular mirror checks to stay aware of traffic around you. That makes mirror use the expected habit during the on-road test. The same expressway section also says to merge smoothly and keep your vehicle centered in the proper lane, so the test is not asking you to wander in the lane or change lanes for no reason.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. What is a bobtail tractor?
- A tractor without a semi-trailer ✓
- A tractor with two semi-trailers
- A tractor that travels faster than the speed limit
Answer: A. A tractor without a semi-trailer
A bobtail tractor is a tractor without a semi-trailer. The handbook uses the term bobtail for a tractor that is running without a semi-trailer attached. It also warns that these tractors can be hard to stop smoothly and may take longer to stop than a fully loaded tractor-semitrailer. That description matches a tractor with no trailer, not a tractor pulling one or two trailers.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook