The Commercial Drivers License

General Driving Skills during the Drive Test

The examiner will check your general driving behaviors throughout the test. Make sure you:

• Use your clutch to shift; double clutch if necessary. Don’t coast with clutch in, don’t ride the clutch, don’t snap the clutch and don’t lug or over rev the engine.

• Use gears correctly. Select correct gear and don’t grind or clash gears.

• Use brakes correctly. Brake smoothly with steady pressure. Don’t ride the brakes and don’t brake hard or fan air brakes.

• Operate the vehicle safely. Keep both hands on the wheel, and don’t under or over control the steering. Wear your seat belt. Stay in your traffic lane. Do not stop beyond marked stop lines or in marked crosswalks or intersections. Do not run over curbs or sidewalks. Drive so you are never forced to take evasive action.

• Obey all traffic signs and laws.

• Obey all speed limits, including advisory and construction zone signs. Maintain speed at posted speed limit or at not less than 10 mph below posted limit when traffic conditions permit. Grounds for Immediate Disqualification

• Accident, however slight. Contacts with pedestrians or running off the roadway. Contact with any fixed object is considered as an accident, same as a collision with another vehicle.

• Dangerous action. These are driving situations caused by you that are not specific violations of the law; i.e., if an accident is prevented by the expert driving on the part of another, dodging by a pedestrian, or the examiner assuming physical or verbal control of the vehicle.

• Violation of a traffic law. An act for which you could be arrested. Violations usually are speeding, failure to stop for a stop sign or signal, and driving on the wrong side of the road or wrong way on a one-way street, etc.

• Fails to perform. - If you refused to try a maneuver or state you cannot perform the required action. - If you offer a bribe or gratuity you will be disqualified. - During any portion of the pre-trip or road test, you are unable to comprehend or respond satisfactorily to given instructions.

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