What is the proper steering wheel hand position?
9 and 3 o’clock or 8 and 4 o’clock positions
How should you hold the steering wheel?
Firmly but not rigidly, with thumbs pointing up
What is the correct way to turn the steering wheel?
Hand-over-hand steering for sharp turns
How do you properly shift gears?
Match engine RPM to road speed, use clutch smoothly
When should you downshift?
Before going down hills, slowing for turns, or when traffic slows
What is double clutching?
Press clutch, shift to neutral, release clutch, press clutch, shift to gear
Why is double clutching used?
To match gear speeds in transmissions without synchronizers
How do you use engine braking effectively?
Downshift to lower gear and let engine compression slow the vehicle
When should you not use engine braking?
On slippery roads where it could cause drive wheels to skid
What is the proper way to brake?
Apply steady pressure, don’t pump brakes unless in emergency
How do you brake on a downgrade?
Use steady pressure and engine braking, don’t ride brakes
What causes brake fade?
Excessive heat buildup from overuse of brakes
How do you prevent brake fade?
Use engine braking and avoid riding brakes on long downgrades
What should you do if brakes feel spongy?
Stop safely and have brakes inspected immediately
How do you handle a tire blowout?
Hold steering wheel firmly, don’t brake, slow down gradually
What should you do if steering fails?
Use emergency braking and get off road as quickly as safely possible
How do you recover from a skid?
Take foot off accelerator, don’t brake, steer in direction you want to go
What causes jackknifing?
Over-braking or loss of traction on drive wheels
How do you prevent jackknifing?
Don’t over-brake and maintain traction on drive wheels
When should you use retarders?
To help control speed on downgrades in good weather
When should you turn off retarders?
When roads are wet, icy, or snow covered
How do you use cruise control safely?
Only on level roads with light traffic and good weather
When should you not use cruise control?
In heavy traffic, bad weather, or on steep grades
What is the safest way to change lanes?
Check mirrors, signal early, check blind spots, move gradually