Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Practice Exam

For lane changes, turns, merges, and tight maneuvers, more than regular mirror checks are required to ensure safety. This involves a comprehensive visual assessment of the surrounding environment, which includes checking mirrors as well as utilizing head checks or shoulder turns to look directly at blind spots. Trucks and larger vehicles have significant blind spots that can easily hide smaller vehicles. Relying solely on mirrors can lead to incomplete awareness of all traffic around a driver, especially in situations where quick movements are necessary. Therefore, conducting thorough checks beyond just using mirrors helps to reduce the risk of accidents and provides a clearer understanding of the vehicle's surroundings.

The other options do not encompass the full scope of what is required for safety in these situations. Using turn signals is essential for signaling intentions but does not ensure the driver is aware of surrounding vehicles. Staring straight ahead limits the driver's likelihood of seeing potential hazards in their peripheral vision or blind spots. Focusing only on the rearview mirror can also miss vehicles that approach from the side or behind in adjacent lanes. A thorough approach to visual checks is critical in ensuring safe maneuvers in traffic.