South Dakota CDL Permit Test - Double

During a trip, you should regularly make checks to ensure that your vehicle is operating properly. Check the instrument panel and gauges; look at your mirrors; and examine the tires, cargo, and lights. Use all of your senses and be alert for anything that could be an early indication of trouble.

When using your turn signals, you should signal well before the turn or lane change, signal continuously throughout the turn or lane change, and cancel the signal after you have completed your move.

To help avoid frustration, which can lead to aggressive driving behavior, you should begin a trip with realistic expectations about your travel time. Plan ahead to allow time for potential traffic delays. Other strategies to help prevent aggressive driving behavior include driving an appropriate speed and keeping a reasonable following distance; avoiding making gestures at other drivers; and keeping your hands on the steering wheel.

Under slippery conditions, you should drive slowly and smoothly. Make turns as gently as possible and do not pass other vehicles unless you have to.

To enable smooth driving while operating a double or triple, you should consistently watch far ahead of your vehicle. Doing this will allow you to slow down or change lanes gradually when reacting to any upcoming hazards.

You must sign a vehicle inspection report only if defects were noted and either certified to have been repaired or certified as not needing to be repaired.

Texting while driving is particularly dangerous because it is both a mental and physical distraction to the driver. In addition to diverting a driver's mental attention away from the road, texting requires a person to remove at least one hand from the vehicle's controls.