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CDL · Seeing

On a long straight road, where should your eyes spend most of their time?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

Sweeping the scene 12 to 15 seconds ahead and scanning mirrors regularly

  1. A Locked on the road just in front of your hood
  2. B On the speedometer to maintain a constant speed
  3. C Sweeping the scene 12 to 15 seconds ahead and scanning mirrors regularly
  4. D On the vehicle directly ahead

Why this is the answer

Effective scanning on a long, straight road means keeping your gaze 12 to 15 seconds ahead — about a quarter mile at highway speed — while sweeping side to side and checking mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds. This gives you time to identify problems while they are still distant and to take smooth, planned action. Fixating on the vehicle directly ahead reduces your awareness of the bigger picture and leads to tailgating. Staring at the road just in front of the hood causes the eye to follow rapid motion and produces a tunnel-vision feeling, which can induce drowsiness. The speedometer should be glanced at periodically to confirm speed, not stared at. Active scanning is the difference between defensive driving and reactive driving.
Source: FMCSA CDL Manual 2.4.1 Scanning and Searching

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About this topic: Seeing

Looking 12 to 15 seconds ahead, scanning mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds, and reading the road well before you reach it is what separates defensive drivers from reactive ones. This is one of 5 General Knowledge questions on seeing, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our CDL exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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