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Difficulty: MediumSpace to the Sides

A commercial motor vehicle enters a highway construction corridor where travel lanes are significantly narrowed and bordered by temporary concrete barriers on both sides. To best maintain a safe lateral cushion under these restricted conditions, what should the driver do?

  1. A
    Steer tightly toward the right barrier to provide extra passing clearance for adjacent traffic
  2. Keep the vehicle centered in the marked lane and adjust speed to avoid traveling directly alongside other vehiclesAnswer
  3. C
    Increase speed through the narrowed section to minimize the total time spent adjacent to fixed barriers
  4. D
    Close following distance behind the lead vehicle to prevent other motorists from squeezing into the lane

Answer

Keep the vehicle centered in the marked lane and adjust speed to avoid traveling directly alongside other vehicles.
Commercial motor vehicle operators must maintain a space cushion around the entire vehicle. In narrowed lanes with rigid barriers, centering the vehicle provides the maximum equalized buffer on both left and right sides. Furthermore, adjusting speed to prevent traveling alongside other vehicles eliminates side-by-side entrapment.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze lateral clearances and hazards present in the narrow construction zone.
Identify that fixed concrete barriers on both sides eliminate shoulder escape space and heighten side-swipe risk.
Commercial vehicles are wider than standard automobiles, making lateral positioning critical when lane widths are reduced.
2
Determine the optimal lane position and speed management strategy.
Center the commercial vehicle within the lane boundaries to equalize space cushions on both sides, and regulate speed to avoid driving parallel to other vehicles.
Centering maximizes clearance from barriers on both sides, and staggering vehicle positions avoids entrapment in tight corridors.

Key Concept

Lateral Space Management and Lane Centering in Confined Areas
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Space to the Sides

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