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Difficulty: MediumSpace for Turns

A driver is steering a tractor-trailer combination through a multi-lane intersection to execute a left turn onto a two-lane cross street. To prevent the trailer rear wheels from tracking inward and striking vehicles waiting at the cross-street stop line, which procedure should the driver follow?

  1. A
    Initiate the left turn immediately upon crossing the crosswalk to clear the intersection quickly
  2. Reach the center of the intersection before starting the turn into the cross streetAnswer
  3. C
    Swing out into the far right lane before entering the intersection to widen the turning radius
  4. D
    Accelerate briskly into the turn to force the trailer tandems outward away from the curb

Answer

Reach the center of the intersection before starting the turn into the cross street
Reaching the center of the intersection before starting the steering wheel rotation ensures the front of the vehicle creates enough forward space for the trailer wheels to follow without cutting the corner or encroaching upon stopped opposing traffic.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the physical off-tracking behavior of long commercial combination vehicles during turns.
The rear trailer axles follow a shorter path than the tractor steer tires (off-tracking inward).
Off-tracking increases in direct proportion to the distance between the steering axle and the rear trailer tandems.
2
Determine the proper spatial positioning required for an intersection left turn.
The driver must pull straight ahead until reaching the center point of the intersection before initiating steering input.
Bringing the tractor to the center of the intersection establishes sufficient forward clearance so that the inward sweeping trailer tires stay within the designated turning path and do not clip vehicles stopped at the cross-street stop bar.

Key Concept

Proper intersection positioning to accommodate off-tracking during left turns
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Space for Turns

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