Question

Difficulty: MediumSharing the Road with Large Vehicles

When stopping behind a large commercial truck on an uphill grade, drivers should leave more space than usual because the truck may roll backward slightly before moving forward.

Answer: Answer

Answer

The statement is True. Drivers should leave an increased following distance when stopping behind a large commercial truck on a hill to prevent collisions if the truck rolls backward upon starting.
Heavy commercial vehicles require extra time and effort to overcome gravity when starting from a complete stop on an incline. Leaving extra space behind a stopped truck provides a safety cushion in case the vehicle rolls backward before accelerating.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the mechanical operating characteristics of heavy commercial vehicles stopped on an incline.
Identify that releasing the brakes and engaging gears on an uphill slope often causes brief backward motion before forward momentum is established.
The massive weight of a loaded truck creates gravitational pull that requires extra throttle effort and clutch engagement time to overcome.
2
Determine the appropriate spatial buffer required for safety.
Conclude that leaving additional space behind the truck creates a safety buffer zone.
Maintaining extra distance protects the trailing vehicle from being struck if the truck rolls backward slightly.

Key Concept

Uphill Buffer Distance and Rollback Risk
Estimated Time:45s
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