It is important that the driver of a CMV always downshifts before entering a curve.

Even if a passenger is drunk or disruptive, you as the driver are still responsible for their safety and the safety of the other passengers. They should be discharged in a safe location, which may be the next scheduled stop or another well-lit area where other people are present.

When driving, you should regularly check your mirrors, both to be aware of traffic and to check for problems on your own vehicle.

When exiting your vehicle during the basic vehicle control skills test, you must face the vehicle and maintain three points of contact at all times. If your testing vehicle is a bus, you must maintain contact with the handrail. Exiting the vehicle incorrectly may result in automatic failure of the basic control skills test.

If a tire fails, braking could cause a loss of control. Unless braking is necessary to avoid a hazard, you should stay off the brakes until your vehicle has slowed considerably. Only then should you brake very gently, pull off the road, and stop.

After starting a vehicle's engine, the warning lights and buzzers for oil, coolant, charging circuits, and the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) should go out right away.

When checking your vehicle's tires, you should confirm that air pressure is neither too low nor too high; that there is at least 4/32 of an inch of tread depth in every major groove on the front tires; that there is at least 2/32 of an inch of tread depth in grooves on other tires; and that radial and bias-ply tires are not used together.

A retarder may cause a skid when traction is poor, such as when a road is icy, and should therefore be turned off in such conditions.

You will be asked to make multiple lane changes during the driving skills test. Before changing lanes, you should make the necessary traffic checks and use proper signals. Change lanes smoothly when you can do so safely.

Before driving during the winter, make sure to check your defrosting and heating equipment, coolant and antifreeze levels, wipers and washers, tire tread, tire chains, lights, reflectors, and exhaust system. Clear ice and snow from all windows, mirrors, hand holds, steps, deck plates, and radiator shutters. Make sure the winterfront is not closed too tightly.

Before a trip, ensure that the steering box is securely mounted. Check for missing nuts, bolts, and cotter keys. Be sure that there are no power steering fluid leaks and that there is no damage to power steering hoses.

A pre-trip inspection should be completed in the same way before every drive. Consistency will help you learn all of the proper steps and decrease the likelihood that you will forget to check something.

Part of your vehicle should be visible in your mirrors so that you have a point of reference when judging how close other drivers and objects are to your vehicle.

During the on-road driving test, if your route does not include a railroad crossing, the examiner may ask you to explain and demonstrate the necessary procedures at a simulated location.

At speeds below 40 mph, you should allow at least one second of following distance for every 10 feet of your vehicle. When traveling at higher speeds, follow the same formula, then add one additional second to your following distance.

To reduce the risk of distraction, bus drivers should not engage in conversation with passengers. Avoid fueling a bus while passengers are on board. Do not tow or push a disabled bus with riders aboard the vehicle, unless it would be unsafe for the passengers to exit the bus at the location where it has stalled.

The examiner will score the number of times your vehicle touches or crosses an exercise boundary line. Each encroachment will count as an error, resulting in points against your skills test score.

If your brakes fail on a downgrade, your best option is to use an escape ramp. If no escape ramp is available, it is a good idea to look for a different escape route, such as a side road or open field.

A driver should inspect wheels before a drive, specifically looking for damage on the wheels and rims. Wheels or rims that have had welding repairs are not safe for use.

Always change lanes slowly and smoothly. If you did not see drivers who are already using the lane you wish to occupy, this will give them a chance to get out of your way or honk their horns to alert you. Always signal when changing lanes.