Driver's License Test Prep
Texas Practice Defensive Driving

On a level highway, how much longer does the manual say passing a truck takes compared to passing a car?

  1. A.
    Three to five seconds longer Correct
  2. B.
    About the same time
  3. C.
    One to two seconds longer
  4. D.
    Ten seconds longer or more
The Why

The answer is "Three to five seconds longer"

The Share the Road with Trucks section says passing a truck on a level highway takes three to five seconds longer than passing a car, because trucks are longer and hold their speed. Drivers who base the pass on their own car's feel underestimate the extra window, which is why the one-to-two-second answer tempts them.

Why the others miss

The traps in the wrong answers

B. About the same time

The manual gives a range of extra seconds, not equal time. This answer assumes a pass at highway speed feels the same regardless of what is being overtaken.

C. One to two seconds longer

The manual's range starts higher than one to two seconds. This answer trims the manual's range down to what the driver's own car would feel like, missing the added length of the truck.

D. Ten seconds longer or more

The manual gives only three to five extra seconds on a level highway; ten or more exaggerates the stated figure. This answer pads the manual's range on a hunch that a truck must eat far more time than the number admits.

The Rule

This question tests your knowledge of Defensive Driving in Texas. Source: Texas Driver Manual, "Chapter 9: Some Special Driving Situations (Share the Road with Trucks, Passing)," p.51..

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