What is the Angle of Approach as defined by the angle between the ground and a line tangent to the front tire and lowest front obstruction?

• A. Angle of Approach
• B. Angle of Departure
• C. Proximity
• D. Safety

Answer: (A)

The main idea is front-end clearance: how much obstacle you can approach without the front of the vehicle striking it. The angle of approach is defined as the angle between the ground and a line drawn tangent to the front tire and the lowest front obstruction. This geometric relation captures how steep an obstruction the vehicle can clear as it moves forward—the larger the angle, the greater the clearance over the obstacle. In practice, this matters when pulling up to curbs, steps, or other protrusions, ensuring the bumper and tires won’t hit before you begin to roll over the obstacle. The other terms describe different situations: an angle of departure concerns the rear end and a rear obstruction, proximity refers to how close you are to an object, and safety is a general, non-technical term.