Driving Conditions FAQ - Common Questions Answered

Quick answers to commonly tested questions from Sections 2.10-2.14 covering aggressive driving, night driving, fog, winter weather, and hot weather conditions.

Night Driving Questions

Q: What is the visibility range for low beam headlights?

A: 250 feet. This is significantly less than high beams (350-500 feet). You must adjust your speed so you can stop within the distance you can see.

Q: What is the visibility range for high beam headlights?

A: 350-500 feet. Use high beams whenever safe and legal to maximize your visibility at night.

Q: When should you dim your headlights?

A: Dim within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and within 500 feet when following another vehicle. This prevents blinding other drivers.

Q: What should you do if oncoming drivers don't dim their lights?

A: Don't retaliate with your high beams. Look slightly to the right at the lane marking or road edge. Putting on your high beams increases glare and danger for everyone.

Q: Should you wear tinted lenses at night?

A: No. Tinted lenses reduce the light you need to see clearly. Even if you think they reduce glare, they impair night vision.

Q: What is the only safe cure for drowsiness?

A: Sleep. A 15-20 minute nap can save lives. Caffeine only provides temporary alertness and is not reliable.

Q: What are warning signs of fatigue?

A: Difficulty focusing, heavy eyelids, yawning repeatedly, trouble remembering the last few miles driven, drifting from your lane, missing exits, and feeling restless or irritable.

Q: When are drowsy driving crashes most likely?

A: Between midnight and 6 a.m. and in the mid-afternoon. These are times when most people are naturally less alert.

Fog Driving Questions

Q: What is the best advice for driving in fog?

A: Don't drive. Pull off the road into a rest area or truck stop until visibility improves. Fog on highways is extremely dangerous.

Q: What headlights should you use in fog?

A: Low beams and fog lights if equipped. Never use high beams—they reflect off fog particles and reduce your visibility.

Q: Should you turn on 4-way flashers in fog?

A: Yes. Four-way flashers give vehicles behind you a quicker opportunity to notice your vehicle.

Q: Can you trust taillights ahead of you in fog?

A: No. The vehicle may not be on the road at all. Use roadside reflectors to guide you instead of relying on other vehicles.

Q: Should you assume fog will thin out?

A: No. Don't assume fog will thin after you enter it. Visibility can stay poor or get worse.

Winter Driving Questions

Q: How can you tell if ice has formed on the road?

A: Look for no spray from other vehicles' tires—this indicates ice. Also check your mirrors and wiper blades—if they have ice, the road likely does too.

Q: Which freezes first—bridges or roads?

A: Bridges (and overpasses) freeze before roads because cold air circulates above and below them.

Q: Is melting ice more or less slippery than frozen ice?

A: More slippery. As temperatures rise and ice begins to melt, roads become even more dangerous. Slow down more when ice is melting.

Q: Should you use the engine brake or retarder on icy roads?

A: No. Turn off retarders and engine brakes on slippery surfaces. They can cause drive wheel skids because they only brake the drive wheels.

Q: What should you check before driving in winter?

A: Coolant level and antifreeze, defrosters, heater, wipers, washer fluid (antifreeze type), tire tread, chains, lights, and exhaust system (carbon monoxide danger).

Q: Why check the exhaust system in winter?

A: Leaks can allow carbon monoxide into the cab when windows are closed. Carbon monoxide is odorless and can make you sleepy or kill you.

Wet Brakes Questions

Q: What problems can wet brakes cause?

A: Weak brakes, uneven braking, grabbing, wheel lockups, pulling to one side, and jackknife if pulling a trailer.

Q: How do you dry wet brakes?

A: While crossing water: slow down, use low gear, and gently apply brakes to keep water out. After exiting: maintain light brake pressure to heat and dry the brakes. Then test brakes when safe.

Q: How do you test if brakes are dry?

A: Check behind for following traffic, then apply brakes firmly when safe. If they don't work well, repeat the drying procedure.

Q: Should you avoid driving through deep water?

A: Yes, avoid it if possible. If you must cross, use the drying procedure to protect your brakes.

Hot Weather Questions

Q: How often should you check tires in very hot weather?

A: Every 2 hours or 100 miles. Heat causes tire pressure to increase and can lead to blowouts or fires.

Q: Should you let air out of tires when they get hot?

A: No, never. Air pressure increases with temperature. If you release air when hot, pressure will be too low when tires cool, risking blowout.

Q: What should you do if a tire is too hot to touch?

A: Stop and wait until it cools off. Driving on an overheated tire can cause blowout or fire.

Q: Can you remove the radiator cap when the engine is hot?

A: No. Steam and boiling coolant under pressure can cause severe burns. Wait until the system cools. If you can touch the cap with your bare hand, it's probably safe.

Q: What is bleeding tar?

A: In very hot weather, tar in road pavement rises to the surface. These spots are very slippery and dangerous.

Q: Does antifreeze help in hot weather?

A: Yes. Antifreeze helps the engine under both hot and cold conditions. Make sure there's enough in the cooling system.

Aggressive Driving Questions

Q: What is the difference between aggressive driving and road rage?

A: Aggressive driving is operating selfishly or pushily without regard for others. Road rage is operating with intent to harm others or physically assaulting drivers.

Q: What should you do when confronted by an aggressive driver?

A: Get out of their way, don't challenge them, avoid eye contact, ignore gestures, and report to authorities if safe.

Q: How can you avoid becoming an aggressive driver?

A: Accept delays calmly, don't block the left lane, let others merge, avoid gestures, and give other drivers the benefit of the doubt.

Visibility and Speed Questions

Q: What is the rule for speed at night?

A: Drive slowly enough to stop within the range of your headlights. If you see a hazard and can't stop in time, you're going too fast.

Q: How far will a vehicle travel in 2 seconds at 55 mph?

A: More than half a football field (about 161 feet). This is why even brief glare blindness is dangerous.

Q: What percentage of heavy truck crashes involve fatigue?

A: At least 15%. Fatigue is one of the leading causes of crashes.

Summary of Key Numbers

Ready to test your knowledge? Start practicing with our Driving Conditions questions.