DE DMV Special Driving Conditions 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When driving in heavy fog in Delaware, you should use:
- High-beam headlights
- Low-beam headlights or fog lights (Correct answer)
- Hazard lights only
- No lights — they reduce visibility further
Correct answer: Low-beam headlights or fog lights
Low-beam headlights or dedicated fog lights should be used in fog because high beams reflect off fog particles and reduce visibility.
Question 2: What is the safest technique when driving on icy roads in Delaware?
- Accelerate quickly between stops to maintain momentum
- Brake and steer gently with increased following distance (Correct answer)
- Use cruise control to prevent overcorrection
- Stay in the left lane to avoid slower traffic
Correct answer: Brake and steer gently with increased following distance
On icy roads, all inputs — braking, steering, and accelerating — should be smooth and gradual, and you should dramatically increase following distance.
Question 3: If your vehicle begins to skid on a slippery road, you should:
- Steer in the opposite direction of the skid and brake hard
- Steer in the direction the rear of the vehicle is sliding and ease off the gas (Correct answer)
- Stop steering and let the vehicle correct itself
- Shift into a higher gear
Correct answer: Steer in the direction the rear of the vehicle is sliding and ease off the gas
To correct a skid, steer in the direction the rear of your vehicle is sliding (into the skid) and gently release the accelerator without braking hard.
Question 4: When driving through a flooded roadway in Delaware, you should:
- Speed through quickly to avoid stalling
- Avoid the flooded area if possible (Correct answer)
- Drive through the center of the road only
- Drive on the shoulder to bypass the water
Correct answer: Avoid the flooded area if possible
Even shallow-looking floodwaters can be deeper or faster-moving than they appear — the safest choice is to find an alternate route.
Question 5: How does rain affect stopping distance compared to dry conditions?
- It stays the same
- It decreases slightly
- It increases significantly (Correct answer)
- It only affects motorcycles
Correct answer: It increases significantly
Rain reduces tire friction on the road surface, significantly increasing the distance needed to stop — often doubling dry stopping distances.
Question 6: When driving at night in Delaware, when should you dim your high beams?
- Only when a police car is approaching
- Within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle or 300 feet when following another vehicle (Correct answer)
- Only when in a town or city
- Only when it is raining
Correct answer: Within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle or 300 feet when following another vehicle
Delaware law requires dimming high beams when within 500 feet of an approaching vehicle or 300 feet behind a vehicle you are following, to avoid blinding other drivers.
DE DMV Special Driving Conditions 1
When driving in heavy fog in Delaware, you should use: