IL DMV IL DMV Special Driving Conditions 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When driving in heavy fog in Illinois, which of the following is the safest action?
- Use high-beam headlights to see farther
- Use low-beam headlights and reduce speed (Correct answer)
- Pull off the road immediately without warning
- Drive in the center of the road
Correct answer: Use low-beam headlights and reduce speed
Low-beam headlights reduce glare in fog, and reducing speed gives more reaction time.
Question 2: When driving on an icy road in Illinois, a driver should:
- Apply brakes firmly to stop quickly
- Accelerate to maintain momentum
- Reduce speed and increase following distance (Correct answer)
- Use cruise control to maintain a steady speed
Correct answer: Reduce speed and increase following distance
Ice requires significantly reduced speed and much greater following distance to stop safely.
Question 3: If your vehicle begins to hydroplane on a wet Illinois highway, you should:
- Steer sharply to regain control
- Apply firm brake pressure
- Ease off the accelerator and hold the wheel steady (Correct answer)
- Shift to a lower gear immediately
Correct answer: Ease off the accelerator and hold the wheel steady
Easing off the gas and keeping the wheel steady lets tires regain contact with the road during hydroplaning.
Question 4: When driving through a flooded roadway in Illinois, the safest action is:
- Drive through quickly to minimize water exposure
- Test the depth with your foot before driving through
- Turn around — never drive into flood water (Correct answer)
- Follow other vehicles that have already crossed
Correct answer: Turn around — never drive into flood water
Just 12 inches of moving water can sweep away most vehicles, so turning around is always safest.
Question 5: In Illinois winter driving, before entering a highway on-ramp after fresh snowfall, a driver should:
- Accelerate quickly to match highway speed
- Test the brakes gently in a safe area first (Correct answer)
- Engage cruise control immediately
- Turn off traction control for better grip
Correct answer: Test the brakes gently in a safe area first
Gently testing your brakes in a safe area helps gauge stopping distance on slippery pavement.
Question 6: When driving in Illinois during a dust storm or blizzard with near-zero visibility, the best action is:
- Turn on hazard lights and continue at low speed
- Pull completely off the roadway, turn off lights, and wait (Correct answer)
- Follow the car ahead as closely as possible
- Drive in the center lane of the highway
Correct answer: Pull completely off the roadway, turn off lights, and wait
Pulling completely off the road and turning off lights prevents other drivers from following your lights into danger.
When driving in heavy fog in Illinois, which of the following is the safest action?