Driving in Hazardous Conditions Flashcards
6 cards from real PENNDOT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Driving in Hazardous Conditions flashcards as text
According to Pennsylvania law, under which of the following circumstances are you required to use your vehicle's headlights?
Answer: Any time your vehicle's windshield wipers are in use due to precipitation.
Pennsylvania law (Title 75, Section 4302) requires drivers to turn on their headlights any time their windshield wipers are in continuous or intermittent use due to precipitation such as rain, snow, sleet, or mist. This is in addition to the requirements of using them between sunset and sunrise and when visibility is less than 1,000 feet.
You are driving on a wet road and your vehicle begins to hydroplane. What is the correct immediate course of action?
Answer: Ease your foot off the gas pedal and steer straight.
If your vehicle starts to hydroplane, you should not brake or turn suddenly, as this can cause a complete loss of control. The proper response is to take your foot off the accelerator, push in the clutch (if in a manual vehicle), and steer in the direction you want to go until your tires regain contact with the road surface.
When driving in heavy fog in Pennsylvania, which headlights should you use and why?
Answer: Low beams, because high beams will reflect off the fog and cause glare.
In foggy conditions, you should always use your low beam headlights. High beams will reflect off the water particles in the fog, creating a glare that can make it more difficult, not easier, to see the road ahead.
A driver is traveling on a snow-covered road in Pennsylvania. Which of the following is an unsafe practice recommended against by PennDOT?
Answer: Using cruise control to maintain a steady speed.
PennDOT explicitly advises against using cruise control on snow-covered or icy roads. Cruise control can cause the wheels to spin at a constant rate, which can lead to a loss of traction and control if you hit a slippery patch.
You are driving during a snow squall which results in a sudden 'whiteout' condition, severely limiting your visibility. What is the safest action to take?
Answer: Pull over to the side of the road, if you can do so safely, and turn on your hazard lights.
During a whiteout, PennDOT advises that you should not stop in the flow of traffic as it can cause a chain-reaction collision. The safest procedure is to slow down, and if possible, pull completely off the roadway and turn on your hazard lights to make your vehicle visible to others.
Which of the following is a key reason PennDOT advises drivers to be extra cautious on bridges and ramps during cold weather?
Answer: They can freeze before other road surfaces, creating patches of 'black ice'.
Bridges and ramps freeze before other road surfaces because cold air circulates both above and below the elevated roadway, causing the pavement temperature to drop more rapidly. This can lead to the formation of ice, often 'black ice' which is hard to see, even when the rest of the road is just wet.