DGT Weather & Hazardous Conditions 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does hydroplaning mean and at what condition does it most commonly occur?
- Engine overheating in hot weather, especially above 90°F
- Loss of tire traction when a water layer separates tires from the road (Correct answer)
- Aquatic debris blocking the exhaust system
- Brakes overheating when driving through deep puddles
Correct answer: Loss of tire traction when a water layer separates tires from the road
Hydroplaning occurs when tires ride on a film of water rather than making contact with the road surface.
Question 2: During a winter storm, you notice your car beginning to skid. What is the correct corrective action?
- Brake firmly and steer in the opposite direction of the skid
- Steer into the direction of the skid and ease off the accelerator (Correct answer)
- Apply the parking brake gently to stabilize the vehicle
- Downshift rapidly to use engine braking
Correct answer: Steer into the direction of the skid and ease off the accelerator
Steering into the skid helps realign the rear tires with the direction of travel and restores control.
Question 3: What safe following distance is recommended when driving in snowy or icy conditions compared to dry roads?
- The same as dry roads since ABS compensates
- Twice the normal following distance
- At least 8-10 times the normal following distance (Correct answer)
- One car length per 10 mph is sufficient in all conditions
Correct answer: At least 8-10 times the normal following distance
Stopping distances on ice can be up to ten times greater than on dry pavement, requiring much more space.
Question 4: When driving in strong crosswinds, which vehicles are at greatest risk?
- Low-profile sports cars with wide tires
- High-profile vehicles such as trucks, RVs, and SUVs (Correct answer)
- Front-wheel-drive sedans
- All vehicles are equally affected by crosswinds
Correct answer: High-profile vehicles such as trucks, RVs, and SUVs
High-profile vehicles have a larger surface area exposed to wind, making them more susceptible to being pushed sideways.
Question 5: What precaution should you take before driving through a flooded road?
- Accelerate through quickly to minimize water contact
- Assess the depth — avoid if you cannot see the road surface or if water is moving rapidly (Correct answer)
- Drive in the center of the road where water is shallowest
- Flash your headlights and honk before entering
Correct answer: Assess the depth — avoid if you cannot see the road surface or if water is moving rapidly
Just six inches of moving water can knock a person down, and two feet can float most vehicles.
Question 6: What effect does sun glare have on driving safety?
- It only affects drivers in the morning and has no significant risk
- It can temporarily blind a driver and obscure traffic signals, signs, and pedestrians (Correct answer)
- Sun glare increases alertness and reduces fatigue
- It primarily affects motorcyclists, not car drivers
Correct answer: It can temporarily blind a driver and obscure traffic signals, signs, and pedestrians
Direct sun glare can render traffic signals and obstacles invisible for critical seconds.
Question 7: After driving through a deep puddle, what should you do to restore normal braking?
- Pull over and wait 10 minutes for brakes to dry naturally
- Apply light brake pressure gently several times to generate heat and dry the pads (Correct answer)
- Pump the brakes hard immediately to test full stopping power
- Increase speed briefly to evaporate water from the rotors
Correct answer: Apply light brake pressure gently several times to generate heat and dry the pads
Lightly and repeatedly applying the brakes generates friction heat that dries the brake pads and rotors.
DGT Weather & Hazardous Conditions 3
What does hydroplaning mean and at what condition does it most commonly occur?