ELDT - Entry Level Driver Training Entry Level Driver Training Extreme Driving Conditions 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When driving a CMV through a flooded roadway, what is the safest action to take?
- Slow to 5 mph and proceed cautiously through the water
- Avoid the flooded area entirely and find an alternate route (Correct answer)
- Accelerate quickly to minimize time spent in the water
- Use hazard lights and drive through at normal speed
Correct answer: Avoid the flooded area entirely and find an alternate route
You should never attempt to drive through flooded roadways in a CMV. The depth and current of floodwater are difficult to judge, and even shallow water can sweep a vehicle off course or hide washed-out road surfaces. Finding an alternate route is always the safest choice.
Question 2: Which of the following is a warning sign that a road surface is likely to be icy?
- Pavement appears dark and wet after temperatures have dropped below freezing (Correct answer)
- Rain is falling steadily at 45°F
- The road is clearly snow-covered and visible
- Skies are clear and the temperature is 40°F
Correct answer: Pavement appears dark and wet after temperatures have dropped below freezing
Black ice forms when pavement looks dark and wet but the temperature is at or below freezing. Unlike snow, black ice is nearly invisible and provides almost no traction warning. Drivers must be especially alert when road surfaces appear wet during or after a temperature drop below 32°F.
Question 3: What is the primary risk associated with driving a CMV through a highway crosswind zone?
- Increased fuel consumption
- Loss of vehicle control or trailer sway (Correct answer)
- Engine overheating due to side wind pressure
- Reduced visibility from dust or debris only
Correct answer: Loss of vehicle control or trailer sway
Strong crosswinds can cause trailers to sway and push the vehicle out of its lane, potentially leading to a rollover or jackknife. High-profile vehicles like tractor-trailers are especially vulnerable. Drivers should reduce speed, maintain a firm grip on the wheel, and be alert to wind advisory signs.
Question 4: When descending a steep grade in icy or snowy conditions, what braking technique is most appropriate for a CMV equipped with a manual transmission?
- Apply the trailer brakes only to keep the cab from jackknifing
- Downshift to a lower gear before the descent and use controlled, steady brake applications (Correct answer)
- Pump the brakes rapidly to build heat and improve stopping power
- Shift to neutral to allow the vehicle to coast and reduce engine strain
Correct answer: Downshift to a lower gear before the descent and use controlled, steady brake applications
Selecting a lower gear before beginning a steep descent allows engine braking to assist in speed control and reduces reliance on the service brakes. On slippery surfaces, smooth and controlled brake applications help prevent wheel lockup and loss of steering. Coasting in neutral is especially dangerous as it removes engine braking entirely.
Question 5: During a severe thunderstorm with high winds, a CMV driver spots a funnel cloud approaching. What is the recommended action?
- Accelerate and try to outrun the tornado on the highway
- Stay inside the cab as it provides the best protection from a tornado
- Abandon the vehicle and seek shelter in a low-lying ditch away from the truck (Correct answer)
- Pull under an overpass for shelter from the wind and debris
Correct answer: Abandon the vehicle and seek shelter in a low-lying ditch away from the truck
A CMV cab offers very little protection from a tornado. Overpasses can actually concentrate wind speeds and create deadly debris traps. The safest action is to leave the vehicle, move away from it, and lie flat in a low-lying area such as a ditch, protecting your head.
Question 6: When driving in a dust storm or whiteout blizzard with near-zero visibility, what should a CMV driver do first?
- Slow to 15 mph, turn on four-way flashers, and continue driving to clear the storm
- Pull completely off the roadway, turn off all lights, and wait for conditions to improve
- Pull as far off the road as possible, turn off running lights but keep hazard flashers on, and wait (Correct answer)
- Increase following distance to 10 seconds and maintain highway speed to stay with traffic flow
Correct answer: Pull as far off the road as possible, turn off running lights but keep hazard flashers on, and wait
When visibility drops to near zero, the safest action is to get off the road completely. Keeping hazard flashers on alerts other drivers to your stopped position, but turning off headlights prevents other disoriented drivers from following your lights directly into your parked vehicle. Waiting for conditions to improve is far safer than continuing to drive blind.
ELDT - Entry Level Driver Training Entry Level Driver Training Extreme Driving Conditions 1
When driving a CMV through a flooded roadway, what is the safest action to take?