MD DMV Weather and Hazardous Conditions 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: At approximately what speed can your tires begin to hydroplane on a wet road?
- 15 mph
- 25 mph
- 35 mph (Correct answer)
- 55 mph
Correct answer: 35 mph
Hydroplaning can begin at speeds as low as 35 mph when tires ride on a film of water.
Question 2: Which part of the road freezes first in cold weather?
- Bridges and overpasses (Correct answer)
- Uphill grades
- Asphalt near intersections
- Roads shaded by buildings only
Correct answer: Bridges and overpasses
Bridges and overpasses freeze before other road surfaces because cold air circulates above and below them.
Question 3: When driving in fog, you should use your:
- High beam headlights
- Low beam headlights (Correct answer)
- Parking lights only
- Hazard flashers instead of headlights
Correct answer: Low beam headlights
Low beams aim down at the road, while high beams reflect off fog and reduce visibility.
Question 4: If your vehicle starts to skid, you should:
- Brake hard immediately
- Steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go (Correct answer)
- Shift into neutral and brake
- Turn the wheel opposite the skid and accelerate
Correct answer: Steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go
Easing off the accelerator and steering where you want to go helps the vehicle regain traction.
Question 5: After driving through deep water, your brakes may be wet. You should:
- Pull over and wait 30 minutes
- Test them by braking gently while driving slowly (Correct answer)
- Pump the parking brake several times
- Drive at highway speed to air-dry them
Correct answer: Test them by braking gently while driving slowly
Gently applying the brakes at low speed dries them and restores stopping power.
Question 6: In rain, snow, or ice, your following distance should be:
- The same as in dry conditions
- Reduced so others cannot cut in
- Increased well beyond the normal gap (Correct answer)
- Exactly one car length per 10 mph
Correct answer: Increased well beyond the normal gap
Slippery roads increase stopping distance, so you need a much larger gap than in dry weather.
Question 7: When are roads usually most slippery during rain?
- After several hours of steady rain
- During the first minutes after rain begins (Correct answer)
- Only when temperatures are below freezing
- Just after the rain stops
Correct answer: During the first minutes after rain begins
The first rainfall mixes with oil and dust on the pavement, creating an especially slick film.
MD DMV Weather and Hazardous Conditions 2
At approximately what speed can your tires begin to hydroplane on a wet road?