New Zealand Car Driving Test FREE New Zealand Car Driving Test Driving in Hazardous Conditions Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When driving in heavy fog in New Zealand, what is the recommended practice for using your vehicle's lights?
- Use high beam headlights for maximum visibility
- Use low beam headlights or fog lights (Correct answer)
- Turn off all lights to avoid glare reflection
- Use hazard lights while moving
Correct answer: Use low beam headlights or fog lights
Low beam headlights or fog lights should be used in fog because high beams reflect off the moisture and reduce visibility further.
Question 2: What is the safest action if you encounter black ice on a New Zealand road?
- Brake firmly to stop as quickly as possible
- Accelerate to power through the icy patch
- Ease off the accelerator and steer gently without sudden inputs (Correct answer)
- Turn the steering wheel sharply to move to the road shoulder
Correct answer: Ease off the accelerator and steer gently without sudden inputs
Easing off the accelerator and steering gently helps maintain traction and control on black ice.
Question 3: During a severe crosswind on an exposed New Zealand highway, which vehicles are most at risk of being blown off course?
- Low sports cars with wide tires
- Heavy trucks and SUVs with large engines
- High-sided vehicles, motorcycles, and vehicles towing trailers (Correct answer)
- All vehicles are equally affected regardless of size or shape
Correct answer: High-sided vehicles, motorcycles, and vehicles towing trailers
High-sided vehicles, motorcycles, and those towing trailers have larger surface areas or less stability, making them more vulnerable to crosswinds.
Question 4: If your vehicle begins to aquaplane on a wet New Zealand road, what should you do?
- Press the brake pedal firmly to regain contact with the road
- Steer sharply in the opposite direction of travel
- Ease off the accelerator and hold the steering wheel straight until traction returns (Correct answer)
- Shift into a higher gear to slow the engine
Correct answer: Ease off the accelerator and hold the steering wheel straight until traction returns
Easing off the accelerator allows the tires to slow down and regain contact with the road surface during aquaplaning.
Question 5: When driving on a gravel road in New Zealand during wet conditions, how should you adjust your following distance?
- Maintain the standard two-second following distance
- Reduce following distance so you can see the road better through less spray
- Increase following distance to at least four seconds to allow for reduced traction and visibility (Correct answer)
- Following distance does not need to change on gravel roads
Correct answer: Increase following distance to at least four seconds to allow for reduced traction and visibility
Wet gravel significantly reduces traction and increases stopping distances, so at least a four-second gap is recommended.
Question 6: What should you do if you encounter surface flooding across a New Zealand road and cannot see the road surface beneath the water?
- Drive through at a steady speed to maintain momentum
- Stop and find an alternative route or wait for the water to recede (Correct answer)
- Follow the vehicle ahead closely so you can use their path
- Accelerate to get through the flooded section as fast as possible
Correct answer: Stop and find an alternative route or wait for the water to recede
If you cannot see the road beneath floodwater, it is safest to stop and seek an alternative route because the depth and road condition are unknown.
