Driving in Hazardous Conditions Flashcards

If your rear wheels skid to the right on an icy road, you should steer:

Answer: To the right, in the direction of the skid

Steering into the skid (toward the direction the rear is sliding) helps realign the vehicle.

When is black ice most commonly found on Pennsylvania roads?

Answer: On bridges and overpasses even when roads appear clear

Bridges and overpasses lose heat from below as well as above, causing them to freeze first and more severely than regular road surfaces.

When visibility drops to less than 100 feet due to fog or heavy snow, what is the maximum legal speed in Pennsylvania?

Answer: 35 mph

Pennsylvania law prohibits driving faster than 35 mph when visibility is reduced to less than 100 feet.

What does a 'rumble strip' on the shoulder of a Pennsylvania highway warn you about?

Answer: You are drifting out of your lane toward the shoulder

Rumble strips create vibration and noise to alert a drifting or drowsy driver that they are leaving the travel lane.

During a severe thunderstorm, lightning strikes near your vehicle. The safest place to be is:

Answer: Inside the vehicle with windows rolled up

A metal-roofed vehicle acts as a Faraday cage, directing lightning around occupants — stay inside and avoid touching metal surfaces.

What is the safest action when you encounter a dust storm that suddenly reduces visibility to near zero?

Answer: Pull completely off the road, turn off lights, and keep foot off the brake

Pulling off the road and turning off lights prevents other drivers from following your lights into the storm thinking you are in a travel lane.

When driving in heavy snow, if you become stuck, the recommended technique is to:

Answer: Alternate between forward and reverse with gentle throttle to rock free

Rocking the vehicle gently between drive and reverse can pack snow and create traction to free a stuck vehicle.