RI DMV Weather and Hazardous Conditions 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When driving on a wet road, your vehicle begins to hydroplane. What should you do first?
- Ease off the accelerator and hold the wheel steady (Correct answer)
- Brake hard immediately
- Turn the wheel sharply toward the shoulder
- Shift into neutral and coast
Correct answer: Ease off the accelerator and hold the wheel steady
Easing off the gas lets the tires regain contact with the road without upsetting the vehicle's balance.
Question 2: At what approximate speed can hydroplaning begin on wet roads?
- 35 mph (Correct answer)
- 55 mph
- 65 mph
- 25 mph
Correct answer: 35 mph
Tires can start riding on a film of water at speeds as low as about 35 mph, especially with worn tread.
Question 3: In fog, why should you avoid using your high-beam headlights?
- The light reflects off the fog and reduces your visibility (Correct answer)
- High beams drain the battery faster
- They are illegal at all times in Rhode Island
- They only work above 40 mph
Correct answer: The light reflects off the fog and reduces your visibility
Fog reflects high-beam light back at the driver, creating glare that makes it harder to see.
Question 4: Which road surface is most likely to remain icy after other roads have cleared?
- A bridge or overpass (Correct answer)
- A gravel driveway
- An uphill grade facing south
- A freshly paved city street
Correct answer: A bridge or overpass
Bridges freeze first and thaw last because cold air circulates both above and below the surface.
Question 5: You are driving in heavy rain and your wipers cannot keep up. What is the safest action?
- Pull off the road safely and wait for the rain to ease (Correct answer)
- Speed up to get through the storm faster
- Follow closely behind a truck to block the rain
- Turn on your hazard lights and keep driving at normal speed
Correct answer: Pull off the road safely and wait for the rain to ease
If you cannot see clearly, the safest choice is to pull completely off the roadway and wait.
Question 6: What does 'black ice' typically look like on the road surface?
- The pavement looks wet or glossy (Correct answer)
- A thick white frosty coating
- Dark patches of loose gravel
- Shiny raised bumps on the centerline
Correct answer: The pavement looks wet or glossy
Black ice is a thin, transparent layer of ice that makes pavement appear merely wet.
Question 7: How should you adjust your following distance when driving on snow-covered roads?
- Increase it to at least 8 to 10 seconds (Correct answer)
- Keep the normal 3 to 4 seconds
- Reduce it so you can see the car ahead better
- Following distance does not matter on snow
Correct answer: Increase it to at least 8 to 10 seconds
Stopping distances on snow can be many times longer, so a much larger gap is needed.
RI DMV Weather and Hazardous Conditions 2
When driving on a wet road, your vehicle begins to hydroplane.
What should you do first?