RTA Driving in Adverse Conditions 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When driving in dense fog, you should use:
- High-beam headlights to see farther ahead
- Low-beam headlights or fog lights (Correct answer)
- Hazard lights only while moving
- No lights, as they reflect off the fog
Correct answer: Low-beam headlights or fog lights
Low-beam headlights and fog lights reduce glare from fog, while high beams reflect back and reduce visibility.
Question 2: What is the safest following distance on a wet road compared to a dry road?
- The same distance — braking force doesn't change
- Double the normal following distance (Correct answer)
- Half the normal distance to stay closer to traffic
- Only increase distance on highways, not city streets
Correct answer: Double the normal following distance
Wet roads significantly reduce tire traction, so doubling your following distance gives you extra time to stop safely.
Question 3: You are driving on ice and your rear wheels begin to slide sideways. You should:
- Brake firmly to regain control
- Steer into the direction of the skid and ease off the gas (Correct answer)
- Steer away from the skid to straighten the car
- Apply the emergency brake to stop the slide
Correct answer: Steer into the direction of the skid and ease off the gas
Steering into a rear-wheel skid (oversteer correction) and reducing throttle helps realign the vehicle.
Question 4: Which of the following is a warning sign that roads may be icy even if you cannot see ice?
- Temperature is above 40°F and it is raining
- Temperature is near or below freezing and roads look slightly wet (Correct answer)
- It is nighttime and roads are dry
- Humidity is high but temperature is above 50°F
Correct answer: Temperature is near or below freezing and roads look slightly wet
Black ice forms when temperatures are near freezing and moisture is present, making roads look merely wet.
Question 5: When driving in heavy rain and your wipers cannot keep the windshield clear, you should:
- Speed up to get through the rain faster
- Pull off the road safely and wait for conditions to improve (Correct answer)
- Turn on your high beams for better visibility
- Continue at normal speed with hazard lights on
Correct answer: Pull off the road safely and wait for conditions to improve
If visibility is too poor to drive safely, pulling off the road and waiting is the safest option.
Question 6: Strong crosswinds are most dangerous when:
- Driving a heavy SUV at low speeds
- Passing an overpass or emerging from a tunnel (Correct answer)
- Driving through a valley at moderate speeds
- The vehicle is fully loaded with cargo
Correct answer: Passing an overpass or emerging from a tunnel
Wind gusts are concentrated and strongest when exiting sheltered areas like tunnels or overpasses.
Question 7: After driving through a large puddle, your brakes may be wet and less effective. What should you do?
- Avoid braking for at least one mile
- Lightly apply the brakes several times to dry them out (Correct answer)
- Use the emergency brake instead until they dry
- Accelerate to evaporate the water quickly
Correct answer: Lightly apply the brakes several times to dry them out
Gently tapping the brakes generates heat that dries the brake pads and restores normal braking performance.
RTA Driving in Adverse Conditions 2
When driving in dense fog, you should use: