VA DMV VA DMV Special Driving Conditions Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When driving in fog in Virginia, which lights should you use?
- High-beam headlights
- Low-beam headlights or fog lights (Correct answer)
- Hazard lights only
- No lights — they reduce visibility further
Correct answer: Low-beam headlights or fog lights
In fog, you should use low-beam headlights or fog lights because high beams reflect off the fog and reduce visibility.
Question 2: What should you do first if your vehicle begins to skid in Virginia?
- Brake hard immediately
- Steer in the direction you want to go and ease off the accelerator (Correct answer)
- Turn the wheel sharply opposite the skid
- Shift into a lower gear immediately
Correct answer: Steer in the direction you want to go and ease off the accelerator
To correct a skid, ease off the accelerator and steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go to regain control.
Question 3: In Virginia, when must headlights be turned on?
- Only at night
- 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise and when visibility is less than 500 feet (Correct answer)
- Only when it is raining
- When driving on the interstate only at night
Correct answer: 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise and when visibility is less than 500 feet
Virginia requires headlights from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise and any time visibility is less than 500 feet.
Question 4: What is hydroplaning in Virginia driving contexts?
- Skidding on ice
- Loss of tire traction due to a layer of water between tires and road (Correct answer)
- Engine failure from flooding
- Windshield fogging during rain
Correct answer: Loss of tire traction due to a layer of water between tires and road
Hydroplaning occurs when a layer of water between tires and road surface causes loss of traction and steering control.
Question 5: What should you do if you must drive through standing water in Virginia?
- Accelerate to get through quickly
- Drive at highway speed to push water aside
- Slow down, drive through carefully, and test brakes afterward (Correct answer)
- Never drive through any standing water
Correct answer: Slow down, drive through carefully, and test brakes afterward
If you must drive through standing water in Virginia, slow down, proceed carefully, then tap the brakes gently to dry them afterward.
Question 6: How should you adjust your following distance in rain or snow in Virginia?
- Keep the same 2-second following distance
- Double it to at least 4 seconds (Correct answer)
- Reduce it to stay closer to visible brake lights
- Increase it by only half a second
Correct answer: Double it to at least 4 seconds
In rain or snow, Virginia driving guidelines recommend doubling your following distance to at least 4 seconds to allow for increased stopping distance.
When driving in fog in Virginia, which lights should you use?