VT DMV Weather and Hazardous Conditions 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You are driving on a Vermont highway when dense fog suddenly rolls in. What should you do with your headlights?
- Use low-beam headlights (Correct answer)
- Use high-beam headlights
- Turn headlights off and use parking lights
- Flash your headlights repeatedly
Correct answer: Use low-beam headlights
Low beams aim light down at the road, while high beams reflect off fog and reduce your visibility even further.
Question 2: At what point after rain begins are road surfaces usually most slippery?
- During the first 10 to 15 minutes of rainfall (Correct answer)
- After it has rained for several hours
- Only after the rain has stopped
- Roads are equally slippery throughout a rainstorm
Correct answer: During the first 10 to 15 minutes of rainfall
The first minutes of rain mix water with oil and dirt on the pavement, creating an especially slick film before it washes away.
Question 3: Your vehicle begins to hydroplane on a wet road. What is the best response?
- Ease off the accelerator and avoid braking suddenly (Correct answer)
- Brake hard immediately
- Accelerate to regain traction
- Turn the steering wheel sharply toward the shoulder
Correct answer: Ease off the accelerator and avoid braking suddenly
Easing off the gas lets the tires slow down and regain contact with the road, while hard braking or sharp steering can cause a skid.
Question 4: On which of these surfaces is ice likely to form first when temperatures drop?
- Bridges and overpasses (Correct answer)
- Gravel shoulders
- Uphill grades
- Roads through dense forest
Correct answer: Bridges and overpasses
Bridges and overpasses freeze before other road surfaces because cold air circulates both above and below them.
Question 5: When driving on packed snow, how should you adjust your following distance compared to dry pavement?
- Increase it substantially, to roughly 8 to 10 seconds (Correct answer)
- Keep the normal 3 to 4 seconds
- Reduce it so other cars cannot cut in
- Following distance does not matter on snow
Correct answer: Increase it substantially, to roughly 8 to 10 seconds
Stopping distances on snow can be several times longer than on dry pavement, so you need a much larger space cushion.
Question 6: You encounter a flooded section of road in Vermont after heavy spring rains. What should you do?
- Turn around and find another route (Correct answer)
- Drive through quickly to avoid stalling
- Drive through slowly in low gear
- Follow the vehicle ahead closely through the water
Correct answer: Turn around and find another route
Even shallow moving water can stall your engine or sweep a vehicle away, so the safest choice is to turn around.
Question 7: In winter conditions, what is the safest way to slow down when approaching an icy intersection?
- Slow down early and brake gently well before the intersection (Correct answer)
- Brake firmly right at the stop line
- Shift to neutral and coast to a stop
- Pump the parking brake
Correct answer: Slow down early and brake gently well before the intersection
Gentle, early braking gives your tires the best chance to keep traction on ice, since intersections are often polished slick by stopping traffic.
VT DMV Weather and Hazardous Conditions 2
You are driving on a Vermont highway when dense fog suddenly rolls in.
What should you do with your headlights?