roadwise.Open study app

Alabama driving lesson · Adjust to Driving Conditions

Fog, hills and carbon monoxide

A 3-minute lesson from the Alabama course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

Study this lesson in the app Back to the course
Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Adjust to Driving Conditions
Checkpoint questions
5
Source pages
21, 75

Fog and snowstorms hide the road ahead. Hills and brush hide other cars. Carbon monoxide gives no warning at all. Each calls for a specific set of precautions.

Know the rule

Avoid driving in fog or a snowstorm unless it's absolutely necessary. Reduce speed and be ready to stop within the distance you can see.

Handbook p. 75 ↗

Know the rule

In fog or blinding snow, keep your headlights on low beam to reduce glare reflecting back at you.

Handbook p. 75 ↗

Know the rule

If you can't see, or you're tired of straining your eyes, pull completely off the road, leave your lights on and park until visibility improves.

Handbook p. 75 ↗

Know the rule

On narrow, hilly roads with blind curves, don't hesitate to use your horn as you round hazardous curves, so other drivers know you're there.

Handbook p. 75 ↗

Know the rule

The law forbids coasting downhill with the transmission in neutral.

Handbook p. 75 ↗
2 points

Coasting

Handbook p. 21 ↗

Carbon monoxide

Odorless, deadly exhaust fumes. Poisoning is more likely in winter, when windows are closed and engines are warmed up before driving.

Handbook p. 75 ↗

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning:

  • Sudden weariness
  • Yawning
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
Handbook p. 75 ↗

Know the rule

The only cure is to get to an adequate supply of fresh air.

Handbook p. 75 ↗

To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:

  • Have the exhaust system checked regularly for leaks
  • Don't idle the motor or drive with all the windows closed tightly
  • Don't warm up the motor in a closed garage
Handbook p. 75 ↗

Put it into practice

On a cold morning drive with the windows shut, you suddenly feel dizzy, sleepy and nauseous. Suspect carbon monoxide. Open the windows, pull over safely and get into fresh air, then have the exhaust system checked for leaks.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

What are common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning while driving?
  1. Tremors of the hands, lips, and tongue
  2. Watery eyes and a strong exhaust smell
  3. Blurred vision and slowed reflexes
  4. Sudden weariness, yawning, dizziness, and nausea

Answer: Sudden weariness, yawning, dizziness, and nausea

Carbon monoxide is odorless; its symptoms are sudden weariness, yawning, dizziness and nausea.

Handbook p. 75 ↗
What is the only cure for carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms while driving?
  1. Fresh air
  2. Rolling down one window slightly
  3. Drinking water
  4. Turning on the air conditioning

Answer: Fresh air

The handbook states the only cure for carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms is fresh air.

Handbook p. 75 ↗
What should you do if visibility becomes too poor to continue driving safely in fog or a snowstorm?
  1. Stop in your lane with hazards on
  2. Turn on your high beams and continue slowly
  3. Pull fully off the road, lights on, wait
  4. Follow another vehicle's taillights closely

Answer: Pull fully off the road, lights on, wait

If visibility is too poor, pull completely off the road, leave your lights on, and wait for conditions to improve.

Handbook p. 75 ↗
Alabama law allows coasting downhill with the transmission in neutral as long as you keep your foot over the brake.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

False. The handbook states that the law forbids coasting downhill with the transmission in neutral.

Handbook p. 75 ↗
In fog, you should use your high beams to see further ahead.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

The handbook advises using low beams in fog, since high beams reflect off fog and reduce visibility.

Handbook p. 75 ↗
Take the lesson checkpoint in the app

More in Adjust to Driving Conditions

All Alabama lessons