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Alabama driving lesson · Adjust to Driving Conditions

Winter and slippery roads

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.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Adjust to Driving Conditions
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
72, 73

Winter brings longer darkness plus fog, rain, snow, sleet and ice. Bad weather rarely excuses a crash. A thoughtful driver prepares and adjusts.

Before driving in winter:

  • Warm up the engine while you clear snow and ice from the car (especially the hood) and windows
  • Keep warming at a fast idle until the heater and defroster are warm
  • Make sure windshield-washing fluid contains an anti-freeze solution
Handbook p. 72 ↗

Know the rule

On extremely cold days, be cautious using washers and wipers at high speed. Even with antifreeze, the fluid can freeze on the windshield and block your view.

Handbook p. 72 ↗

Know the rule

Get the feel of the road: try your brakes while driving slowly to see how slippery it is, then adjust your speed.

Handbook p. 72 ↗

Know the rule

Snow treads on the drive wheels greatly improve traction in snow, but you still must drive slower and leave more room to stop. They don't give proper traction on ice.

Handbook p. 73 ↗

Know the rule

For extremely icy conditions, hard-packed snow and very deep snow, reinforced tire chains are best.

Handbook p. 73 ↗

Know the rule

Alabama law requires headlights on when your wipers are in use because of rain, sleet or snow. Intermittent wiper use does not require headlights.

Handbook p. 73 ↗
3 to 12 times

Distance needed to stop on snow or ice, compared with dry pavement

Handbook p. 73 ↗

Starting on snow and ice:

  • Lower your engine speed to its very minimum
  • With a clutch, let it out very slowly
  • If your wheels spin, start in second or high gear
  • With an automatic, accelerate slowly and smoothly
Handbook p. 73 ↗

Know the rule

Stop on packed snow or ice by braking gently. To stop suddenly, pump the brakes: if the wheels lock, release, then squeeze again, repeating until you stop. Don't press the clutch to take the car out of gear.

Handbook p. 73 ↗

Put it into practice

Freezing rain starts and you switch your wipers to continuous. Turn on your headlights, as the law requires. Test the brakes gently at low speed, then drop your speed and leave far more room.

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.

Alabama law requires headlights to be turned on when windshield wipers are in use for which conditions?
  1. Rain, sleet, or snow
  2. Only during a total downpour
  3. Any wiper use, even intermittent
  4. Fog only

Answer: Rain, sleet, or snow

Headlights must be on when wipers are in use because of rain, sleet, or snow; intermittent wiper use doesn't require this.

Handbook p. 73 ↗
Does using windshield wipers intermittently (not continuously) require headlights to be on?
  1. Yes, always
  2. No, intermittent use doesn't require it
  3. Only above 45 mph
  4. Only at night

Answer: No, intermittent use doesn't require it

The handbook specifically exempts intermittent wiper use from triggering the headlight requirement.

Handbook p. 73 ↗
On snow or ice, how much more distance can it take to stop your car compared with dry pavement?
  1. Twice as much distance
  2. The same distance
  3. 3 to 12 times as much
  4. Half the distance

Answer: 3 to 12 times as much

The handbook warns it can take three to twelve times as much distance to stop on snow or ice as on dry pavement.

Handbook p. 73 ↗
If your wheels lock while braking on packed snow or ice, what should you do?
  1. Shift into neutral immediately
  2. Turn the steering wheel sharply
  3. Press the brake pedal harder
  4. Release the brake, then squeeze again (pump)

Answer: Release the brake, then squeeze again (pump)

If your wheels lock, release the brake to get them rolling again, then pump the brakes to slow gradually without skidding.

Handbook p. 73 ↗
When starting on snow or ice with a manual transmission, what should you do if the wheels spin?
  1. Start in second or high gear instead of first
  2. Rev the engine hard in first gear
  3. Rock between first and reverse
  4. Pump the accelerator repeatedly in first gear

Answer: Start in second or high gear instead of first

If the wheels spin starting in first gear, starting in second or high gear allows a smoother acceleration.

Handbook p. 73 ↗
Snow treads give good traction in snow but do not give proper traction on ice.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

The handbook notes snow treads help under normal winter conditions but don't provide proper traction on ice.

Handbook p. 73 ↗
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