Arizona driving lesson · Weather, Night Driving & Crash Avoidance
Fog, snow, ice & low visibility
A 3-minute lesson from the Arizona course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Fog hides the road and bounces your own lights back at you. Snow and ice take away traction — your car will steer better than it brakes. In any low-visibility condition, your headlights help others see you.
Know the rule
In fog, use low beams only and follow the road edge markings. Even light fog cuts visibility and distance judgment, so slow down.
On slippery surfaces you have the most traction and control while the front tires are rolling, so your vehicle responds better to steering than to braking.
Brake gently on ice, increasing pressure as the tires grip. If the wheels lock, ease slightly off the brakes without fully releasing, then reapply — repeat as needed.
In sun glare, rain, dust or any condition where your vehicle may be hard to see, turn on your low-beam headlights. On rural roads, they help drivers thinking of passing in your lane see you coming.
Heading to Flagstaff, the road is dry but a shaded curve ahead has a bridge. Slow down before it — bridge surfaces and shady spots freeze before the rest of the road.
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 headlight setting should you use when driving in fog?
Low beams only
High beams only
Parking lights only
Hazard flashers only
Answer: Low beams only
Fog reflects light, including your own headlights, so use low beams only when driving through it.