Roadwise States California Driving lessons Slippery roads, rain & snow California driving lesson · Safe Driving Fundamentals
Slippery roads, rain & snow A 3-minute lesson from the California course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Safe Driving Fundamentals
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 67, 68 Rain, snow and mud make roads slippery. Drive slower than on a dry road and leave more space ahead. The handbook gives exact speed reductions for each surface.
The road may be more slippery: In shade from trees or buildings on cold, wet days; these spots freeze first and dry last On bridges and overpasses, which freeze before the rest of the road When it first starts to rain, especially after a dry, hot spell (oil and dust not washed away) Handbook p. 67 ↗ Know the rule
Slow down at the first sign of rain, drizzle, or snow on the road.
Handbook p. 67 ↗ Know the rule
Turn on your windshield wipers, low-beam headlights, and defroster.
Handbook p. 68 ↗ 100 ft / 30 mph If you can't see farther than 100 feet, it's unsafe to drive faster than 30 mph
Handbook p. 68 ↗ Know the rule
You may need to stop from time to time to wipe mud or snow off your windshield, headlights, and taillights.
Handbook p. 68 ↗ Know the rule
In snowy areas, carry the correct number and type of snow chains for your vehicle; they give your tires more traction.
Handbook p. 68 ↗ Stuck in snow or mud: 1. Shift into low gear and keep the front wheels straight 2. Gently step on the accelerator; avoid spinning the wheels 3. Drive slowly forward as far as possible 4. Shift into reverse and slowly back up as far as possible 5. Shift into low gear again and drive forward; repeat until the vehicle rolls free 6. In deep mud or snow, put boards or branches under the tires, only while stopped Handbook p. 68 ↗ Put it into practice
You're driving 60 mph on a dry freeway when heavy rain starts and you can't see more than about 100 feet ahead. Slow to 30 mph or less, turn on wipers, low beams and defroster, and increase your following distance.
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.
By how much should you reduce your speed on packed snow? By 5 to 10 mph By half By about 5 mph No reduction needed if you have snow tires Answer: By half
On packed snow, reduce your speed by half.
Handbook p. 67 ↗ By how much should you reduce your speed on a wet road? By half By 15 to 20 mph By 5 to 10 mph By about 1 to 2 mph Answer: By 5 to 10 mph
On a wet road, reduce your speed by 5 to 10 mph.
Handbook p. 67 ↗ What is the maximum recommended speed on an icy road? No more than 25 mph No more than 15 mph No more than 35 mph No more than 5 mph Answer: No more than 5 mph
On ice, reduce your speed to no more than 5 mph.
Handbook p. 67 ↗ Why can shaded areas from trees or buildings be more dangerous on cold, wet days? They hide ice that forms first They cause glare that blinds drivers They collect standing water They hide potholes Answer: They hide ice that forms first
Shaded areas can hide icy patches that freeze earlier and dry out later than the rest of the road.
Handbook p. 67 ↗ Why can the first rain after a long dry spell make roads especially slippery? Warm pavement makes water bead up Oil and dust haven't washed away yet Tires are colder after dry weather Dry roads absorb rain unevenly Answer: Oil and dust haven't washed away yet
When rain starts after a dry spell, oil and dust on the pavement create a slick surface until washed away.
Handbook p. 67 ↗ In a heavy rainstorm where visibility drops below 100 feet, what is the safe maximum speed? 30 mph 50 mph 15 mph 45 mph Answer: 30 mph
If you cannot see farther than 100 feet in heavy rain or snow, it is not safe to drive faster than 30 mph.
Handbook p. 68 ↗ Previous lesson Skids & braking emergencies Next lesson Hydroplaning, floods, wind, fog & traffic breaks More in Safe Driving Fundamentals About the source Roadwise’s California course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 67, 68. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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