Idaho driving lesson · Weather & Special Conditions
Mountains, wildlife, open range, and night
A 4-minute lesson from the Idaho course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Idaho driving means mountain grades, big game, and livestock on unfenced range, often in the dark. About 90% of driving choices are based on what you see, and at night your vision is reduced, so plan to slow down.
Driving in the mountains:
Pay special attention to speed limit, curve, and steep hill signs
Stay close to the right edge, away from oncoming traffic
Use a lower gear to control speed on long downhills
Never coast downhill in neutral or with the clutch disengaged
Watch for a solid yellow line in your lane: a no-passing zone
Sound the horn before any curve on a narrow road with an obstructed view
Small animal in the road? Don't swerve unless you're sure it's safe. For big game like moose, elk, and deer, slow down; they're herd animals and others are usually nearby.
If an animal appears too suddenly to avoid, hitting it may be the safest choice. Concentrate on keeping control before, during, and after the collision.
Almost all areas outside city limits and herd districts where livestock graze or roam by custom, license, lease, or permit. Fences don't mean animals are absent or lack the right-of-way.
Livestock under controlled movement across a road have the right-of-way. Cooperate with the workers in charge of a herd, and be especially careful at night.
If you hit livestock on open range or under controlled movement, the owner is not liable for damage to you or your car, and you may be liable for the animal if you were negligent.
Use headlights (not just parking lights) from sunset to sunrise or when visibility is under 500 feet. The gray hours of twilight and dawn are the most dangerous of the day.
For road closures, roadwork, incidents, and weather conditions, dial 511 or visit 511.idaho.gov. If your carrier doesn't support 511, call 1-888-IDAROAD (1-888-432-7623).
On a rural highway at night with low beams on, you can see only about 100 feet ahead. If you're driving too fast to stop within 100 feet, slow down, and switch to high beams when no one is ahead or approaching.
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.
At night, about how far ahead can you see when using your high beams?
350 feet
500 feet
200 feet
100 feet
Answer: 350 feet
You can see about 350 feet with high beams, so drive slowly enough to stop within that distance.