Roadwise States Iowa Driving lessons Flooded roads, fog, and tornadoes Iowa driving lesson · Weather & Emergencies
Flooded roads, fog, and tornadoes A 3-minute lesson from the Iowa 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 Weather & Emergencies
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 60 Floods, fog, and tornadoes are Iowa weather dangers where the right move is often to turn around, slow way down, or get out of the car.
Know the rule
Almost half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. Moving water is extremely powerful and easy to underestimate.
Handbook p. 60 ↗ 6 in Moving water this deep may sweep away a vehicle, including SUVs and pickups
Handbook p. 60 ↗ Flooded roads: Never drive through a flooded road or bridge—the road beneath may be washed out; turn around Don't stay in a flooded vehicle: if stalled in floodwater, abandon it and move to higher ground If swept in and submerged: stay calm and wait for the vehicle to fill with water Once it's full, the doors open more easily—hold your breath and swim to the surface Handbook p. 60 ↗ Fog: Use low-beam lights, or fog lights if you have them Don't use high beams—they reflect off the fog, causing glare and reduced visibility Slow down until your speed matches your ability to see If needed, get off the road and find a safe place to park Handbook p. 60 ↗ If you're driving during a tornado: Best: find a sturdy building for shelter Can't reach shelter: pull over, duck below the windows, keep your belt on, and cover your head Or, if you can safely exit, take cover in a low-lying ditch or ravine, covering your head Stay away from bridges and overpasses Handbook p. 60 ↗ Know the rule
Television broadcasts, weather radios, and outdoor sirens may alert the public that an active tornado is in the area.
Handbook p. 60 ↗ Put it into practice
Water covers the road ahead and you can't tell how deep it is. Turn around and find a different route—as little as 6 inches of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
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.
How much moving water can be enough to sweep away a vehicle, including SUVs and pickups? At least 3 feet 6 inches At least 5 feet At least 1 foot Answer: 6 inches
The manual states as little as 6 inches of moving water may sweep away a vehicle, including SUVs and pickups.
Handbook p. 60 ↗ Why shouldn't you use high beams in fog? They are illegal in fog in Iowa They are only for interstates They reflect off fog, causing glare They light the road too far ahead Answer: They reflect off fog, causing glare
High beams reflect off fog and cause glare, worsening visibility rather than helping.
Handbook p. 60 ↗ If you're driving during a tornado and can't reach a sturdy building, what should you do? Keep driving as fast as possible to outrun it Stop under a highway overpass for shelter Get out and lie beside the car Pull over and duck below the windows Answer: Pull over and duck below the windows
If you can't reach shelter, pull over, duck below the windows, keep your seat belt on, and cover your head.
Handbook p. 60 ↗ What should you do if your vehicle stalls in floodwater? Stay inside and wait for the water to recede Abandon it and move to higher ground Rev the engine to force it through Call for a tow and stay inside Answer: Abandon it and move to higher ground
If your vehicle stalls in floodwater, abandon it and move to higher ground.
Handbook p. 60 ↗ What does a National Weather Service tornado 'watch' mean? A tornado has been confirmed A tornado has already passed A tornado is imminent A tornado is possible Answer: A tornado is possible
A tornado watch means a severe thunderstorm may possibly produce tornado-like conditions.
Handbook p. 60 ↗ Bridges and overpasses are considered safe shelter locations during a tornado. True False Answer: False
The manual specifically warns to stay away from bridges and overpasses during a tornado.
Handbook p. 60 ↗ Previous lesson Inclement weather, wet roads, and hydroplaning Next lesson Ice, snow, and snowplows More in Weather & Emergencies About the source Roadwise’s Iowa course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 60. 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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