Roadwise States Iowa Driving lessons Ice, snow, and snowplows Iowa driving lesson · Weather & Emergencies
Ice, snow, and snowplows 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 61 Iowa winters bring black ice, blowing snow, and snowplows. Everything takes longer on ice—starting, turning, and especially stopping.
Driving on ice and snow: Clear your ENTIRE vehicle of snow and ice—windows, headlights, turn signals, and taillights From a stop, keep the wheels straight and accelerate gently to avoid spinning the tires Decrease your speed to make up for lost traction Do not use cruise control in icy or snowy conditions Begin slowing long before a stop or turn, and brake only while traveling in a straight line Stay far behind the vehicle ahead so you won't need a sudden stop, which can cause skidding Handbook p. 61 ↗ 10 times How much greater stopping distances can be in ice and snow
Handbook p. 61 ↗ Black ice Ice that forms when moisture freezes on the road surface. It's hardly visible and often catches drivers by surprise.
Handbook p. 61 ↗ Know the rule
Black ice is common on bridges and overpasses, where air circulates above and below the road. They may be slippery even when other road surfaces are not.
Handbook p. 61 ↗ 25–35 mph Typical snowplow operating speed—many drivers fail to realize this and hit them from behind
Handbook p. 61 ↗ Sharing the road with snowplows: Use caution when approaching a snowplow Never pass on the shoulder side—plows move snow to the shoulders Give them room: large blind spots and snow clouds make it hard to see; stay back and be patient Allow plenty of room when passing—plow blades may stick out beyond the width of the plow vehicle Handbook p. 61 ↗ If you're stranded in the snow: If possible, pull onto the shoulder and stay inside to avoid being hit Call 911; help crews find you with exit numbers, mileposts, crossroads, or landmarks Stay inside with your seat belt on—your vehicle is your shelter and helps rescuers find you Handbook p. 61 ↗ Put it into practice
Snow is falling as you approach a bridge. Slow down before you reach it, keep the wheel steady, and brake only while traveling straight—bridges can be icy when the road is not.
A useful reminder Stranded in snow? Stay in the car, belted, and call 911.
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.
Why does black ice often form first on bridges and overpasses? Air circulates both above and below the road surface there Bridges are always shaded from the sun Bridges are made of a material that freezes faster Bridges have no drainage at all Answer: Air circulates both above and below the road surface there
Circulating air both above and below bridges and overpasses causes moisture to freeze there first.
Handbook p. 61 ↗ Compared to dry pavement, how much greater can stopping distances be on ice and snow? About double Up to 10 times greater About the same Up to 3 times greater Answer: Up to 10 times greater
Stopping distances can be up to 10 times greater in ice and snow conditions.
Handbook p. 61 ↗ About what speed do snowplows typically operate at? 45 to 55 mph 10 to 15 mph 25 to 35 mph 60 to 70 mph Answer: 25 to 35 mph
Snowplows typically operate at 25 to 35 mph, and drivers who don't realize this sometimes hit them from behind.
Handbook p. 61 ↗ What should you avoid doing while braking on ice or snow? Braking while turning Braking gradually Braking early Braking in a straight line Answer: Braking while turning
Brake only while traveling in a straight line on ice and snow; avoid braking while turning.
Handbook p. 61 ↗ You should never pass a snowplow on the shoulder side, since plows push snow onto the shoulder. True False Answer: True
The manual warns never to pass on the shoulder side of a plow, since that's where snow is being pushed.
Handbook p. 61 ↗ If stranded in the snow, the safest choice is usually to leave your vehicle and walk to find help. True False Answer: False
The manual recommends staying inside your vehicle with your seat belt on and calling 911, rather than leaving it.
Handbook p. 61 ↗ Previous lesson Flooded roads, fog, and tornadoes Next lesson Equipment failure emergencies 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 61. 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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