Michigan driving lesson · Emergencies and Special Situations
Bad weather: rain, flooding, fog and snow
A 3-minute lesson from the Michigan course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Leave extra time and drive more slowly in fog, rain or snow, and allow a greater following distance. In cold weather, bridges and underpasses freeze before the road does.
Roads are most slippery during the first half hour of rain, because oil from vehicles hasn't washed away. Be extra careful at intersections, and allow at least twice your normal following distance.
Never drive around barricades blocking a flooded road — there may be debris or power lines in the water or the road may be washed out. With no barricades, consider another route; if you do drive through, use extreme caution. Deep water can damage your engine.
In fog, drive slowly with low-beam headlights and be ready to stop quickly. If you can't see at all, pull off the road, turn on your four-way flashers and wait for the fog to lift.
On ice and snow, drive slowly. You won't have your normal stopping power. Listen for snowmobiles, watch for trail and crosswalk signs and be ready to stop.
It starts raining after a dry week. The first half hour is the most slippery, so slow down and double your following distance — from 3–4 seconds to at least 6–8.
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.
During the first half hour of rain, why are roads especially slippery?
Oil dropped from vehicles hasn't been washed away yet
Road paint becomes slick when new
Tires haven't warmed up yet
Fresh rain is more acidic
Answer: Oil dropped from vehicles hasn't been washed away yet
Roads are most slippery in the first half hour of rain because oil hasn't yet washed away.