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Virginia driving lesson · Visibility & Hazardous Conditions

Hazardous Conditions: Fog, Rain & Snow

A 3-minute lesson from the Virginia course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Visibility & Hazardous Conditions
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
25

Driving becomes hazardous when visibility drops or the road is covered with rain, snow or ice. Your first response to any of these should always be the same: slow down. Then double your space and make yourself visible.

When visibility or roads get bad:

  • Reduce your speed first
  • Double your normal following distance
  • Turn on your headlights
Handbook p. 25 ↗

Know the rule

Fog reflects light, even your own headlights, back into your eyes. Use low beams in heavy fog and follow road edge markings. Even light fog reduces visibility and distance judgment, so slow down.

Handbook p. 25 ↗

Know the rule

Heavy rain can be as hazardous as fog, especially with wind. Vehicles behind you and in your blind spots are especially hard to see. Use low beams to see and be seen.

Handbook p. 25 ↗

Know the rule

In light rain or drizzle, use wipers. Using wipers for sprinkles may smear the windshield, so keep washer fluid filled.

Handbook p. 25 ↗
First half-hour

After rain begins, roads are most slippery as oil on the surface mixes with water

Handbook p. 25 ↗

Know the rule

Use caution through ponded water and avoid it if possible; it can make vehicles hydroplane or lose control.

Handbook p. 25 ↗

Know the rule

Before driving, clear snow and ice from your entire car, including roof, hood and rear, plus all windows, mirrors and front and rear lights. Snow left on the car can fly off and endanger others.

Handbook p. 25 ↗

Know the rule

All-weather snow tires or chains help prevent skidding and reduce stopping distance.

Handbook p. 25 ↗

Know the rule

Packed snow is like ice. To stop on slippery surfaces, release the accelerator and brake gently; slow down before stopping or turning.

Handbook p. 25 ↗

Know the rule

You have the most traction and control when the front tires are rolling. A slow, steady speed, not hard braking, keeps you in control.

Handbook p. 25 ↗

Know the rule

Watch for ice on bridges and in shady areas. Bridges freeze before other road surfaces.

Handbook p. 25 ↗

Put it into practice

The road is wet and it's near freezing. Expect ice on the bridge ahead and in shady spots, since bridges freeze first. Slow down before you reach them; if you must stop, release the accelerator and brake gently.

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.

What is your first response when visibility is reduced or the road is covered in rain, snow, or ice?
  1. Reduce your speed
  2. Turn on your emergency flashers and stop
  3. Pull onto the shoulder and wait it out
  4. Switch to high-beam headlights

Answer: Reduce your speed

Reducing your speed should be your first response to decreased visibility and hazardous road conditions.

Handbook p. 25 ↗
How should you increase your space cushion in hazardous conditions like rain or snow?
  1. Keep the same following distance but slow down
  2. Double your normal following distance
  3. Add one second to your following distance
  4. Following distance does not need adjustment

Answer: Double your normal following distance

Increase your space cushion by doubling your normal following distance in hazardous conditions.

Handbook p. 25 ↗
What kind of headlights should you use in heavy fog?
  1. High-beam headlights
  2. Parking lights only
  3. Low-beam headlights
  4. No headlights, to avoid glare

Answer: Low-beam headlights

Use low-beam headlights in heavy fog, since high beams reflect back into your eyes.

Handbook p. 25 ↗
During the first half-hour of rain, why are roads especially slippery?
  1. Cold rain lowers your tire pressure
  2. Tires have not yet adjusted to wet conditions
  3. Water fills the tire treads right away
  4. Oil on the road mixes with the water

Answer: Oil on the road mixes with the water

When rain begins, roads are more slippery during the first half-hour as oil mixes with water on the surface.

Handbook p. 25 ↗
When braking on packed snow, what technique gives you the most traction and control?
  1. Braking as hard as possible immediately
  2. Releasing the brake completely and coasting
  3. A slow, steady speed, not hard braking
  4. Pumping the brakes rapidly and repeatedly

Answer: A slow, steady speed, not hard braking

You have the most traction with front tires rolling; a slow, steady speed works better than hard braking.

Handbook p. 25 ↗
Why should you watch for ice on bridges, even when nearby roads seem clear?
  1. Bridges are always treated with less salt
  2. Bridge surfaces are smoother than roads
  3. Bridges collect more rain than roads
  4. Bridges freeze before other road surfaces

Answer: Bridges freeze before other road surfaces

Watch for ice on bridges and in shady areas, since bridges freeze before other road surfaces.

Handbook p. 25 ↗
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