Chapter 11 - Communication, driving in daylight and in difficult weather conditions

Question 1

Different way you can communicate with other road users?

Answer 1

1. Indicator
2. Brake lights
3. Horn
4. Headlights
5. Heand and arm gestures

Question 2

Uses of the indicator?

Answer 2

Obliged to use the indicator tor inform drivers about lateral movement.

1. Driving away
2. Overtaking
3. Merging and exiting
4. Changing lanes
5. Getting in lane and turning left or right

Remember to put indicator to neutral as soon as the manoeuvre is completed

Question 3

When should you start indicating (distance) in the following scenarios…

1. Trunk/road motorway when wanting to exit
2. Roads outside built up area or 70km/h roads in built up area before junction
3. Roads in built up area before junction
4. Residential streets

Answer 3

1. 300m
2. 200m
3. 100m or 50m if there is space marked for traffic turning left/right
4. 50m

These are just suggestions –> do not do anything that leads to confusion

Question 4

Situations when you can use your hazard warning lights?

Answer 4

1. Broken down car and you are not allowed to stop in that specific place
2. Stopped in a place where people can’t see you
3. Held up in by a queue

Question 5

What should you expect if you are approaching a vehicle with yellow hazard warning light?

Answer 5

Be prepared that you…

1. Are approaching slow moving heavy transport from behind
2. Are approachong a extremely wide vehicle
3. Are approaching a dangerous situation –> caused by clear up operation or traffic accident

Question 6

What are the 4 main types of headlight options?

Answer 6

1. Full-beam headlights
2. Dipped headlights
3. Fog Lamp
4. Parking lights

Question 7

When should you use your dipped headlights?

Answer 7

1. At dusk or in the dark
2. During daytime if weather conditions impair your visibility –> not allowed to use you parking lights only

Question 8

What are daytime running lights?

Answer 8

New passenger cars and delivery vans must be equipped with daytime running lights –> make them more visible during the day

Switch on automatically when the engine is started –> they should automatically switch off when other headlights are on

Question 9

When should you use the main beam? When are they not allowed to be used?

Answer 9

If you dipped lights are insufficient at night –> you can use the main beam

They are not to be used…

1. In the daytime
2. If another road user (including pedestrian is approaching you –> switch to dipped lights
3. If you are following another vehicle (including bicycle + moped) at a short distance

Question 10

Why would you have to use your lights if the sun is low?

Answer 10

If the low sun is coming from behind you –> oncoming traffic may have difficulty seeing you –> if you use your dipped lights they can see you more easily

Question 11

Under what circumstances can you get dazzled by light? What should you do?

Answer 11

Reasons:

1. If oncoming traffic dips too late
2. Dipped headlight on the oncoming vehicle are adjusted too high
3. Low sun
4. Light or dirty windows

Reactiom:

1. Reduce speed
2. Stop if necessary

Question 12

How to signal to oncoming drivers that you are dazzled by their lights?

Answer 12

You can draw your attention by flashing your main beam

They ignore you? –> Look to the right of the headlights to avoid them

Question 13

Why is important to be watchful for pedestrians in the dark?

Answer 13

Drivers are required to have lights

Pedestrians not

Be extra watchful –> dont keep too much to the right

Question 14

Why can dark and rainy conditions be dangerous?

Answer 14

Wet road surfaces reflect light from your headlights –> road lines and markings may dissolve in the reflecting light

Adjust your speed in such situations

Question 15

Things to keep in mind when driving through town centres with alot of public lighting and brightly coloured neon lights?

Answer 15

1. You will not see traffic lights in time
2. Notice traffic signs too late
3. Have problems distinguishing pedestrians and cyclists

Question 16

Things to consider when you are driving at night?

Answer 16

1. Hard to distinguish speed bumps
2. Hard to gauge distance and speed
3. When standing still make sure your lights are on especially outside a built up area –> use parking lights
4. Stopping in lay-by/hard shoulder and parking lane –> sidelights on
5. Stopping with a trailer and caravan –> front, side and rear lights must be on

Question 17

What should you do if your trailer is wider than 2.10m and longer than 6m?

Answer 17

Make sure you use end-outline marker lamps on both the front and back

Side marker lights if the trailer is longer than 6m

Question 18

Problems that arise when driving when it is raining?

Answer 18

1. Diffifcult to see out of your windscreen
2. Road surface is more slippery

Question 19

What lights should you turn on when it starts to rain + heavy rain?

Answer 19

Always turn on your dipped lights when it starts to rain

During heavy rainfall –> combine dipped lights and fog lamps

Question 20

Are you allowed to use your rear fog lights when it rains?

Answer 20

No –> not even if its heavy rain –> dazzle drivers

Question 21

Why should you reduce speed during heavy rainfall?

Answer 21

1. You are not hindered by reduced visibility
2. Stopping distance doesn’t become to long
3. Wet road conditions (aquaplaning) do not increase

Question 22

When driving outside the built up area and visibility is reduced to 50m, whats the fastest you should drive?

Answer 22

50km/h and do not overtake

Question 23

Where does aquaplanning occurs?

Answer 23

It occurs in places where roads are covered with water

Aquaplanning describes the phenomenom when there is a build of a layer of water on the road resulting in reduced traction.

Question 24

What to do when there are severe crosswinds?

Answer 24

Adjust your speed if you run into severe crosswinds –> wind may blow you to the side –> important to keep the car on course

Motorways are most likely effected, especially when..

1. On bridges and flyovers
2. Noise barrier ends
3. in areas where there is a lot of variation in landscapes

Question 25

What are the main precautions you should take when you are driving in heavy fog?

Answer 25

1. Increase distance with the vehicle in front 2. Reduce your speed 3. Do not overtake 4. Turn on fog lights 5. If needed, turn on rear fog lights 6. Use the side of the road as a guidline If visibility is only 30 metres --\> do not drive faster than 30km/h

Question 26

How to join traffic on the motorway when there is fog?

Answer 26

Enter the motorway with reduced speed

Question 27

What does the 2 second rule turn into when there is fog?

Answer 27

3 second rule --\> you should keep a distance of 3 seconds from the vehicle you are following

Question 28

What lane should you use on the motorway in case of dense fog?

Answer 28

Stay in the right lane as much as possible --\> so you can use the hard shoulder in an emergency Not advisable to overtake

Question 29

how to classify heavy fog?

Answer 29

Heavy fog is a fog with a visibility of less than 50m

Question 30

When should you use your rear fog lights?

Answer 30

In the event of heavy fog, turn on your rear fog lights --\> preferably only one Do not turn them on if it is raining or if it is not heavy fog Also wise to turn off your fog lights if you find yourself in a traffic jam

Question 31

Under what circumstances should you use your front fog lights?

Answer 31

Heavy fog --\> allowed to use fog light in combination with dipped headlights Fog lamps only used in conditions where coniditons seriously obstruct your view --\> visibility less than 200m

Question 32

Precautions when driving in heavy snowfall/icy roads?

Answer 32

Before driving clear snow from car Risks 1. Approach traffic lights/right of way signs/stop signs with extra caution 2. Keep a larger distance --\> Braking distance increases 3. Reduce your speed --\> e.g. in built up area speed bumps may be hidden by the snow 4. Lane changing done differently --\> lane/road hasn't really be used --\> still covered in snow? --\> approach at a slower speed 5. Brake sooner 6. Use adjusted lighting

Question 33

Should you use your main beam during snow fall?

Answer 33

No --\> dipped headlights --\> you can also use it in combination with your front fog lights if visibility is impeded

Question 34

What could slow drivers in the winter in coming traffic signify?

Answer 34

Could be a signal that the road ahead is slippery --\> adjust your speed

Question 35

Are winter tyres compulsary in the Netherlands?

Answer 35

No In regions abroad in mountainous regions you may be required to use snow chains Note --\> Snow chains are prohibited in the Netherlands even when the roads are covered in a thick layer of snow

Question 36

Advantage of using winter tyres in the winter? Disadvantage of using winter tyres in the summer?

Answer 36

In winter Winter tyres --\> Increase tyre contact surface with the road --\> more grip + softer rubber composition which alows for the tyre to remain more supple and eleastic at lower temperatures In summer Winter tyres --\> increased breaking distance and reduced road handling + large rolling distance results in higher fuel consumption --\> not designed for dry roads and high temps