Understanding the Road Conditions, Protecting Yourself and Your Passengers, and Know How to Handle Emergencies Flashcards
(86 cards)
When driving at night
Make sure you can stop in the distance lit by your headlights and use your high beam headlights when possible do not use high beam headlights in areas where they are illegal
Dim your lights to avoid
Blinding the driver of an oncoming vehicle with your high-beam headlights
If another vehicle’s lights are too bright
1) Do not look directly into the oncoming headlights
2) Look toward the right edge of your lane
3) Watch the oncoming vehicle out of the corner of the eye
4) Do not react to the other driver by keeping your high beam headlights on and making it harder to see
When it is raining at night
Use your low-beam headlights, and do not drive using only your parking lights
When you drive at night, remember:
1) Pedestrians and bicyclists are much harder to see at night, and stay alert
2) Motorcycles are also harder to see at night
3) Highway construction can take place at night and reduce your speed
4) When you leave a brightly lit place, drive slowly until your eyes adjust to the darkness
5) When a vehicle with one light drives toward you, drive as far to the right as possible
Sun Glare
1) Keep the inside and outside of your windshield clean
2) Make sure your windshield wipers are in good working order
3) Maintain enough space between your vehicle and the vehicles around you
4) Try to avoid driving during sunrise and sunset
Rain and snow can make the roads slippery
Your tires will not have the grip they need and drive more slowly than you would on a dry road
Adjust your speed for different conditions:
1) Wet road: go 5 to 10 mph slower
2) Packed snow: Reduce your speed by half
3) Ice: Slow to a crawl
Shade from trees or buildings can hide icy spots on cold, wet days, and these area
Freeze first and dry out last
Bridges and overpasses tend to
Freeze before the rest of the road, and they can hide icy spot
If it starts to rain on a hot day, the pavement can be
Very slippery for the first several minutes
Slow down at the first sign of
Rain, drizzle, or snow on the road, and turn on windshield wipers, low-income headlight, and defroster
In heavy rainstorm or snowstorm
You may not be able to see more than 100 feet in front of your vehicle
If you cannot see farther than 100 feet
It is not safe to drive faster than 30 mph
You may have to stop from time to time
To wipe mud or snow off your windshield, headlights, and taillights
Slow down when there is
A lot of water on the road
If you drive faster than 50 mph in heavy rain
Your tires can lose all contact with the road, and your vehicle will be riding on the water, called “hydroplaning.”
If your vehicle starts to hydroplane
Slow down gradually and do not use the brakes
Excessive water on the road may cause flooding
This can happen gradually or suddenly
It is essential to understand the dangers of water on the road, including:
1) Being swept off the road
2) Floating debris and unseen hazards
3) The road collapsing
4) Vehicle malfunction, for example, brake failure
If you have no other option but to drive through the flooded road
Drive slowly
When driving in high winds:
1) Reduce your speed
2) Maintain a firm hand position on the steering wheel
3) Be alert
4) Do not use cruise control
5) Be proactive
If you must drive in heavy fog or smoke
1) Drive slowly
2) Use your low-beam headlights
3) Never drive using only parking or fog lights
4) Increase your following distance
5) Avoid crossing lanes or passing traffic unless necessary
6) Listen for traffic you cannot see
If the fog becomes too thick to drive safely
Consider pulling off the road, activate your emergency flashers, and wait for conditions to improve