Bad Weather & Night Driving — Alaska
Alaska CDL practice test: 416 free practice questions (Based on the official driver handbook). The official format is not yet verified; check the official site before your test. Bad Weather & Night Driving: 19 questions.
Rain, snow, ice, fog and night driving: visibility, traction and headlight use.
This topic page is still being reviewed against the official handbook. Until review is finished it is hidden from search engines.
| Topic / Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Topic | Bad Weather & Night Driving |
| License test | Alaska CDL permit (CLP) knowledge tests |
| Topic questions | 19 (5% of 416 total) |
| Review status | This topic page is still being reviewed against the official handbook. Until review is finished it is hidden from search engines. |
Official handbook
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Questions (19)
1. If you use the trailer hand brake while your trailer is skidding, it will:
- Stop the skid.
- Straighten the trailer.
- Continue the skid. ✓
Answer: C. Continue the skid.
Using the trailer hand brake while the trailer is skidding will continue the skid. The handbook says the trailer hand valve is for testing trailer brakes, not for use while driving. It warns that using it can make the trailer skid. When a trailer is already skidding, applying the hand brake does not fix it: the handbook says not to use it to straighten the rig because the trailer wheel brakes caused the skid in the first place. Releasing the brakes is what lets the wheels regain grip, after which the trailer follows the tractor and straightens out.
2. A thin layer of ice that forms on road surfaces is called:
- White ice.
- Black ice. ✓
- Blue ice.
Answer: B. Black ice.
A thin layer of ice on a road surface is called black ice. The handbook's slippery-road section defines black ice as a thin, clear layer that lets you see the pavement underneath. Because it is clear, it can make the road look wet instead of icy. The passage also warns that when the temperature is below freezing and the road looks wet, you should watch for black ice. That description matches the question exactly, so black ice is the correct term.
3. When driving in fog, you should:
- Slow down. ✓
- Speed up.
- Drive on the shoulder.
Answer: A. Slow down.
Slow down when driving in fog. The handbook warns that fog can appear without warning and visibility can drop fast. It says to be ready to reduce speed and to slow down before you enter fog. If fog is bad enough, it is better to pull off the road into a rest area or truck stop than to keep driving. That supports slowing down rather than trying to drive faster or treating the shoulder as a travel lane.
4. One way to prevent hydroplaning on wet road surfaces is to:
- Ensure that your tires have good tread depth. ✓
- Under-inflate your tires.
- Drive faster than usual.
Answer: A. Ensure that your tires have good tread depth.
One way to prevent hydroplaning is to ensure that your tires have good tread depth. The handbook's inspection section says low tread depth increases the effect of hydroplaning. It also lists tread depth as an inspection item, with minimum measurements in the major grooves. So keeping adequate tread is the supported way to reduce hydroplaning, not a tire pressure change or higher speed. The driving section also says wet roads call for lower speed because traction is reduced.
5. How do ice cream trucks become hazardous to other drivers?
- Ice cream trucks must be kept cold.
- Children often run toward an ice cream truck without looking for other traffic. ✓
- Ice cream trucks leave trails of water and ice on the roadway.
Answer: B. Children often run toward an ice cream truck without looking for other traffic.
Children make an ice cream truck hazardous because they often run toward it without looking for other traffic. The handbook lists someone selling ice cream as a hazard clue. It explains that children may be nearby and may not see you, and it also says children tend to act quickly without checking traffic. That combination is what makes the truck hazardous: the truck attracts children, and their attention may be on it rather than on other vehicles. The bank answer matches this idea by pointing to children moving toward the truck without looking for traffic.
6. When driving on packed snow, you should reduce your speed by:
- One-half or more. ✓
- About one-third.
- About one-quarter.
Answer: A. One-half or more.
When driving on packed snow, reduce your speed by one-half or more. The handbook pairs each road surface with a speed reduction. On a wet road, it says to cut speed by about one-third. For packed snow, it goes further and says to reduce speed by a half, or more. Slippery surfaces make stopping and turning harder, so you need to slow down to keep control. The packed snow guidance therefore matches the choice of one-half or more.
7. ____ is a thin layer of ice that forms on road surfaces.
- White ice
- Black ice ✓
- Green ice
Answer: B. Black ice
Black ice is a thin layer of ice that forms on road surfaces. The handbook describes black ice as a thin layer that is clear enough for you to see the road underneath it, so the road looks wet. It warns that any time the temperature is below freezing and the road looks wet, you should watch for black ice. The same section says that on an icy surface you should slow to a crawl and stop driving as soon as you can safely do so.
8. You are especially likely to encounter strong winds when:
- Coming out of tunnels. ✓
- Going into tunnels.
- Driving on shoulders.
Answer: A. Coming out of tunnels.
You are especially likely to meet strong winds when coming out of tunnels. The handbook's strong-wind section says strong winds make it hard to stay in your lane, and that this problem can be especially bad as you come out of a tunnel. That directly supports the answer. The passage does not tie the hazard to entering a tunnel or to driving on shoulders; it points to the moment you leave the sheltered tunnel and meet the wind.
9. If you must drive during periods of high winds, you should:
- Loosen your grip on the steering wheel.
- Increase your speed.
- Reduce your speed. ✓
Answer: C. Reduce your speed.
When you have to drive in high winds, reduce your speed. The handbook explains that higher speed makes the impact of a crash more severe and stretches out braking distance, and that slowing down shortens the distance you need to stop. It also advises not speeding up and notes it is safer to travel at a low speed than a high one. Wind pushes a tall vehicle around, so keeping your speed down leaves you more room to correct and stop if the gusts move you. The manual does not give a separate high-wind speed rule, but its general speed guidance points to slowing down.
10. When it is difficult to see other vehicles, such as at dawn or dusk, you should:
- Keep your lights off.
- Turn your lights on. ✓
- Drive on the shoulder.
Answer: B. Turn your lights on.
Turn your lights on when it is hard to see other vehicles, such as at dawn or dusk. The handbook says that at dawn, dusk, rain, or snow you need to make yourself easier to see. It adds that if you are having trouble seeing other vehicles, other drivers will have trouble seeing you. The instruction is to turn on your lights, using headlights rather than only identification or clearance lights, and to use low beams because high beams can bother people. That directly supports turning your lights on when visibility is poor.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook