Bad Weather & Night Driving — Arizona
Arizona CDL practice test: 413 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: 14 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 | Arizona CDL permit (CLP) knowledge tests |
| Topic questions | 14 (3% of 413 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 (14)
1. Roads are especially slippery right after it begins to rain because:
- The water mixes with oil and grease on the road. ✓
- Tires are not made to drive in wet weather.
- The water yet hasn't absorbed the dirt and grease.
Answer: A. The water mixes with oil and grease on the road.
Roads are especially slippery right after rain begins because the water mixes with oil and grease left on the road. The handbook says that just after it starts to rain, water mixes with oil left on the road by vehicles, making the road very slippery. If rain continues, it washes the oil away. That oil-and-water film reduces traction, and the handbook notes that slippery roads make stopping take longer and turning harder without skidding. So the first rain is the risky time, before the oil has been washed off.
2. On slippery roads, you should:
- Accelerate and slow down frequently.
- Adjust your driving to match weather conditions. ✓
- Tailgate other vehicles.
Answer: B. Adjust your driving to match weather conditions.
On slippery roads you should adjust your driving to match the weather conditions — slowing down and driving smoothly. The handbook says traction is the friction between your tires and the road, and slippery surfaces cut that traction so it takes longer to stop and is harder to turn without skidding. It tells you to drive slower on wet roads and much slower on snow or ice, to start gently, make turns gently, avoid hard braking, and allow a longer following distance. Matching your speed, turning, braking, and space to the conditions is exactly what adjusting your driving means.
3. When carrying Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosives, your vehicle should not be:
- Parked within 300 feet of a bridge. ✓
- Parked within 40 feet of the road.
- Driven in rain or snow.
Answer: A. Parked within 300 feet of a bridge.
You should not park within 300 feet of a bridge when carrying Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosives. The handbook's parking rule for these explosives forbids parking within 300 feet of a bridge, tunnel, building, place where people gather, or open fire, except for short operational stops such as fueling. It also says never park within five feet of the traveled part of the road. That makes the bridge-distance choice the one that matches the rule. The passages do not set a 40-foot road distance and do not ban driving in rain or snow.
4. When accelerating on a surface with poor traction, such as a wet road, a driver should:
- Speed up quickly.
- Speed up slowly. ✓
- Not be concerned about the pavement.
Answer: B. Speed up slowly.
On a wet or otherwise slippery road, you should speed up slowly. The handbook's advice for slippery surfaces is to drive slowly and smoothly, start gently and slowly, and get a feel for the road before hurrying. It also says to avoid having to slow down and speed up, and to keep a steady speed. On a wet road, those instructions point to easing into acceleration rather than making a quick increase. A slow, gentle speed-up fits the handbook's overall approach to low-traction conditions.
5. Hydroplaning:
- Rarely occurs with large trucks.
- Usually happens when vehicles are traveling faster than 65 mph.
- Can occur with a minimal amount of water on the roadway. ✓
Answer: C. Can occur with a minimal amount of water on the roadway.
Hydroplaning can occur with a minimal amount of water on the roadway. The handbook states that only a small amount of water is needed for hydroplaning, and it points to clear reflections, tire splashes, and raindrops as signs of standing water. It also says hydroplaning can happen at speeds as low as 30 mph when there is a lot of water, and that low tire pressure or worn tread makes it more likely. That supports water amount, not vehicle size or a high speed threshold, as the key condition.
6. 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.
7. The best way to recognize that your trailer has started to skid is by:
- Seeing other drivers' faces.
- Checking the trailer in your mirrors. ✓
- Feeling the trailer move.
Answer: B. Checking the trailer in your mirrors.
You recognize a trailer skid best by checking the trailer in your mirrors. The handbook puts mirror checks at the center of skid recognition. It says the earliest and best sign that the trailer has begun to skid is what you see in your mirrors. It also advises checking the mirrors any time you brake hard, so you can catch the trailer moving out of position early. The passage adds that once the trailer swings out of your lane, preventing a jackknife becomes very difficult. That is why watching the trailer in the mirrors is the reliable way to notice the skid.
8. 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.
9. Roads are especially slippery when it first begins to rain because:
- Water is always very slippery.
- The fresh rain mixes with oil on the roadway. ✓
- The water has nowhere to go.
Answer: B. The fresh rain mixes with oil on the roadway.
The correct answer is that the fresh rain mixes with oil on the roadway. The handbook says that right after rain starts, the water mixes with oil left on the road by vehicles, and this makes the road very slippery. It also says that if the rain continues, it will wash the oil away. So the first rain is the risky time because the oil is still there and gets mixed with the water, not because water by itself is always slippery or because it has nowhere to go. That is why the answer points to fresh rain mixing with roadway oil.
10. Skids caused by over-acceleration can usually be resolved by:
- Removing your foot from the accelerator. ✓
- Braking.
- Swerving to the right.
Answer: A. Removing your foot from the accelerator.
The correct action is to remove your foot from the accelerator. The Texas CDL handbook says the most common skid is a drive-wheel skid, where the rear wheels lose traction from too much braking or acceleration. For an acceleration-caused skid, it says easing off the gas can stop it easily. It adds that on very slippery surfaces you may push the clutch in so the engine does not keep the wheels from rolling freely and regaining traction. Braking or steering harder is not the remedy it gives for this kind of skid.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook