Bad Weather & Night Driving — California
California DMV practice test: 617 free practice questions (38 official sample questions · Official driver handbook). The official format is not yet verified; check the official site before your test. Bad Weather & Night Driving: 58 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 | California Car learner's permit test (Class C) |
| Topic questions | 58 (9% of 617 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
Not yet verified
Advertisement
Questions (58)
1. Which of the following is an example of a safe driving practice?
- Staring only at the middle of the road.
- Always keep your eyes moving to scan the surroundings. ✓
- Using your high-beam headlights in the fog
Answer: B. Always keep your eyes moving to scan the surroundings.
Always keeping your eyes moving to scan the surroundings is the safe driving practice. The handbook says that to drive safely you need to know what is around you, which helps you make good decisions and react to hazards. It tells drivers to keep their eyes moving and scan the road at least 10 seconds ahead instead of making last-minute moves. An active scan gives you time to react, while a fixed stare does not tell you what is happening to the sides or behind you.
2. How many feet away should you switch from high beam to low beam headlights when approaching a vehicle coming towards you?
- 900 feet.
- 700 feet.
- 500 feet. ✓
Answer: C. 500 feet.
Switch from high beams to low beams when an approaching vehicle is within 500 feet. The California handbook states that when a vehicle is coming toward you, you dim your high beams to low beams within 500 feet. That distance is the rule the question is testing. The same passage gives a different distance for following another vehicle, but the question asks about an approaching vehicle, so the approaching-vehicle figure applies.
3. At what point during a rainfall are roads slippery on a hot day?
- Immediately after it has stopped raining.
- For the first several minutes. ✓
- When it has been raining for a few hours.
Answer: B. For the first several minutes.
Roads are slippery during the first several minutes of rain on a hot day, so slow down as soon as the rain starts. The California handbook warns that when rain begins, the pavement can be very slippery, especially after a long dry and hot spell. Oil and dust have built up on the road surface and have not yet been washed away, so traction is poor at the start. That is why the answer points to the first several minutes rather than later in the rain or after it stops. The handbook says to slow down at the first sign of rain, drizzle, or snow.
4. Which lights should be used if a driver is having trouble seeing other vehicles because of dust or smoke blowing across the roadway?
- Parking lights.
- Emergency lights.
- Headlights. ✓
Answer: C. Headlights.
Use your headlights when dust or smoke blowing across the road makes it hard to see other vehicles. The California handbook says to turn on your headlights when conditions such as clouds, dust, smoke, or fog prevent you from seeing other vehicles. Headlights help you see ahead and help other drivers see you. The same section also says it is illegal to drive using only parking lights, so parking lights are not the right choice for this situation.
5. When driving in fog, you should:
- Slow down and use your low beam headlights. ✓
- Slow down and use your high beam headlights.
- Turn your lights on and off to warn other drivers.
Answer: A. Slow down and use your low beam headlights.
When driving in fog, slow down and use your low-beam headlights. The handbook's fog guidance says to drive slowly and to use low beams, because high beams bounce back off the fog and create glare. It also says to turn on low beams whenever you need your wipers because of fog, rain, or snow, and to never drive with only parking or fog lights. Slowing down pairs with the handbook's advice to keep your stopping distance inside the space you can actually see ahead.
6. When driving in fog, you should use your:
- Fog lights only.
- High beams.
- Low beams. ✓
Answer: C. Low beams.
In fog, use your low-beam headlights. The handbook's fog advice says to drive slowly and use low beams, because high beams bounce off the fog and create glare in your eyes. It also says never to drive using only your parking lights or fog lights, so low beams are the required choice. The headlight section repeats the same idea for bad weather: if you need your wipers for fog, rain, or snow, your low beams must be on.
7. When driving in fog, it is best to drive with:
- High beam headlights.
- Low beam headlights. ✓
- Four-way flashers.
Answer: B. Low beam headlights.
When driving in fog, use low-beam headlights. The handbook says that in heavy fog or smoke you should drive slowly and use your low-beam headlights. It explains that high beams reflect back and cause glare, which makes it harder to see. The same section says that if the fog becomes too thick to drive safely, you should pull off the road, activate your emergency flashers, and wait for conditions to improve. That means flashers are for when you are stopped, not for normal driving in fog.
8. When driving under low-visibility conditions due to fog, you should:
- Turn on your high beam headlights.
- Slow down and use your low beam headlights. ✓
- Increase your speed so you do not cause an accident.
Answer: B. Slow down and use your low beam headlights.
When fog cuts your visibility, slow down and switch on your low-beam headlights. The handbook's fog section says to drive slowly and use low beams, because high beams bounce light back off the fog and create glare. It also says to make sure you can stop within the distance you can see ahead and to leave more space between you and the car in front. Slowing down and using low beams work together: low beams keep the light from blinding you, and a lower speed lets you stop in the space you can actually see.
9. Which of the following is true about roadways on bridges and overpasses in cold, wet weather?
- They tend to freeze before the rest of the road does. ✓
- They do not freeze because they are made of concrete.
- They tend to freeze after the rest of the road does.
Answer: A. They tend to freeze before the rest of the road does.
In cold, wet weather, bridge and overpass surfaces tend to ice up sooner than other parts of the roadway. The handbook lists bridges and overpasses among places that can be more slippery, and it says they tend to freeze ahead of the rest of the road. It also warns that they can have icy spots. So when the weather is cold and wet, expect those surfaces to become slick before other road sections do.
10. Which of these is a safe driving technique?
- Using your high beam lights in the fog.
- Staring at the road ahead of your vehicle.
- Checking your rearview mirrors frequently. ✓
Answer: C. Checking your rearview mirrors frequently.
Advertisement
Source
Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Not yet verified
Updated: · 38 official sample questions · Official driver handbook