You are driving when it begins to rain. You should:
- Drive faster than surrounding traffic.
- Drive at the maximum posted speed limit.
- Slow down. ✓
- Drive closely behind the vehicle in front of you.
Answer: C. Slow down.
When rain starts, slow down, because wet roads make stopping take longer and raise the risk of skidding.
Why this is the answer
The handbook's rain section tells you plainly to slow down when you turn on your wipers. It explains that roads turn slick in rain, especially after a dry spell when oil has built up, and that wet roads lengthen your braking distance. It also warns that speeding makes hydroplaning more likely, and hydroplaning means your tires lose contact with the road and you can lose control. Slowing down is the response that fits all of that.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Drive faster than surrounding traffic. — Driving faster than the traffic around you raises your speed, and the handbook ties speeding to a higher chance of hydroplaning and losing control on wet pavement.
- B. Drive at the maximum posted speed limit. — Holding the maximum posted speed ignores the handbook's instruction to slow down, and posted limits are not adjusted for slick roads or longer stopping distances.
- D. Drive closely behind the vehicle in front of you. — Following closely leaves less room, while the handbook says wet roads increase stopping distance and you should increase your following distance.
Remember it
Wipers on means slow down and leave more room, not more speed.