Bad Weather & Night Driving — Indiana
Indiana CDL practice test: 431 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: 22 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 | Indiana CDL permit (CLP) knowledge tests |
| Topic questions | 22 (5% of 431 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 (22)
1. How much water must be present for a vehicle to hydroplane?
- Usually several inches
- A significant amount, such as a large puddle
- A small amount ✓
- None
Answer: C. A small amount
2. What is black ice?
- A thick layer of ice on the road
- A thin layer of ice on the road ✓
- Ice that is black from debris on the road
- Ice that is easily seen
Answer: B. A thin layer of ice on the road
Black ice is a thin layer of ice on the road that is clear enough to see the pavement underneath. The handbook describes black ice as a thin, clear coating that lets the pavement show through, so the road looks wet rather than icy. It also says to watch for black ice whenever the temperature is below freezing and the road looks wet. That matches a thin layer of ice on the road, not a thick slab or ice colored by debris.
3. ____ is a thin layer of ice that forms on road surfaces.
- White ice
- Black ice ✓
- Green ice
- Blue ice
Answer: B. Black ice
Black ice is the thin layer of ice that forms on road surfaces. The handbook describes black ice as a thin, clear layer that lets you see the road underneath it, which makes the road look wet. It also says that when the temperature is below freezing and the road looks wet, you should watch for black ice. That matches the definition in the question. The other choices are not used in the handbook for this road condition.
4. Hydroplaning occurs when:
- Tires lose traction with the surface of the road. ✓
- Tires have increased traction with the surface of the road.
- Front tires have more traction that rear tires.
- Front tires have less traction than rear tires.
Answer: A. Tires lose traction with the surface of the road.
Hydroplaning occurs when the tires lose traction with the road surface. The handbook describes hydroplaning as being like water skiing: water or slush collects on the road, and the tires lose their contact with the road and have little or no traction. When that happens, you may not be able to steer or brake. So the key fact is loss of traction between the tires and the road surface, not a change in which tires have more grip.
5. The best way to recognize that your trailer has begun to skid is by:
- Seeing other drivers' faces.
- Seeing it in your mirrors. ✓
- Feeling it.
- Listening to the radio.
Answer: B. Seeing it in your mirrors.
The best way to catch a trailer skid early is by seeing it in your mirrors. The handbook's trailer skid procedure starts with recognizing the skid, and it says the earliest and best way to notice the trailer has started to skid is by watching it in your mirrors. It adds that whenever you brake hard, you should check the mirrors to confirm the trailer is staying where it belongs, because once the trailer swings out of your lane a jackknife becomes very hard to prevent. So the skill it teaches is a visual habit: hard braking means a mirror check.
6. When encountering fog, you will be safest if you:
- Stay in the left lane.
- Don’t drive in the fog. ✓
- Use your low beam lights.
- Follow the vehicle ahead of you closely.
Answer: B. Don’t drive in the fog.
The safest choice is not to drive in the fog; pull off the road until visibility improves. The handbook's fog section says fog on highways can be extremely dangerous and visibility can drop fast. Its best advice for driving in fog is simply don't. It suggests pulling off into a rest area or truck stop until you can see better. The same section does tell you to use low-beam headlights and fog lights if you must drive, but that guidance comes after the main instruction to avoid driving in fog. So the safest answer is to stay out of the fog when you can.
7. To help your vehicle be seen by others:
- Your headlights should be clean. ✓
- Your headlights should be turned off during the day.
- Your headlights should be covered with grease.
- Your headlights should be used, but only in the rain.
Answer: A. Your headlights should be clean.
Keep your headlights clean so other drivers can see you. The handbook lists cleanliness as part of being seen, saying the lights you rely on to be seen easily must be clean and working properly. It repeats this for headlights specifically: dirty headlights may give only half the light they should, which cuts down what you can see and makes it harder for others to see you. The fix the manual gives is simple — make sure the lights are clean and working. Grease, dirt or anything else on the lens works against that goal.
8. With your low beam headlights turned on, you should be able to see about ____ ahead of your vehicle.
- 15 feet
- 75 feet
- 100 feet
- 250 feet ✓
Answer: D. 250 feet
With low beam headlights on, you should be able to see roughly 250 feet ahead. The handbook says headlights are usually your main light source at night, and you see much less than in daytime. It gives the low-beam sight distance as about 250 feet, while high beams reach about 350 to 500 feet. It also says you must go slowly enough to stop within the distance your lights let you see. That makes the 250-foot figure the one that fits this question.
9. When other vehicles have trouble seeing you at dawn or dusk, you can increase your visibility by:
- Turning on your four-way flashers.
- Honking your horn.
- Turning on your headlights. ✓
- Turning on your windshield wipers.
Answer: C. Turning on your headlights.
Turning on your headlights is the way to increase your visibility to other drivers at dawn or dusk. The handbook says that at dawn, dusk, rain, or snow you need to make yourself easier to see. It points out that if you have trouble seeing other vehicles, they likely have trouble seeing you. The instruction is to turn on your lights, and specifically to use your headlights, not just the identification or clearance lights. It also says to use low beams because high beams can bother other people. Turning on your headlights helps other drivers notice your vehicle.
10. When driving under wet conditions, what does a lack of spray from other vehicles indicate?
- Ice has formed on the road. ✓
- The pavement is dry.
- The spray is caught on the underside of the vehicle.
- The tires have soaked up all the moisture.
Answer: A. Ice has formed on the road.
A lack of spray from other vehicles means ice has formed on the road. The handbook's slippery-surface section tells you to check for ice, especially on bridges and overpasses, and states plainly that when other vehicles throw no spray, ice has formed. It also says to check your mirrors and wiper blades for ice, because ice there suggests the road is icy too. That sign should push you to slow down and drive smoothly, since the passage says slippery roads require gentle starts, gentle turns, and no harder braking than necessary.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook