Bad Weather & Night Driving — Michigan
Michigan CDL practice test: 371 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: 20 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 | Michigan CDL permit (CLP) knowledge tests |
| Topic questions | 20 (5% of 371 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 (20)
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Black ice is:
- Usually thick.
- Usually thin. ✓
- Not a hazard when driving.
Answer: B. Usually thin.
Black ice is usually thin — it is a thin, clear layer that lets you see the road underneath it. The handbook describes black ice as a thin layer that is clear enough to see the road underneath, which is why the road just looks wet. It also warns that any time the temperature is below freezing and the road looks wet, you should watch for black ice. So the layer itself is thin, not thick, and it is a real slipping hazard on cold, wet-looking pavement.
5. If a trailer begins to skid, it is best for the driver to:
- Release the brakes. ✓
- Accelerate.
- Quickly turn the steering wheel in one direction, then in the other.
Answer: A. Release the brakes.
When a trailer begins to skid, release the brakes. The handbook's procedure for stopping a trailer skid is to release the brakes. It explains that the trailer wheel brakes caused the skid, so letting them off lets the tires regain traction. Once the trailer wheels grip again, the trailer follows the tractor and straightens out. The handbook also says to watch the trailer in your mirrors during hard braking, because once it swings out of your lane a jackknife is hard to prevent. That is why getting traction back matters more than braking harder or steering sharply.
6. When driving at night, you should do all of the following, except:
- Make sure you are rested.
- Make sure your glasses are clean.
- Wear sunglasses. ✓
Answer: C. Wear sunglasses.
You should not wear sunglasses when driving at night. The night-driving section says to make sure you are rested and alert, and if you wear eyeglasses, to keep them clean and unscratched. It then says plainly not to wear sunglasses at night. So resting and clean glasses are recommended for night driving, while sunglasses are the one listed action you should not do. The passage gives the instruction directly and does not add a separate reason beyond it.
7. 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.
8. When driving on a wet road, you should reduce your speed by:
- About one-half.
- About one-third. ✓
- About one-quarter.
Answer: B. About one-third.
On a wet road, you should reduce your speed by about one-third. The handbook explains that wet roads can double your stopping distance, so you have to drive slower to stop within the same distance you would need on dry pavement. It gives a specific target for a wet road: cut your speed by roughly a third, slowing from 55 to about 35 mph. That is the wet-road figure, separate from the guidance for packed snow or ice.
9. On a slippery road, a driver should:
- Make turns as quickly as possible.
- Refrain from passing slower vehicles. ✓
- Stop quickly.
Answer: B. Refrain from passing slower vehicles.
On a slippery road, you should refrain from passing slower vehicles unless it is necessary. The handbook's slippery-surface section says to adjust speed to conditions and not to pass slower vehicles unless necessary. It also says to drive slowly and smoothly, take curves at slower speeds, and avoid braking harder than necessary. Because slippery roads reduce traction, passing adds unnecessary speed and movement when you should be keeping a steady, controlled pace. The bank answer matches that guidance.
10. 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.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook