Bad Weather & Night Driving — Nebraska
Nebraska CDL practice test: 476 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: 32 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 | Nebraska CDL permit (CLP) knowledge tests |
| Topic questions | 32 (7% of 476 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 (32)
1. What is a concern immediately after it begins raining?
- The water will mix with grease and oil on the road, making the roadway slippery. ✓
- A driver may forget where the windshield wiper lever is located.
- It may stop raining.
- People will be using their windshield wipers needlessly.
Answer: A. The water will mix with grease and oil on the road, making the roadway slippery.
Right after rain begins, the water mixes with oil left on the road by vehicles, which makes the road very slippery. The handbook lists "Just After Rain Begins" as one of the signs of a slippery road: the first rain mixes with oil that vehicles have dripped onto the pavement, and that mixture makes the surface very slippery. It also notes that if the rain keeps falling, it washes the oil away, so the worst slipperiness is at the start. Since traction is just friction between tires and road, losing it means longer stopping and harder turning, so you should slow down and expect trouble as the first rain arrives.
2. 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.
3. When it is difficult to see, such as at dawn or dusk, what is the best way to make your vehicle more visible?
- Use your high beam lights.
- Use your low beam lights. ✓
- Use only your clearance lights.
- Do not use any lights.
Answer: B. Use your low beam lights.
When it is hard to see, use your low beam headlights, not just the clearance lights. The handbook's section on communicating your presence says that at dawn, dusk, in rain or snow you should make yourself easier to see because if you struggle to see other vehicles, they will struggle to see you. It tells you to turn on your headlights rather than only the identification or clearance lights, and to use the low beams, since high beams can bother people in the daytime as well as at night. So low beams are the recommended choice for poor visibility.
4. The trailer hand valve should not be used while you are driving because:
- It will disconnect from the vehicle.
- You will stop the vehicle too quickly.
- It can cause a skid. ✓
Answer: C. It can cause a skid.
The trailer hand valve should not be used while driving because it can cause the trailer to skid. The handbook says the trailer hand valve, also called the trolley valve or Johnson bar, works the trailer brakes and should be used only to test them. It warns that using it while driving creates a danger of making the trailer skid. The foot brake sends air to all the brakes, including the trailer's, and the handbook says there is much less chance of a skid or jackknife when you use just the foot brake.
5. The best way to notice if a trailer has begun to skid is to:
- Ask another driver.
- Use your mirrors to determine if the trailer has left the lane. ✓
- Look at the skid sensor.
- Feel the tractor move.
Answer: B. Use your mirrors to determine if the trailer has left the lane.
The best way to notice if a trailer has begun to skid is to use your mirrors to see if the trailer has left the lane. The handbook says the earliest and best way to recognize a trailer skid is by seeing it in your mirrors. When you brake hard, check the mirrors to make sure the trailer stays in place. If the trailer swings out of your lane, it becomes very hard to prevent a jackknife. So watching the mirrors gives you the first sign of a skid.
6. Which of the following surfaces provides the least amount of traction?
- Ice that is dry
- Ice that is wet ✓
- Wet pavement
- Dry pavement
Answer: B. Ice that is wet
Wet ice provides the least traction. The handbook explains that slight melting makes ice wet, and once ice is wet it has far less grip than ice that stays dry. It also treats icy surfaces as the most serious case, telling drivers to slow to a crawl and stop as soon as they safely can. Wet pavement is slippery enough to stretch stopping distance and calls for a partial speed reduction, but the handbook does not rank it as bad as ice. Dry pavement is the normal surface used for comparison.
7. If your vehicle is hydroplaning, you should:
- Speed up.
- Not apply the brakes. ✓
- Put the vehicle in reverse.
- Turn the steering wheel as hard as possible.
Answer: B. Not apply the brakes.
8. Driving at night is:
- Safer than driving during the day.
- Just as safe as driving during the day.
- More dangerous than driving during the day. ✓
Answer: C. More dangerous than driving during the day.
Driving at night is more dangerous than driving during the day. The handbook opens its night-driving section by saying you are at greater risk after dark. In daylight you can spot hazards sooner; at night you cannot see them as quickly, so you have less time to react. A driver caught by surprise is less able to avoid a crash. The handbook also ties night driving to glare and fatigue, which impair vision and judgment. That combination supports the answer that night driving is more dangerous than daytime driving.
9. When should you watch out for black ice?
- When it is snowing
- When the temperature is below freezing and the road looks wet ✓
- When the temperature is above freezing and there is snow on the ground
- Just after a rainstorm
Answer: B. When the temperature is below freezing and the road looks wet
Watch for black ice whenever the temperature is below freezing and the road looks wet. The handbook describes black ice as a thin, clear layer that lets the pavement show through, so the surface can look wet rather than icy. It gives a simple rule: whenever the temperature is below freezing and the road appears wet, black ice is a hazard to watch for. That matches the condition in the correct choice: below-freezing temperatures plus a wet-looking road.
10. How much water needs to be on the surface of a road for a vehicle to hydroplane?
- Usually several inches
- A good amount, such as a large puddle
- A small amount ✓
- None
Answer: C. A small amount
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook