Bad Weather & Night Driving — New Hampshire
New Hampshire CDL practice test: 461 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: 26 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 | New Hampshire CDL permit (CLP) knowledge tests |
| Topic questions | 26 (6% of 461 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
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Questions (26)
1. How much water must be present for a vehicle to hydroplane?
- Usually several inches
- A good amount, such as a large puddle
- A small amount ✓
Answer: C. A small amount
2. If the trailer begins to skid, it is best to:
- Release the brakes. ✓
- Accelerate.
- Quickly turn the steering wheel one way, then the other.
- Brake.
Answer: A. Release the brakes.
If the trailer begins to skid, release the brakes. The handbook's rule for correcting a braking skid is to stop braking, because that lets the rear wheels roll again instead of sliding. It also warns that quick steering while braking can cause a rollover, and that over steering, over accelerating, or over braking can start a skid. For a trailer skid, the handbook says you must act to restore traction to the wheels. Releasing the brakes fits that instruction: it lets the wheels roll again so you can regain control. The passages do not say to speed up or saw the wheel back and forth as a trailer-skid fix.
3. What happens when a vehicle hydroplanes?
- The tires lose contact with the road. ✓
- The trailer disengages from the tractor.
- The vehicle becomes easier to control.
Answer: A. The tires lose contact with the road.
The tires lose contact with the road. The handbook compares hydroplaning to water skiing: water or slush builds up and the tires stop touching the pavement. With little or no traction, you may not be able to steer or brake. That matches the choice saying the tires lose contact with the road. The handbook also warns not to use the brakes to slow down while hydroplaning, and says low tire pressure or worn tread makes hydroplaning more likely.
4. If your vehicle is hydroplaning, you should:
- Use the accelerator.
- Not use the brakes. ✓
- Put the vehicle in a higher gear.
Answer: B. Not use the brakes.
5. Hydroplaning usually occurs:
- When tires are properly inflated.
- When driving at speeds slower than 15 mph.
- In areas where water collects on the road. ✓
Answer: C. In areas where water collects on the road.
Hydroplaning usually occurs in areas where water collects on the road. The handbook says that when water or slush collects on the road, your vehicle can hydroplane. The tires lose contact with the road and have little or no traction, so you may not be able to steer or brake. It also says road surfaces where water can collect create conditions for hydroplaning, and you should watch for signs of standing water such as clear reflections and tire splashes. Low tire pressure or worn tread makes hydroplaning more likely.
6. Which of the following is most likely to result in hydroplaning?
- Using tires with worn tread ✓
- Using properly inflated tires
- Using new tires
- Traveling at speeds under 10 mph
Answer: A. Using tires with worn tread
Using tires with worn tread is the choice most likely to lead to hydroplaning. The handbook says hydroplaning becomes more likely when tire pressure is low or the tread is worn. It explains that the grooves in a tire carry water away, so shallow grooves do not clear water well. A worn tire therefore fits the condition the handbook ties to hydroplaning. A separate inspection section also says low tread depth increases the effect of hydroplaning. That makes worn tread the best match among these choices.
7. When it is difficult to see other vehicles, such as at dawn or dusk, you should:
- Keep your lights off.
- Turn your lights on. ✓
- Drive on the shoulder.
Answer: B. Turn your lights on.
Turn your lights on when it is hard to see other vehicles, such as at dawn or dusk. The handbook says that at dawn, dusk, rain, or snow you need to make yourself easier to see. It adds that if you are having trouble seeing other vehicles, other drivers will have trouble seeing you. The instruction is to turn on your lights, using headlights rather than only identification or clearance lights, and to use low beams because high beams can bother people. That directly supports turning your lights on when visibility is poor.
8. 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.
9. ____ are the most likely to be affected by strong winds.
- Light vehicles ✓
- Heavy vehicles
- Vehicles with open windows
Answer: A. Light vehicles
Light vehicles are the most likely to be affected by strong winds. The driving-safely section explains that strong winds make it hard to stay in your lane, and it says the problem is usually worse for lighter vehicles. That matches the bank answer: lower weight means wind pushes the vehicle around more easily. The passage also mentions this can be especially bad coming out of tunnels, but the key comparison is light versus heavy. The school-bus section warns that wind can push a bus sideways, but it does not compare vehicle weights.
10. 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.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook