Bad Weather & Night Driving — New York
New York permit practice test: 488 free practice questions (128 official sample questions · Official driver handbook). Official test format: Class D: 20 Q, pass 14 incl. >=2 of 4 sign Qs. Bad Weather & Night Driving: 38 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 York Car learner's permit test (Class D) |
| Topic questions | 38 (8% of 488 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
dmv.ny.gov ✓ Verified from official source
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Questions (38)
1. This sign (slippery when wet) means:
- Don't drink if you are going to drive
- Slippery when wet ✓
- Road curves ahead
- You are approaching a hill
Answer: B. Slippery when wet
2. When driving at night, it is most important for you to:
- Use your high beams at all times
- Drive within range of your headlights ✓
- Be ready to brake more quickly
- Watch for cars at intersections
Answer: B. Drive within range of your headlights
At night, the most important thing is to drive within the range of your headlights. The manual explains that darkness cuts how far ahead and to the side you can see, so you should go slower than in daylight. It says your headlights cover about 350 feet ahead, and you should choose a speed that lets you stop safely inside that distance. That is what driving within the range of your headlights means. The answer is not about always using high beams or simply reacting faster; it is about keeping your speed matched to the visible distance.
3. Your car starts to skid on a slippery road. You should:
- Brake quickly and keep the wheel straight
- Lock your brakes until you have come to a complete stop
- Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go ✓
- Steer toward the side of the road to get off the wet pavement
Answer: C. Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go
Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. The manual's skid recovery rule is to aim the steering wheel toward the direction the car is headed. A left slide calls for left steering; a right slide calls for right steering. For a front-wheel skid, it says to wait for traction to return, then point the wheel where you want to go. Hard braking with regular brakes is described as making things worse, so steering with the skid is the supported answer.
4. When you drive at night, you can reduce the problem of glare from the headlights of an approaching car by:
- Looking to the lower right side of your lane ✓
- Having the inside lights on to make the amount of light equal
- Looking at the spot on the lower edge of the steering wheel
- Wearing glasses with lightly tinted lenses
Answer: A. Looking to the lower right side of your lane
Look to the lower right side of your lane to reduce glare from an approaching car's headlights. The manual says that when approaching headlights glare at you, you should move your eyes to the right and use the road edge as a guide until the other vehicle passes. That is what looking toward the lower right side of your lane does: it takes your gaze away from the bright lights and gives you a steady edge to follow. The manual also says light from inside the vehicle makes it harder to see the road ahead, so keeping the interior light off is part of seeing better at night.
5. Motorists should be aware that all bicycles used after dark must have:
- Reflective handlebar grips
- A front headlight and red taillight ✓
- White reflectors on the front and rear fenders
- Brake lights
Answer: B. A front headlight and red taillight
A bicycle ridden after dark must have a front headlight and a red taillight, so the correct choice is the one naming both lights. The New York State Driver's Manual, in its chapter on sharing the road with bicyclists, says a bicycle used at night must have a headlight that can be seen from at least 500 feet ahead and a red taillight that can be seen from at least 300 feet behind. That is the exact pair the question asks about: a light in front for the rider to be seen and to see ahead, and a red light at the back. The other listed items are not what the manual gives as the nighttime requirement for bicycles, so the choice naming a front headlight and a red taillight is the one that matches.
6. When attempting to stop on a slippery road, the best action to take is:
- Apply the brakes quickly and firmly
- Apply the brakes in slow, steady strokes ✓
- Shift to a lower gear, do not use the brakes
- Shift into neutral, do not use the brakes
Answer: B. Apply the brakes in slow, steady strokes
To stop on a slippery road, apply the brakes in slow, steady strokes. The handbook's winter driving section says that to prevent skids on snow and ice, you should brake early, carefully, and gently. It tells you to press the brakes in slow, steady strokes and let the wheels keep turning. If the wheels begin to lock up, you reduce pressure on the pedal. That guidance points directly to slow, steady braking rather than a fast, hard stop. The same passage warns that hard braking with regular brakes makes the situation worse.
7. Night driving is dangerous because:
- Some traffic signs are less visible at night
- More vehicles are on the road at night
- The distance we can see ahead is reduced ✓
- Street lights tend to blur our vision
Answer: C. The distance we can see ahead is reduced
Night driving is dangerous because the distance you can see ahead is reduced. The handbook says straight out that night driving is more dangerous because the distance you can see ahead or to the side is reduced. It explains that about 90% of your decisions are based on what you see, so less visibility means less time to spot trouble. Your headlights cover only about 350 feet ahead, so you should slow down and drive at a speed that lets you stop safely within that distance.
8. When you drive in heavy fog during daylight hours you should drive with your:
- Headlights off
- Parking lights on
- Headlights on low beam ✓
- Headlights on high beam
Answer: C. Headlights on low beam
Drive with your headlights on low beam. The manual says that in fog you need your headlights on, and it warns that high beams bounce light back off fog, rain, or snow and make it harder to see. For better visibility in these conditions, it tells you to keep the headlights on low beam. It also says parking lights and daytime running lights are not a substitute for headlights. So low beam is the setting that lets you see as well as possible while still being visible.
9. When driving in rain, you must:
- Use low beam headlights. ✓
- Use high beam headlights.
- Use parking lights.
- Use no lights.
Answer: A. Use low beam headlights.
When driving in rain, you must use low beam headlights. The New York manual says to turn on your headlights when you use your windshield wipers to clear rain, snow, or sleet. It also says parking lights and daytime running lights are not a replacement for headlights. For high beams, the manual says to be considerate and requires low beam when you are close to an oncoming vehicle or one ahead. That supports low beam as the proper headlight setting in rain rather than high beam, parking lights, or no lights.
10. If oncoming headlights are blinding you while you are driving at night, you should:
- Look toward the right edge of the road. ✓
- Switch your lights to high beams.
- Turn your lights on and off.
Answer: A. Look toward the right edge of the road.
Look toward the right edge of the road to avoid the glare and use the road edge as a guide until the oncoming vehicle passes. New York's night driving guidance says that when approaching high beams cause glare, you should move your eyes to the right and use the road edge as a guide until the vehicle passes. Looking toward the right edge of the road does exactly that: it keeps your view away from the bright lights while you continue to track the edge of your lane. The manual also mentions keeping the windshield clean because dirt increases glare, but the specific action for oncoming lights is to direct your view to the right edge.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · 128 official sample questions · Official driver handbook