Bad Weather & Night Driving — North Carolina
North Carolina CDL practice test: 460 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: 15 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 | North Carolina CDL permit (CLP) knowledge tests |
| Topic questions | 15 (3% of 460 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 (15)
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. If driving in a foggy area, you should not:
- Decrease your speed.
- Increase your speed. ✓
- Use your low beam headlights.
- Turn on your four-way flashers.
Answer: B. Increase your speed.
You should not increase your speed in fog; slowing down is what the handbook tells you to do. The fog section warns that visibility can drop quickly and that you should not count on the fog thinning out once you are in it. It tells you to slow down before you enter fog, to use low-beam headlights and fog lights for the best visibility even in daytime, and, if you can, to pull off at a rest area or truck stop until you can see better. The stopping-distance section backs this up: faster speed means longer braking distance and a harder impact. Speeding up works against both, so it is the thing to avoid.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. ____ is a thin layer of ice that forms on road surfaces.
- White ice
- Black ice ✓
- Soft ice
- Sharp ice
Answer: B. Black ice
Black ice is the thin layer of ice that can form on road surfaces. The handbook lists black ice among the signs of slippery roads. It describes black ice as a thin layer that is clear enough for the road to show through, so the pavement can look wet. It warns that when the temperature is below freezing and the road looks wet, you should watch for black ice. That matches the description in the question, while the other choices are not names the handbook uses for this road condition.
7. Using the trailer hand valve while driving:
- Will help you turn safely.
- Will stop your trailer safely.
- Can cause a skid. ✓
- Is impossible.
Answer: C. Can cause a skid.
Using the trailer hand valve while driving can cause a skid. The handbook says the trailer hand valve (also called the trolley valve or Johnson bar) should be used only to test the trailer brakes. You should not use it in driving, because it creates a danger of making the trailer skid. The foot brake applies air to all the brakes on the vehicle, including the trailer, and the handbook states there is much less danger of a skid or jackknife with the foot brake alone. That is why the hand valve stays a testing tool, not a driving control.
8. When entering a foggy area, you should:
- Stop on the side of the roadway.
- Pass other vehicles.
- Slow down. ✓
- Use your high beam headlights.
Answer: C. Slow down.
When you enter a foggy area, you should slow down. The handbook says fog is often unexpected and visibility can drop fast, so you should watch for it and be ready to reduce speed. Its specific instruction is to slow down before you enter the fog, and it warns you not to count on the fog thinning out once you are inside it. It also says the best choice is not to drive in fog at all, and if you must, to obey fog warning signs and use low-beam headlights and fog lights for the best visibility, even in daytime.
9. Which of the following is not an example of a driver who might be a hazard?
- A driver operating a vehicle without first scraping ice off the windshield
- The operator of a rental truck
- The driver of a station wagon with items covering the back windows
- A person operating a pick-up truck ✓
Answer: D. A person operating a pick-up truck
10. Hydroplaning:
- Only occurs at extremely high speeds.
- Can occur at speeds as slow as 30 mph. ✓
- Happens most frequently when tire pressure is too high.
- Happens most frequently when tires have good tread.
Answer: B. Can occur at speeds as slow as 30 mph.
Hydroplaning can occur at speeds as slow as 30 mph when there is a lot of water on the road. The handbook says it does not take much water to cause hydroplaning, and that it can happen at speeds as low as 30 mph if there is a lot of water. So speed alone does not protect you; a slow-moving truck can still lose contact with the road on a wet surface. The same passage adds that low tire pressure and worn tread make hydroplaning more likely, which points to keeping tires properly inflated and checking tread.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook