Bad Weather & Night Driving — Tennessee
Tennessee CDL practice test: 468 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: 28 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 | Tennessee CDL permit (CLP) knowledge tests |
| Topic questions | 28 (6% of 468 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 (28)
1. When carrying Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosives, your vehicle should not be:
- Parked within 300 feet of a bridge. ✓
- Parked within 40 feet of the road.
- Driven in rain or snow.
Answer: A. Parked within 300 feet of a bridge.
You should not park within 300 feet of a bridge when carrying Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosives. The handbook's parking rule for these explosives forbids parking within 300 feet of a bridge, tunnel, building, place where people gather, or open fire, except for short operational stops such as fueling. It also says never park within five feet of the traveled part of the road. That makes the bridge-distance choice the one that matches the rule. The passages do not set a 40-foot road distance and do not ban driving in rain or snow.
2. When you need to stop in an emergency, you should:
- Lock the wheels and skid to a stop.
- Stop in a way that keeps your vehicle in a straight line. ✓
- Stop in a way that turns your vehicle.
- Expect your vehicle to slow down more quickly than usual.
Answer: B. Stop in a way that keeps your vehicle in a straight line.
When you need to stop in an emergency, you should brake in a way that keeps your vehicle in a straight line. The handbook's quick-stop section says to brake so the vehicle stays straight and can still be steered if you need to turn. It gives two methods, controlled braking and stab braking. With controlled braking you press as hard as you can without locking the wheels, keep steering movements small, and release and re-apply the brakes if the wheels lock or you need a bigger steering change. Staying straight keeps you able to steer around the problem and avoids a skid.
3. 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.
4. If you use the trailer hand brake while your trailer is skidding, it will:
- Stop the skid.
- Straighten the trailer.
- Continue the skid. ✓
Answer: C. Continue the skid.
Using the trailer hand brake while the trailer is skidding will continue the skid. The handbook says the trailer hand valve is for testing trailer brakes, not for use while driving. It warns that using it can make the trailer skid. When a trailer is already skidding, applying the hand brake does not fix it: the handbook says not to use it to straighten the rig because the trailer wheel brakes caused the skid in the first place. Releasing the brakes is what lets the wheels regain grip, after which the trailer follows the tractor and straightens out.
5. Of the following, which is the most slippery surface?
- Ice that is dry
- Ice that is wet ✓
- Wet pavement
Answer: B. Ice that is wet
Wet ice is the most slippery of the choices; the handbook says wet ice is much more slippery than ice that is not wet. The handbook lists melting ice as a sign of a slippery road. It explains that slight melting makes ice wet, and that wet ice is much more slippery than ice that is not wet. That directly supports choosing wet ice over dry ice. It also says wet roads can double stopping distance, so wet pavement is slippery too, but the handbook's direct comparison is between wet ice and ice that is not wet.
6. 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.
7. A skid caused by acceleration can likely be solved by:
- Removing your foot from the accelerator. ✓
- Braking.
- Swerving to the right.
- Swerving to the left.
Answer: A. Removing your foot from the accelerator.
To recover from a skid caused by acceleration, remove your foot from the accelerator. The handbook says acceleration-caused skids usually happen on ice or snow, and that taking your foot off the accelerator can easily stop them. It explains that a drive-wheel skid is when the rear wheels lose traction from too much braking or acceleration. For the acceleration type, easing off the power lets the wheels roll freely and regain traction; on very slippery surfaces the handbook adds pushing in the clutch so the engine does not keep the wheels from rolling.
8. 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.
9. On a wet road, you should reduce your speed:
- By about one-half.
- By about one-third. ✓
- By about one-quarter.
- By about one-eighth.
Answer: B. By about one-third.
On a wet road, reduce your speed by about one-third. The handbook says traction is friction between the tires and the road, and wet roads can double stopping distance. Because it takes longer to stop and is harder to turn without skidding, you need to drive slower to stop in the same distance as on a dry road. The handbook specifically says to reduce speed by about one-third on a wet road, giving an example of slowing from 55 to about 35 mph. That directly supports reducing speed by about one-third.
10. 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. ✓
- Discouraged.
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 plainly that you are at greater risk at night. Drivers cannot see hazards as quickly as they can in daylight, so they get less time to respond, and drivers caught by surprise are less able to avoid a crash. The same section adds that most people are less alert at night, especially after midnight, and that people who drive at night are much more likely to have fall-asleep crashes.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook