Bad Weather & Night Driving — Texas
Texas CDL practice test: 429 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: 24 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 | Texas CDL permit (CLP) knowledge tests |
| Topic questions | 24 (6% of 429 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 (24)
1. 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.
2. When other vehicles have trouble seeing you at dawn or dusk, you can increase your visibility by:
- Turning on your four-way flashers.
- Honking your horn.
- Turning on your headlights. ✓
- Turning on your windshield wipers.
Answer: C. Turning on your headlights.
Turning on your headlights is the way to increase your visibility to other drivers at dawn or dusk. The handbook says that at dawn, dusk, rain, or snow you need to make yourself easier to see. It points out that if you have trouble seeing other vehicles, they likely have trouble seeing you. The instruction is to turn on your lights, and specifically to use your headlights, not just the identification or clearance lights. It also says to use low beams because high beams can bother other people. Turning on your headlights helps other drivers notice your vehicle.
3. 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
4. An air supply control in its "emergency" position will:
- Turn on the air supply.
- Apply the trailer emergency brakes. ✓
- Prevent a skid.
- Accelerate the vehicle.
Answer: B. Apply the trailer emergency brakes.
An air supply control in the "emergency" position applies the trailer emergency brakes. The handbook describes the trailer air supply control as the valve you use to manage the tractor protection valve. Pushing it in sends air to the trailer; pulling it out cuts that air off and sets the trailer emergency brakes. The same section says the emergency position is for shutting off the air and applying those brakes, while normal is for pulling a trailer. That matches the answer.
5. Hydroplaning usually occurs:
- When tires are properly inflated.
- At speeds under 15 mph.
- In areas where water collects on the road. ✓
- During the evening.
Answer: C. In areas where water collects on the road.
Hydroplaning usually occurs in areas where water collects on the road, because standing water lets the tires lose contact with the pavement. The handbook explains that when water or slush collects on the road, your vehicle can hydroplane, and it compares this to water skiing: the tires lose their grip and you may not be able to steer or brake. It also tells you to watch for signs of standing water such as clear reflections, tire splashes, and raindrops on the road. Low tire pressure and worn tread make it more likely, since shallow grooves cannot carry the water away.
6. When preparing to drive in the winter, be sure to check:
- The coolant level.
- The defrosting and heating equipment.
- The windshield wipers.
- All of the above. ✓
Answer: D. All of the above.
You should check all of the above: the coolant level, the defrosting and heating equipment, and the windshield wipers. The handbook says to make a regular vehicle inspection before winter driving and pay extra attention to certain items. It lists checking the coolant level and antifreeze amount, making sure the defrosters and heater work, and making sure the windshield wiper blades are in good condition and the washers work. Since the question asks what to check and all three listed items are part of that winter inspection, the answer that includes all of them fits the handbook.
7. Why are roads especially slippery right after it begins to rain?
- The water mixes with oil and grease on the road. ✓
- Roads are naturally slippery.
- Gravel often gets washed to the middle of the lane.
- Tires are not usually designed to drive in rain.
Answer: A. The water mixes with oil and grease on the road.
The road is especially slippery right after rain begins because water mixes with oil and grease left on the road by vehicles. The handbook's slippery-surfaces section lists the time just after rain begins as its own hazard. It says the water mixes with oil left by vehicles, making the road very slippery, and that continuing rain washes the oil away. That explains why the first part of a rain is the slick part. The same section says wet roads can double stopping distance and that you must slow down to stop in the same distance as on a dry road.
8. ____ is a thin layer of ice that forms on road surfaces.
- White ice
- Black ice ✓
- Green ice
- Blue ice
Answer: B. Black ice
Black ice is the thin layer of ice that forms on road surfaces. The handbook describes black ice as a thin, clear layer that lets you see the road underneath it, which makes the road look wet. It also says that when the temperature is below freezing and the road looks wet, you should watch for black ice. That matches the definition in the question. The other choices are not used in the handbook for this road condition.
9. What is black ice?
- A thick layer of ice on the road
- A thin layer of ice on the road ✓
- Ice that is black from debris on the road
- Ice that is easily seen
Answer: B. A thin layer of ice on the road
Black ice is a thin layer of ice on the road that is clear enough to see the pavement underneath. The handbook describes black ice as a thin, clear coating that lets the pavement show through, so the road looks wet rather than icy. It also says to watch for black ice whenever the temperature is below freezing and the road looks wet. That matches a thin layer of ice on the road, not a thick slab or ice colored by debris.
10. 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.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook