When driving in bad weather, drivers should:
- Increase their speed to reach their final destination more quickly.
- Decrease their following distance.
- Increase their following distance. ✓
- None of the above.
Answer: C. Increase their following distance.
In bad weather, drivers should increase their following distance.
Why this is the answer
The Texas handbook says to slow down and increase the following distance when your vision is limited, and it warns not to over-drive your range of vision in the dark or in bad weather. It also says to adjust your speed and following distance for poor driving conditions. The winter-driving section makes the same point: leave more distance from the vehicle ahead so you have space to stop.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Increase their speed to reach their final destination more quickly. — Increasing speed in bad weather is wrong because the handbook says to slow down and adjust your speed to the conditions.
- B. Decrease their following distance. — Decreasing following distance is the opposite of the handbook's advice to leave more space and increase distance from the vehicle ahead.
- D. None of the above. — This is not correct because the handbook does give a clear instruction to increase following distance in bad weather.
Remember it
Think "bad weather, more room": the worse the conditions, the bigger the gap you leave.