Bad Weather & Night Driving — Utah
Utah CDL practice test: 477 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: 25 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 | Utah CDL permit (CLP) knowledge tests |
| Topic questions | 25 (5% of 477 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
Not yet verified
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Questions (25)
1. Hydroplaning:
- Rarely happens to trucks.
- Usually happens when vehicles are traveling at speeds above 65 mph.
- Can occur with a minimal amount of water on the roadway. ✓
Answer: C. Can occur with a minimal amount of water on the roadway.
Hydroplaning can occur with a minimal amount of water on the roadway. The handbook says it does not take much water to cause hydroplaning, so a small amount on the road can be enough. It describes hydroplaning as the tires losing contact with the road and having little or no traction, which can leave you unable to steer or brake. The same passage also notes it can happen at speeds as low as 30 mph when there is a lot of water, so high speed is not required. That makes the minimal-water statement the one that matches the handbook.
2. 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.
3. ____ 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.
4. A thin layer of ice that forms on road surfaces is called:
- White ice.
- Black ice. ✓
- Green ice.
- Blue ice.
Answer: B. Black ice.
The thin layer of ice on a road surface is called black ice. The handbook describes black ice as a thin, clear layer that lets you see the pavement under it and makes the road look wet. It says to watch for black ice whenever the temperature is below freezing and the road looks wet. That description matches the question exactly, so the thin layer of ice is called black ice.
5. 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.
6. Which of the following could reduce the amount of space between the road surface and an overhead object, such as a bridge?
- A repaving of the road ✓
- Wind
- An increased amount of traffic
- Rain
Answer: A. A repaving of the road
A repaving of the road can reduce the clearance between the road surface and an overhead object such as a bridge. The handbook warns that the height posted at a bridge or overpass may no longer be accurate. New pavement can make the road surface higher, which leaves less room between your vehicle and the overhead object. That is why you should not simply trust the posted clearance. The passage gives repaving as the example of a change that can shrink overhead space, so the road-work choice fits directly.
7. 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.
8. Skids caused by acceleration can usually be resolved by:
- Speeding up.
- Taking your foot off the accelerator. ✓
- Coming to a complete stop.
- Switching into a higher gear.
Answer: B. Taking your foot off the accelerator.
The correct action is to take your foot off the accelerator. The handbook says the most common skid happens when the rear wheels lose grip because of too much braking or acceleration. Acceleration-caused skids usually occur on ice or snow, and the simple fix is to stop feeding power to the drive wheels by lifting off the accelerator. The passage adds that in very slippery conditions you may push the clutch in, because otherwise the engine can keep the wheels from rolling freely and regaining traction.
9. How much water needs to be on the surface of a road for a vehicle to hydroplane?
- Usually several inches
- A good amount, such as a large puddle
- A small amount ✓
- None
Answer: C. A small amount
10. 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.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook