Bad Weather & Night Driving — Washington
Washington CDL practice test: 386 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: 14 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 | Washington CDL permit (CLP) knowledge tests |
| Topic questions | 14 (4% of 386 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 (14)
1. 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. ✓
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 you are at greater risk after dark. In daylight you can spot hazards sooner; at night you cannot see them as quickly, so you have less time to react. A driver caught by surprise is less able to avoid a crash. The handbook also ties night driving to glare and fatigue, which impair vision and judgment. That combination supports the answer that night driving is more dangerous than daytime driving.
2. Roads are especially slippery right after it begins to rain because:
- The water mixes with oil and grease on the road. ✓
- Tires are not made to drive in wet weather.
- The water yet hasn't absorbed the dirt and grease.
Answer: A. The water mixes with oil and grease on the road.
Roads are especially slippery right after rain begins because the water mixes with oil and grease left on the road. The handbook says that just after it starts to rain, water mixes with oil left on the road by vehicles, making the road very slippery. If rain continues, it washes the oil away. That oil-and-water film reduces traction, and the handbook notes that slippery roads make stopping take longer and turning harder without skidding. So the first rain is the risky time, before the oil has been washed off.
3. Black ice is:
- Usually thick.
- Usually thin. ✓
- Not a hazard when driving.
Answer: B. Usually thin.
Black ice is usually thin — it is a thin, clear layer that lets you see the road underneath it. The handbook describes black ice as a thin layer that is clear enough to see the road underneath, which is why the road just looks wet. It also warns that any time the temperature is below freezing and the road looks wet, you should watch for black ice. So the layer itself is thin, not thick, and it is a real slipping hazard on cold, wet-looking pavement.
4. On a slippery road, a driver should:
- Make turns as quickly as possible.
- Refrain from passing slower vehicles. ✓
- Stop quickly.
Answer: B. Refrain from passing slower vehicles.
On a slippery road, you should refrain from passing slower vehicles unless it is necessary. The handbook's slippery-surface section says to adjust speed to conditions and not to pass slower vehicles unless necessary. It also says to drive slowly and smoothly, take curves at slower speeds, and avoid braking harder than necessary. Because slippery roads reduce traction, passing adds unnecessary speed and movement when you should be keeping a steady, controlled pace. The bank answer matches that guidance.
5. Skids caused by over-acceleration can usually be resolved by:
- Removing your foot from the accelerator. ✓
- Braking.
- Swerving to the right.
Answer: A. Removing your foot from the accelerator.
The correct action is to remove your foot from the accelerator. The Texas CDL handbook says the most common skid is a drive-wheel skid, where the rear wheels lose traction from too much braking or acceleration. For an acceleration-caused skid, it says easing off the gas can stop it easily. It adds that on very slippery surfaces you may push the clutch in so the engine does not keep the wheels from rolling freely and regaining traction. Braking or steering harder is not the remedy it gives for this kind of skid.
6. In cool weather, as the temperature begins to rise and ice begins to melt:
- It is usually safe to drive.
- The road will become even more slippery. ✓
- Traction will increase.
Answer: B. The road will become even more slippery.
The road will become even more slippery as ice begins to melt. The handbook warns that when the temperature rises to the point where ice starts to melt, the road becomes even more slippery, so you should slow down more. It also explains that slight melting makes ice wet, and wet ice is much more slippery than ice that is not wet. That means melting ice does not make driving safer or improve traction; it makes the surface harder to handle, so you need to reduce speed and drive smoothly.
7. Water that has collected on a roadway can cause:
- Hydroplaning. ✓
- Acceleration.
- Stopping.
Answer: A. Hydroplaning.
Water collected on a roadway can cause hydroplaning. When water or slush collects on the road, the handbook says your vehicle can hydroplane. The tires lose contact with the road and have little or no traction, so you might not be able to steer or brake. Another passage says surfaces where water collects create the conditions for hydroplaning. That matches the answer: the collected water causes hydroplaning.
8. 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.
9. When driving in fog, you should:
- Slow down. ✓
- Speed up.
- Drive on the shoulder.
Answer: A. Slow down.
Slow down when driving in fog. The handbook warns that fog can appear without warning and visibility can drop fast. It says to be ready to reduce speed and to slow down before you enter fog. If fog is bad enough, it is better to pull off the road into a rest area or truck stop than to keep driving. That supports slowing down rather than trying to drive faster or treating the shoulder as a travel lane.
10. When accelerating on a surface with poor traction, such as a wet road, a driver should:
- Speed up quickly.
- Speed up slowly. ✓
- Not be concerned about the pavement.
Answer: B. Speed up slowly.
On a wet or otherwise slippery road, you should speed up slowly. The handbook's advice for slippery surfaces is to drive slowly and smoothly, start gently and slowly, and get a feel for the road before hurrying. It also says to avoid having to slow down and speed up, and to keep a steady speed. On a wet road, those instructions point to easing into acceleration rather than making a quick increase. A slow, gentle speed-up fits the handbook's overall approach to low-traction conditions.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook