Review Questions - Click On The Picture To Begin...
- Loss of traction due to excessive icing on the roadway
- Increased stopping distance due to friction created by standing water
- Loss of traction due to loose sand or gravel on the roadway
- A loss of steering or braking control when a layer of water prevents direct contact between tires and the road surface
Quote From The CDL Manual:
In some weather, water or slush collects on the road. When this happens, your vehicle can hydroplane. It is like water skiing: the tires lose contact with the road and have little or no traction. You may not be able to steer or brake. You can regain control by releasing the accelerator and pushing in the clutch. This will slow your vehicle and let the wheels turn freely. If the vehicle is hydroplaning, do not use the brakes to slow down. If the drive wheels start to skid, push in the clutch to let them turn freely.
It does not take a lot of water to cause hydroplaning. Hydroplaning can occur at speeds as low as 30 mph if there is a lot of water. Hydroplaning is more likely if tire pressure is low or the tread is worn. (The grooves in a tire carry away the water; if they are not deep, they do not work well.) Be especially careful driving through puddles. The water is often deep enough to cause hydroplaning.
- Bridges
- Shaded areas
- Melting ice
- All of these are signs a road could be slippery
Quote From The CDL Manual:
Sometimes it is hard to know if the road is slippery. Following are signs of slippery roads:
- Shaded areas - Shady parts of the road will remain icy and slippery long after open areas have melted.
- Bridges - When the temperature drops, bridges will freeze before the road will. Be especially careful when the temperature is close to 32 degrees F.
- Melting ice - Slight melting will make ice wet. Wet ice is much more slippery than ice that is not wet.
- Black ice - Black ice is a thin layer that is clear enough that you can see the road underneath it. It makes the road look wet. Any time the temperature is below freezing and the road looks wet, watch out for black ice.
- Vehicle icing - An easy way to check for ice is to open the window and feel the front of the mirror, mirror support or antenna. If there is ice on them, the road surface is probably starting to ice up.
- Just after rain begins - Right after it starts to rain, the water mixes with oil left on the road by vehicles. This makes the road very slippery. If the rain continues, it will wash the oil away.
- Anytime it's safe and you're legally allowed to do so
- During the daytime to help others see you
- When driving through heavily traveled city streets
- All of these are good times to use high-beam headlights
Quote From The CDL Manual:
- Speed of vehicles around you
- Weather and road conditions
- Total weight of the vehicle and cargo
- Length and steepness of the grade
Quote From The CDL Manual:
Speed on Downgrades - Your vehicle's speed will increase on downgrades because of gravity. Your most important objective is to select and maintain a speed that is not fast for the:
- Total weight of the vehicle and cargo.
- Length of the grade.
- Steepness of the grade.
- Road conditions.
- Weather.
If a speed limit is posted, or there is a sign indicating "Maximum Safe Speed," never exceed the speed shown. Also, look for and heed warning signs indicating the length and steepness of the grade. You must use the braking effect of the engine as the principal way of controlling your speed on downgrades. The braking effect of the engine is greatest when it is near the governed RPMs and the transmission is in the lower gears. Save your brakes so you will be able to slow or stop as required by road and traffic conditions. Shift your transmission to a low gear before starting down the grade and use the proper braking techniques.
- Ice which forms in conditions that are above freezing
- A highly visible sheet of ice often formed over black surfaces
- A thin layer of ice that is clear enough that you can see the road underneath it
- Very cold liquid water on the roadway surface that has not yet frozen
Quote From The CDL Manual:
Black ice is a thin layer that is clear enough that you can see the road underneath it. It makes the road look wet. Any time the temperature is below freezing and the road looks wet, watch out for black ice.
TruckingTruth's Advice:
Black ice is called "black" because it often forms over black asphalt surfaces. However, black ice is completely transparent and can form over any colored surface including brick, concrete, and cement. Black ice will appear to be the color of whatever surface it forms over and normally makes the surface appear to be wet.
- Maintain current speed in order to avoid a rear-end collision
- During icy conditions, stop immediately to avoid loss of control
- Reduce speed to a crawl and stop driving as soon as you can safely do so
- Reduce speed by 1/2
Quote From The CDL Manual:
If the surface is icy, reduce speed to a crawl and stop driving as soon as you can safely do so.
- Wet roads have little effect on stopping distance
- Wet roads can triple stopping distance
- Wet roads can double stopping distance
- Wet roads can decrease stopping distance by washing away oil and other foreign liquids from the roadway surface
Quote From The CDL Manual:
It will take longer to stop and be harder to turn without skidding when the road is slippery. You must drive slower to be able to stop in the same distance as on a dry road. Wet roads can double stopping distance. Reduce speed by about one-third (e.g., slow from 55 to 35 mph) on a wet road. On packed snow, reduce speed by half or more. If the surface is icy, reduce speed to a crawl and stop driving as soon as you can safely do so.
- Maintain regular speeds to avoid being rear-ended
- Reduce speed by about 1/2
- Reduce speed by about 1/4
- Reduce speed by about 1/3
Quote From The CDL Manual:
It will take longer to stop and be harder to turn without skidding when the road is slippery. You must drive slower to be able to stop in the same distance as on a dry road. Wet roads can double stopping distance. Reduce speed by about one-third (e.g., slow from 55 to 35 mph) on a wet road. On packed snow, reduce speed by half or more. If the surface is icy, reduce speed to a crawl and stop driving as soon as you can safely do so.
- Open the window and feel the front of the mirror, mirror support or antenna. If there is ice on them, the road surface is probably starting to ice up
- Stop on the shoulder of the road so you can get out and manually check the roadway surface for ice
- Turn on a weather radio for temperature reports
- Ask other drivers over the CB radio if icing is present
Quote From The CDL Manual:
An easy way to check for ice is to open the window and feel the front of the mirror, mirror support or antenna. If there is ice on them, the road surface is probably starting to ice up.
- All of these are correct
- Water mixes with oil left on the road by vehicles
- It takes time for the roadway surface to absorb water
- Tires have to adjust to the wet conditions
Quote From The CDL Manual:
Right after it starts to rain, the water mixes with oil left on the road by vehicles. This makes the road very slippery. If the rain continues, it will wash the oil away.
- Reduce speed by about 1/4
- Reduce speed by about 1/2 or more
- Maintain your speed to avoid being rear-ended
- Reduce speed by about 1/8
Quote From The CDL Manual:
It will take longer to stop and be harder to turn without skidding when the road is slippery. You must drive slower to be able to stop in the same distance as on a dry road. Wet roads can double stopping distance. Reduce speed by about one-third (e.g., slow from 55 to 35 mph) on a wet road. On packed snow, reduce speed by half or more. If the surface is icy, reduce speed to a crawl and stop driving as soon as you can safely do so.
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