Safe Driving Tips For Special Driving Conditions — Missouri Driver's License Practice Test

This section covers driving in conditions that reduce your control or visibility — night, rain, snow and ice, fog — and how to react when something goes wrong with the vehicle. These are exactly the situations where an ordinary trip turns dangerous, so knowing the right response ahead of time matters.

For low visibility and slippery roads, turn headlights on from one-half hour after sunset until one-half hour before sunrise, and any time weather requires your wipers. On snow or ice, slow down, avoid cruise control, and leave about eight to ten seconds of following distance. Remember that bridges and overpasses freeze before the rest of the road, and hydroplaning can begin at any speed over 35 mph.

When the vehicle fails, the guide gives specific responses. In a skid or hydroplane, take your foot off the accelerator, do not hit the brakes, and steer gently in the direction the rear wheels are sliding. For brake failure, pump the pedal fast and hard, apply the parking brake gradually, and shift to a low gear. For a tire blowout or running off the pavement, hold the wheel tightly, ease off the accelerator, and do not brake hard until you are almost stopped.