Adverse weather and complex road conditions
Adverse weather and complex road conditions tests speed, spacing, lighting, and surface judgement in rain, fog, ice, snow, wind, night, tunnels, and mountain roads. The exam expects a rider to adjust before the hazard, not to rely on reflexes after it appears.
Core rules
- Rain: reduce speed, increase the gap, brake earlier and smoother, avoid painted markings, manhole covers, and standing water. After riding through water, test the brakes gently to dry them.
- Fog: use fog lights, low beam, position lights, and hazard lights as required. If visibility is under 200 m, keep speed below 60 km/h and a gap over 100 m; under 100 m, below 40 km/h and over 50 m; under 50 m, below 20 km/h and leave the expressway as soon as possible. Do not use high beam, which reflects back.
- Ice and snow: use the highest gear that runs smoothly, open the controls gently, avoid sudden braking or steering, and double the normal gap.
- Wind: grip firmly, expect side gusts at gaps in buildings or hedges, and pass large vehicles with extra space.
- Night: use low beam when meeting traffic, reduce speed beyond the reach of the light, and watch for unlit pedestrians or animals.
- Mountain roads: use a low gear for descents, avoid coasting in neutral, keep to your side on blind bends, and use the horn sparingly where visibility is poor.
- Tunnels: switch on lights before entry, remove sunglasses, keep a steady speed and gap, and do not overtake.
Worked example
A rider enters an expressway in fog with visibility about 80 m. The correct action is to switch on fog lights, low beam, position lights, and hazard lights, reduce speed below 40 km/h, keep more than 50 m from the vehicle ahead, and take the next exit. Reasoning: at 80 m visibility the rider is in the “under 100 m” band; the lower speed and larger gap create stopping room, and leaving the expressway reduces the chance of a multi-vehicle pile-up.
Traps that cost marks
- Using high beam in fog because it “looks brighter.”
- Coasting downhill in neutral to save fuel.
- Braking hard on a wet painted arrow or crosswalk.
- Following a large truck closely to use its lights in fog.