Road Hazards, Weather and Night Driving
What this domain covers
Road Hazards, Weather and Night Driving tests your ability to adapt speed, space and lighting to reduced grip and visibility. The exam asks about wet roads, ice, fog, night vision, glare and aquaplaning.
Wet and icy roads
Rain reduces grip and increases stopping distance. Ease off, increase the gap and avoid sudden steering or braking. Aquaplaning happens when tyres ride on water: you feel light steering and the engine may rev. Response: ease off the accelerator, hold the wheel steady and do not brake hard. On ice, use gentle inputs and a higher gear to reduce wheelspin; stopping distances can be ten times longer.
Fog
Use low beams or fog lights, not high beams; high beams reflect back and reduce visibility. Slow down, use road markings and leave a larger gap. Do not use hazard lights unless your jurisdiction permits them in fog.
Night driving
Use high beams when there is no oncoming traffic and no risk of dazzling others; dip early for oncoming vehicles and when following. If dazzled, slow down and look toward the left edge of your lane (right edge in left-hand traffic) to preserve night vision. Keep the windscreen clean; glare worsens with smears.
Worked example
At night, an oncoming car keeps its high beams on. What should you do? Slow down, avoid staring at the lights, look toward the left edge of your lane (right-hand traffic) and be ready to stop. Reasoning: you cannot control the other driver, but you can reduce speed and use lane markings to maintain position.
Traps that cost marks
- Using high beams in fog or heavy rain.
- Braking hard on ice or during aquaplaning.
- Overdriving your headlights so you cannot stop within the lit distance.
- Driving with hazard lights on in rain when local rules prohibit it.
- Ignoring a dirty windscreen that worsens glare.
Key points
- Wet: increase gap, smooth inputs. Ice: gentle, higher gear, ten-times stopping distance.
- Aquaplaning: ease off, no hard braking, hold steering.
- Fog: low beams, not high beams; slow down.
- Dip headlights for oncoming traffic; look to the lane edge if dazzled.
- Clean windscreen reduces glare.
- Overdriving headlights is a common night hazard.