Japan Medium Vehicle Theory study materials
Japan Medium Vehicle Theory study resources

Japan Medium Vehicle Theory: Adverse Conditions and Emergency Procedures

Japan Medium Vehicle Theory · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

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Adverse Conditions and Emergency Procedures

Rain, fog and snow

Wet roads roughly double braking distance. Standing water causes ハイドロプレーニング, where the tyre floats and steering and braking stop responding - ease off the accelerator and hold the wheel straight rather than braking. Fog calls for fog lamps, low speed and a larger gap. Snow and ice demand winter tyres or chains, gentle inputs and engine braking; bridges, tunnel exits and shaded curves freeze first.

Night

At night, speed must let you stop within the distance lit by the headlights. Use high beam where there is no oncoming traffic, dip early, and watch for pedestrians in dark clothing.

Emergencies

Tyre burst: grip the wheel, release the accelerator, let engine braking slow the vehicle, and avoid hard braking or steering - braking on a deflating tyre pulls the vehicle to that side. Brake failure: pump the pedal, downshift, use engine braking, apply the parking brake progressively, and use an escape route only as a last resort.

Worked example

A rear tyre bursts at 80 km/h on an expressway. The deflated tyre raises rolling resistance on one side, so hard braking would yaw the truck into the next lane. The sequence - hold straight, lift off, engine brake, indicate, pull onto the shoulder - keeps it stable until speed is low.

Traps

Braking mid-hydroplaning; overtrusting ABS on ice; stopping inside a tunnel; forgetting that brake fade arrives faster on a long descent with a load.