Special Driving Conditions
Special Driving Conditions tests how you adapt speed, lighting, and vehicle control to rain, snow, ice, fog, night, and work zones. NY questions emphasize reducing speed, increasing space, and avoiding maneuvers that cause skids or loss of visibility.
Core rules
- Rain: slow down, increase following distance, and avoid sudden braking. Hydroplaning occurs when tires ride on water; ease off the accelerator and do not brake hard.
- Snow and ice: reduce speed, steer and brake gently, and allow extra distance. Bridges and overpasses freeze before other roads. Do not use cruise control.
- Fog: use low beams. High beams reflect off the fog and reduce visibility. Slow down and use the road edge or lane markings as a guide.
- Night: headlights are required from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise and when visibility is less than 1,000 feet. Do not overdrive your headlights.
- Work zones: orange signs and flaggers control traffic. Slow down, obey posted limits, and watch for workers and narrowed lanes.
- If you skid, ease off the accelerator and steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go. Avoid hard braking.
Worked example
You enter dense fog and can see only a short distance. Switch from high beams to low beams, slow down, and increase your following gap. High beams would reflect off the moisture and make visibility worse. If you cannot see the road edge, use lane markings and reduce speed further.
Traps that cost marks
Using high beams in fog, using cruise control on slippery roads, braking hard during a skid, and driving at the posted speed limit when conditions require slower. Also watch for black ice on bridges and shaded areas.