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Difficulty: MediumSkid Control and Recovery

If a commercial motor vehicle begins to hydroplane across standing water, the driver should immediately apply firm, steady pressure to the service brake pedal to force the tires back into contact with the road surface.

Answer: Answer

Answer

False
The statement is false because standard commercial driving safety procedures dictate that drivers should never brake during hydroplaning. Applying service brakes locks the wheels and prevents the tire treads from channeling water, worsening the skid. The driver should instead ease off the accelerator and allow vehicle momentum to slow until the tires regain contact with the pavement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the vehicle dynamics during hydroplaning
Hydroplaning occurs when water builds up under the tires faster than the tread can channel it away, causing tires to lose contact with the road and ride on a thin layer of water.
Understanding traction loss is necessary to determine the correct mechanical response.
2
Evaluate the effect of applying the service brakes while hydroplaning
Braking locks the wheels, preventing them from rotating and pushing through the water film, which instantly leads to a loss of steering control and triggers a severe skid.
Hard or sudden braking during hydroplaning is a primary cause of jackknifing and spinouts.
3
Identify the standard CDL skid recovery procedure for hydroplaning
The driver must release the accelerator, depress the clutch (if driving a manual transmission), avoid touching the service brakes, and maintain steering alignment until rolling grip is restored.
Allowing the tires to continue rolling enables the tread grooves to clear water and re-establish pavement contact.

Key Concept

Hydroplaning response and skid recovery techniques
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Skid Control and Recovery

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