Question

Difficulty: MediumWinter Driving

When starting a commercial motor vehicle from a stop on an icy or packed-snow surface, if the drive wheels begin to spin, the driver should immediately release the accelerator rather than pressing down further.

Answer: Answer

Answer

True. When drive wheels begin to spin on a slick winter surface, the driver must immediately take their foot off the accelerator to let the tires regain traction.
According to official commercial driving winter safety guidelines, drivers must start smoothly and slowly on slick roadways. If the drive wheels begin to spin, the driver should immediately remove their foot from the accelerator so the tires can regain traction rather than polishing the surface into a slicker sheet of ice.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the physical interaction between drive tires and slippery winter roadway surfaces
Rapidly spinning tires generate heat that creates a thin layer of liquid water over packed snow or ice, drastically reducing the coefficient of friction and polishing the surface smooth.
Understanding how wheel spin degrades traction is necessary to determine the proper vehicle control response.
2
Apply standard commercial driving rules for starting on slippery surfaces
Commercial driver safety procedures specify that vehicle launches on ice or snow should be gentle and slow, with the throttle immediately released if wheel spin occurs.
Removing engine power allows tire rotational speed to synchronize with road speed, re-establishing static friction.
3
Evaluate the accuracy of the statement
The statement correctly describes the mandatory safety action for correcting drive-wheel spin during winter starts.
Releasing the accelerator rather than pressing it further is the correct technique.

Key Concept

Starting on Slippery Surfaces and Managing Drive-Wheel Spin
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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