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Difficulty: Very hardNight Driving

Determine whether the following statement is true or false: A commercial motor vehicle driver traveling at 5555 mph who correctly switches to low beam headlights when an oncoming vehicle approaches within 500500 feet is now operating at a speed where the total stopping distance strictly exceeds the forward visibility provided by the headlights.

Answer: Answer

Answer

True
The statement accurately reflects the physical limitations of commercial vehicle braking systems; at 5555 mph, the stopping distance of over 400400 feet vastly exceeds the 250250-foot visibility range of low beam headlights, resulting in the driver overdriving their headlights.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the forward visibility range provided by commercial vehicle low beam headlights.
Standard low beam headlights illuminate a distance of approximately 250250 feet.
This establishes the maximum sight distance available to the driver after dimming the high beams.
2
Recall the total stopping distance required for a tractor-trailer traveling at 5555 mph.
The total stopping distance, which includes perception distance, reaction distance, air brake lag distance, and actual braking distance, is greater than 400400 feet.
Comparing this value to the visible distance determines if the driver can safely stop for an unseen hazard.
3
Compare the required stopping distance against the available headlight visibility.
The required stopping distance (over 400400 feet) is significantly greater than the visibility range (250250 feet).
Because the stopping distance exceeds the visible distance, the driver is "overdriving" the headlights, making the statement true.

Key Concept

Overdriving Headlights and Total Stopping Distance
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Topics

Night Driving

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