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Difficulty: Very hardSpeed and Road Conditions

When a commercial motor vehicle equipped with a manual transmission begins to hydroplane and loses steering control, the driver should safely recover by releasing the accelerator, pushing in the clutch, and applying gentle, intermittent pressure to the service brakes until traction is restored.

Answer: Answer

Answer

The statement is False. A driver must never apply the service brakes when hydroplaning, as this will immediately lock the wheels and completely eliminate any remaining directional control.
The statement is entirely False because of the instruction to use the service brakes. While releasing the accelerator and pushing in the clutch are the correct CDL procedures for a hydroplaning event, applying any amount of service brake pressure will lock the wheels while they are riding on a film of water, completely destroying any chance of regaining directional control.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sequence of recovery actions provided in the scenario.
The proposed actions are: release the accelerator, push in the clutch, and apply gentle intermittent braking.
Identifying each component of the driver's response is necessary to evaluate the overall validity of the emergency procedure.
2
Evaluate the first two actions against CDL guidelines for hydroplaning.
Releasing the accelerator and pushing in the clutch are the correct procedures to remove engine torque and allow the drive wheels to turn freely.
Engine torque can sustain a drive-wheel skid; decoupling the drivetrain is the correct initial step to allow tires to break through the water film.
3
Assess the final action of applying gentle, intermittent pressure to the service brakes.
This action violates critical CDL safety protocols, which strictly forbid using the brakes during a hydroplane.
Unlike driving on packed snow where threshold braking might be used, hydroplaning means tires have zero physical road contact. Any braking force will cause immediate wheel lock-up.
4
Determine the validity of the complete statement based on the presence of a critical error.
Because the statement includes a dangerous, incorrect procedure (braking), the entire statement must be evaluated as False.
Safety protocols must be followed completely; a single incorrect action in a critical emergency invalidates the procedure.

Key Concept

Hydroplaning Recovery and Traction Limits
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Topics

Speed and Road Conditions

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