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Difficulty: EasyDriving in Fog and Reduced Visibility

While driving on a highway with a posted maximum speed limit of 65 mph, you encounter dense fog that severely reduces your visibility ahead. Under the Basic Speed Law, which driving action must you take?

  1. Reduce your speed to a rate that allows you to stop safely within your clear field of vision.Answer
  2. B
    Maintain 65 mph because it is the legally posted maximum speed limit for the highway.
  3. C
    Increase your speed slightly to exit the fog bank as quickly as possible.
  4. D
    Maintain a minimum speed of 55 mph to prevent traffic behind you from slowing down.

Answer

Reduce your speed to a rate that allows you to stop safely within your clear field of vision.
Under the Basic Speed Law, you must never drive faster than is safe for current road and weather conditions. When fog limits how far ahead you can see, you are legally obligated to slow down so you can stop within your visible sight distance, even if your speed drops well below the posted maximum limit.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate the visibility conditions.
Recognize that dense fog significantly restricts sight distance.
Safe driving requires that your vehicle's stopping distance is shorter than your clear sight distance.
2
Apply the Basic Speed Law.
Understand that statutory speed limits apply only under ideal conditions, and weather hazards legally require lower speeds.
The Basic Speed Law dictates driving at a safe speed for existing hazards, regardless of posted limits.
3
Select the required safe driving maneuver.
Slow down to a speed that matches your visual range.
Decelerating allows adequate time to react and stop if an obstacle or vehicle appears in the fog ahead.

Key Concept

Basic Speed Law in Reduced Visibility
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Driving in Fog and Reduced Visibility

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