Question

Difficulty: EasyWinter Driving, Snow, and Black Ice

On snow-covered or icy roadways, a driver should increase their following distance to at least eight to ten seconds to account for significantly increased stopping distances.

Answer: Answer

Answer

True
The statement is true because low tire traction on snow and ice requires a much longer distance to stop, making an increased safe buffer of 8 to 10 seconds necessary.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the impact of snow and ice on vehicle traction.
Tires lose significant grip on packed snow and ice, causing stopping distances to increase up to 8 to 10 times compared to dry asphalt.
Reduced friction lengthens the time and distance required to bring a vehicle to a complete stop.
2
Determine the correct safe following distance for winter weather.
Official DMV guidelines state that drivers must increase following distance from the standard 3–4 seconds to 8–10 seconds under winter driving conditions.
Expanding the safety cushion allows enough space to avoid emergency maneuvers or skidding into the vehicle ahead.

Key Concept

Safe Following Distance in Winter Driving Conditions
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