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Difficulty: MediumDriving in Adverse Weather and Low Visibility

You are driving on a highway with a posted speed limit of 65 mph when a heavy rainstorm suddenly reduces visibility to less than 150 feet. Which of the following represents the correct driving procedure under these adverse weather conditions?

  1. Reduce your speed below the posted limit to suit visibility, turn on your low-beam headlights, and increase your following distance.Answer
  2. B
    Maintain the posted 65 mph speed limit while switching to high-beam headlights to maximize your forward vision.
  3. C
    Apply your brakes firmly and hold them continuously if you feel the steering wheel become light due to standing water.
  4. D
    Decrease your following distance to two seconds so you can follow the taillights of the vehicle ahead closely.

Answer

Reduce your speed below the posted limit to suit visibility, turn on your low-beam headlights, and increase your following distance.
Under the Basic Speed Law, drivers must never travel faster than is safe for current road and weather conditions. Reducing speed below 65 mph, switching on low-beam headlights (to prevent glare reflection), and creating a larger space cushion are necessary actions for safe navigation in heavy rain.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate visibility and road surface condition.
Identify that torrential rain severely limits sight distance and increases braking distance.
The Basic Speed Law dictates that posted limits apply only under ideal driving conditions.
2
Select appropriate lighting and adjust vehicle speed and distance.
Activate low-beam headlights to remain visible to others without reflecting glare back, slow down, and expand following distance to 4–5 seconds.
Low beams penetrate precipitation best, while lower speed and larger spacing allow adequate reaction and stopping distances.

Key Concept

Basic Speed Law and visibility adjustments in heavy rain
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Driving in Adverse Weather and Low Visibility

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