How should you adjust speed and following distance in adverse weather?

• A. Turn off headlights to avoid glare
• B. Maintain same distance and speed
• C. Speed up to pass hazards quickly
• D. Slow down, increase following distance, turn on headlights, and avoid sudden steering or braking.

Answer: (D)

In adverse weather, your priority is control and visibility. Slower speed reduces the energy you have to manage if you need to stop or react to a hazard, and it helps you maintain traction on wet, snowy, or icy surfaces. Increase your following distance so you have more room to stop if the car ahead slows suddenly or if you encounter a slick patch. In rain or snow, a longer gap—often a 4-second rule or more depending on conditions—gives you time to react and brake gradually without losing control. Turn on your headlights so you can be seen and to improve your own vision; use low beams in rain to reduce glare from wet pavement. Avoid sudden steering or hard braking because slick surfaces can cause skidding or hydroplaning. If visibility is poor or the roads are very slick, continue to reduce speed and increase the following distance accordingly.