California video lessons · Lesson 7 of 10
California Safe Driving and Conditions: five situations explained
All five situations and their answers are below. To watch the lesson, create a free account.
In this video
- 0:00Intro
- 0:17On packed snow, how much should you reduce your speed?
- 1:06Your car is stuck in mud. Which technique should you use?
- 2:06On ice, what is the most you should drive?
- 2:50Which of these is a common driving distraction?
- 3:48On a wet road, by how much should you reduce your speed?
- 4:46Recap
In short
On packed snow, reduce your speed by half. Keep the wheels straight, use a low gear, accelerate gently, and rock forward and backward without spinning the wheels. On ice, reduce your speed to no more than 5 mph.
The five situations
Pick an answer first, the way the video pauses for you. Each one cites the California Driver's Handbook.
Situation 1
On packed snow, how much should you reduce your speed?
Answer: A. By half. On packed snow, reduce your speed by half.
California Driver's Handbook › Section 8 › Slippery Roads
Situation 2
Your car is stuck in mud. Which technique should you use?
Answer: A. Rock gently back and forth in low gear. Keep the wheels straight, use a low gear, accelerate gently, and rock forward and backward without spinning the wheels.
California Driver's Handbook › Section 8 › Stuck in Snow or Mud
Situation 3
On ice, what is the most you should drive?
Answer: B. 5 mph. On ice, reduce your speed to no more than 5 mph.
California Driver's Handbook › Section 8 › Slippery Roads
Situation 4
Which of these is a common driving distraction?
Answer: C. Changing music or volume. Common distractions include looking at a phone, navigation, children or pets, changing music, and applying makeup or shaving.
California Driver's Handbook › Section 8 (cont.) › Do Not Drive Distracted
Situation 5
On a wet road, by how much should you reduce your speed?
Answer: C. 5 to 10 mph. Wet road: reduce speed by 5 to 10 mph. Packed snow: by half. Ice: to no more than 5 mph.
California Driver's Handbook › Section 8 › Slippery Roads
Transcript
0:00Intro
Weather, darkness and other drivers can turn an easy drive into a hard one. Let's work through five situations from the California Driver's Handbook. For each one, pick your answer before I reveal it.
0:17Situation 1
The road ahead is covered in packed snow. On packed snow, how much should you reduce your speed? The answer is A: By half. On packed snow, reduce your speed by half. On packed snow, cut your speed in half. If you'd normally drive 50, that means about 25.
1:06Situation 2
Your wheels are stuck in mud, and the car won't move. Your car is stuck in mud. Which technique should you use? The answer is A: Rock gently back and forth in low gear. Keep the wheels straight, use a low gear, accelerate gently, and rock forward and backward without spinning the wheels. Keep the wheels straight, use a low gear, and accelerate gently. Rock forward and back, without spinning the wheels.
2:06Situation 3
The road ahead is glazed with ice. On ice, what is the most you should drive? The answer is B: 5 mph. On ice, reduce your speed to no more than 5 mph. On ice, slow down to no more than 5 miles per hour.
2:50Situation 4
You're driving, and your favorite song just ended. Which of these is a common driving distraction? The answer is C: Changing music or volume. Common distractions include looking at a phone, navigation, children or pets, changing music, and applying makeup or shaving. Changing the music or volume pulls your eyes and hands away from driving. So do phones, navigation, children or pets, and makeup or shaving.
3:48Situation 5
Rain has left the road wet and shiny. On a wet road, by how much should you reduce your speed? The answer is C: 5 to 10 mph. Wet road: reduce speed by 5 to 10 mph. Packed snow: by half. Ice: to no more than 5 mph. On a wet road, slow down 5 to 10 miles per hour. Packed snow means half your speed, and ice means no more than 5.
4:46Recap
On packed snow, reduce your speed by half. Keep the wheels straight, use a low gear, accelerate gently, and rock forward and backward without spinning the wheels. On ice, reduce your speed to no more than 5 mph. Common distractions include looking at a phone, navigation, children or pets, changing music, and applying makeup or shaving. Wet road: reduce speed by 5 to 10 mph. Nice work. Try more safe driving questions in Practice by Topic, then test yourself with a full mock exam.
The rules in this lesson
- On packed snow, reduce your speed by half.
- Keep the wheels straight, use a low gear, accelerate gently, and rock forward and backward without spinning the wheels.
- On ice, reduce your speed to no more than 5 mph.
- Common distractions include looking at a phone, navigation, children or pets, changing music, and applying makeup or shaving.
- Wet road: reduce speed by 5 to 10 mph.
Original practice lesson written from the California Driver's Handbook. EstatePass is not affiliated with or endorsed by the California DMV; these are not official test questions.