← All states EN ES RU
TEXAS DPS · WRITTEN TEST (CLASS C)

Road Ready TX › Topics

How the Texas test works →

Safe driving: following distance, weather and skids: Texas DPS written test practice

Rules to understand before practicing

Keep a following gap that gives you time to react, and increase it when grip or visibility is poor. Scan ahead and check mirrors and blind spots before changing direction. On a wet road, sudden braking or steering can cause loss of control. Use low beams in fog; high beams reflect light back toward you. A common mistake is relying entirely on mirrors or a driver-assistance feature. You still need to observe the road and remain ready to act.

Official reading for this topic

Start free practice

20 free practice questions on safe driving: following distance, weather and skids for the Texas DPS written knowledge test, each with the correct answer and a short explanation. Study them here, then check yourself in the interactive quiz or the exam simulator.

Take the free practice test →

About the Texas written test

30questions on the real test
21 / 30correct answers to pass (70%)
3attempts allowed within 90 days

Take the free practice test →

More topics

1. When passing a cyclist without changing lanes, you must maintain a lateral distance of at least:

  1. 1 foot
  2. 2 feet
  3. ✓ 3 feet
  4. 6 feet

Explanation: Texas law (Transportation Code §545.412) requires drivers to leave at least 3 feet between their vehicle and a cyclist when passing.

Official reading · set2-006

2. What should you avoid when an emergency vehicle is responding to a call?

  1. Assume everyone else will stop
  2. ✓ Following it closely or blocking its path
  3. Accelerate without checking
  4. Ignore the situation

Explanation: Give responders room to move and obey directions from officers.

Official reading · set2-007

3. Why can two vehicles at the same speed have different stopping distances?

  1. ✓ Tires, road surface, brakes and driver response differ
  2. Vehicle color determines braking distance
  3. All vehicles stop at the same distance
  4. Only the posted speed limit matters

Explanation: Allow more space when grip or visibility is poor; a single distance is not reliable in every condition.

Official reading · set2-008

4. How should you signal before turning?

  1. ✓ Early enough to warn others, meeting the local minimum distance
  2. Only while already turning
  3. Only if another car sounds its horn
  4. After entering the new road

Explanation: Signal before slowing or turning and check your state’s distance requirement. A signal does not give you priority.

Official reading · set2-009

5. When following a motorcycle, the safe following distance is:

  1. 1 second
  2. ✓ 3 seconds
  3. 10 seconds
  4. Right up close—motorcycles are shorter than cars

Explanation: As with cars, the recommended following distance behind a motorcycle is at least 3 seconds.

Official reading · set2-010

6. How many feet away from a fire hydrant is parking prohibited?

  1. 5 feet
  2. ✓ 15 feet
  3. 30 feet
  4. 50 feet

Explanation: Parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant is prohibited—it must be kept clear for firefighters.

Official reading · set2-011

7. What makes up total stopping distance?

  1. ✓ Distance traveled while recognizing the hazard, reacting and braking
  2. Braking distance alone
  3. Reaction distance alone
  4. Only the space between your car and the next one

Explanation: The vehicle continues moving while you perceive the hazard and react, before the brakes slow it.

Official reading · set2-012

8. When it rains at night, you should use:

  1. Only parking lights
  2. ✓ Low beams
  3. High beams
  4. A constantly activated hazard signal

Explanation: When it's raining, use your low beams—they provide better visibility and don't cause unnecessary glare; parking lights alone aren't enough.

Official reading · set2-017

9. In thick fog, you should use:

  1. High beams to see farther
  2. ✓ Low beams to reduce glare
  3. Only fog lights, no headlights
  4. Hazard lights instead of headlights

Explanation: In fog, high beams reflect off water droplets and blind the driver; use low beams.

Official reading · set2-018

10. During heavy rain or snowfall at speeds above 30 mph, visibility may be limited to approximately:

  1. 50 feet
  2. ✓ 100 feet
  3. 300 feet
  4. 1,000 feet

Explanation: During a heavy rainstorm or snowstorm, visibility can drop to about 100 feet when traveling at speeds above 30 mph.

Official reading · set2-019

11. On a wet road, it is recommended to reduce your speed by approximately:

  1. 1–2 mph
  2. ✓ 5–10 mph
  3. 20–25 mph
  4. There's no need to reduce it

Explanation: Traction is poorer on wet roads—reduce your speed by about 5–10 mph from your usual speed.

Official reading · set2-020

12. On packed snow, you should reduce your speed by about:

  1. 10%
  2. 25%
  3. ✓ 50%
  4. There's no need to reduce it

Explanation: On tightly packed snow, traction drops sharply—reduce your speed by about half.

Official reading · set2-021

13. On an icy road, the safe speed should not exceed:

  1. ✓ 5 mph
  2. 15 mph
  3. 25 mph
  4. 35 mph

Explanation: There is almost no traction on ice; sometimes the safe speed is no more than 5 mph, and it's better to just wait it out where you are.

Official reading · set2-022

14. If your car starts to hydroplane (slide on a film of water), you should:

  1. Brake hard
  2. ✓ Ease off the gas smoothly, without braking abruptly or jerking the steering wheel
  3. Turn the steering wheel sharply to one side
  4. Shift into neutral right away

Explanation: If you start to hydroplane, gently ease off the gas and keep the steering wheel straight, avoiding sudden braking and sharp turns until the tires regain traction.

Official reading · set2-028

15. If you start to skid on a slippery road, the first thing you should do is:

  1. Slam on the brakes
  2. ✓ Take your foot off the gas without braking, and turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid
  3. Step on the gas hard to steady the car
  4. Apply the parking brake immediately

Explanation: Ease off the gas without braking, and steer the front wheels in the same direction the rear of the car is sliding, to regain traction.

Official reading · set2-029

16. If the wheels are stuck in mud or snow, it's recommended to:

  1. Floor the gas while stationary to break free
  2. ✓ Keep the wheels straight and gently rock the car back and forth in a low gear
  3. Push the car while revving the engine
  4. Turn on your high beams and honk your horn

Explanation: Spinning the wheels hard only digs them in deeper; it's better to gently rock the car back and forth in a low gear.

Official reading · set2-030

17. Your vehicle begins to hydroplane (skid on a film of water) at speed. You should:

  1. Brake hard immediately
  2. Turn the steering wheel sharply to regain control
  3. ✓ Ease off the gas and steer straight until the tires regain traction
  4. Accelerate to drive through the water faster

Explanation: Hard braking or sharp steering can make a skid worse. Ease off the accelerator and keep the wheels pointed straight until traction returns.

Official reading · set2-032

18. Why is blocking your hearing with loud audio or headphones unsafe?

  1. Ignore the situation
  2. Assume everyone else will stop
  3. ✓ You may fail to hear an emergency siren or warning horn
  4. Accelerate without checking

Explanation: Keep your attention on driving and check your state’s restrictions on headphones.

Official reading · set2-038

19. Fatigue while driving is especially dangerous because it:

  1. Has no effect on the driver's reaction time
  2. ✓ Slows reaction time and can cause a brief microsleep while driving
  3. Affects only passengers
  4. Is dangerous only at night

Explanation: Fatigue slows reaction time and increases the risk of “microsleep”—a brief, involuntary lapse into sleep while driving, which is enough to cause an accident.

Official reading · set2-039

20. If you are driving on the highway slower than the flow of traffic, you should:

  1. Stay in any lane of your choice
  2. ✓ Keep to the right, yielding the left lanes to faster traffic
  3. Drive strictly in the left lane
  4. Constantly change lanes, looking for an open one

Explanation: Slower traffic must keep to the right and yield the left lanes to faster vehicles—a specific requirement of the Texas Transportation Code.

Official reading · set2-040

Related topics

Content updated October 4, 2026 · How we review content