Chapter 8: Driving in Various Conditions

Driving in Rain

• Reduce speed — roads are most slippery in the first 10 minutes of rain due to oil and water mixing
• Increase following distance — braking distances can double or triple on wet roads
• Turn on headlights — even in daytime rain, use headlights so others can see you
• Turn on windshield wipers and demister/defroster
• Avoid sudden braking, sharp turns, or sudden acceleration
• Watch for hydroplaning — if the car feels like it is floating, ease off the accelerator gently
• Avoid driving through flooded areas — water can damage the engine and cause loss of control
• If visibility drops below 100 meters, use hazard lights

Related Signs

Driving at Night

• Use headlights — mandatory from 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM
• Use low beam when following another vehicle or when oncoming traffic approaches to avoid blinding other drivers
• Use high beam on dark, unlit roads when no other vehicles are ahead or approaching
• Reduce speed — your visibility is limited to the range of your headlights
• Keep all windows and mirrors clean
• Watch for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists who may be hard to see
• If blinded by oncoming headlights, look toward the left edge of the road until the vehicle passes

Highway / Expressway Driving

• Use the acceleration lane to match highway speed before merging
• Maintain a safe following distance — at least 2 seconds, more at high speed
• Overtake on the right only
• Do not stop on the highway unless it is an emergency — use the emergency lane
• Watch for exit signs early and position yourself in the correct lane
• Do not reverse or make U-turns on the highway

Urban Driving

• Watch for pedestrians, especially near schools, markets, and bus stops
• Be alert for vehicles pulling out of parking spaces or side roads
• Follow traffic signals strictly
• Be prepared for frequent stops and slow-moving traffic
• Check blind spots when changing lanes in multi-lane urban roads

Hill Driving

• Uphill: Use lower gears to maintain power. Do not ride the clutch.
• Downhill: Use engine braking by selecting a lower gear. Do not ride the brakes continuously — they can overheat and fade.
• Hill Start: Use the handbrake to prevent rolling back. Release handbrake smoothly as you engage the clutch.
• Give way to vehicles going uphill when the road is narrow

Parking Techniques

• Parallel Parking: Signal, position alongside the car ahead, reverse into the space using the reference point method
• Perpendicular Parking: Signal, slow down, turn into the bay at low speed
• Slope Parking (uphill): Turn front wheels away from the curb. If no curb, turn wheels toward the edge.
• Slope Parking (downhill): Turn front wheels toward the curb. Always engage the handbrake and leave the car in gear (1st or Reverse).