Skids, hydroplaning, fog and hills

Key points

1. In a skid, do not brake until you regain control of your forward direction.

   Source: Handbook p. 71

   “do not apply pressure on the brake until you regain control of your forward direction.”
   Alabama Driver Manual, Handbook p. 71

2. In a rear wheel drive car, easing off the gas lets the engine slow the rear wheels and helps straighten the skid.

   Source: Handbook p. 71

   “With a conventional rear-wheel drive vehicle, when you ease off the gas, the engine acts as a brake to slow the rear wheels slightly.”
   Alabama Driver Manual, Handbook p. 71

3. Partial hydroplaning starts at about 35 mph, and tires may be fully on water by about 55 mph.

   Source: Handbook p. 72

   “In a standard passenger car, partial hydroplaning starts at about 35 mph and increases with speed to about 55 mph, at which point the tires may be totally on the water.”
   Alabama Driver Manual, Handbook p. 72

4. If you hydroplane, take your foot off the accelerator and let the car slow down.

   Source: Handbook p. 72

   “The best thing to do is to take your foot off the accelerator and let the car slow down.”
   Alabama Driver Manual, Handbook p. 72

5. In fog or snow, keep headlights on low beam to reduce glare.

   Source: Handbook p. 73

   “Keep headlights on low beam to reduce the glaring reflection of your lights on the thick fog blanket or blinding snow.”
   Alabama Driver Manual, Handbook p. 73

6. The law forbids coasting downhill with the transmission in neutral.

   Source: Handbook p. 73

   “The law also forbids you to coast downhill with the transmission in neutral.”
   Alabama Driver Manual, Handbook p. 73

7. Never warm up the motor while the vehicle is in a closed garage.

   Source: Handbook p. 73

   “Do not warm up the motor while the vehicle is in a closed garage.”
   Alabama Driver Manual, Handbook p. 73

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Alabama practice test

1. 1. In a skid involving a conventional rear-wheel-drive vehicle, easing off the gas helps by:

   1. Removing the need to steer
   2. Locking the front wheels immediately
   3. Making the rear wheels spin faster
   4. Letting the engine slow the rear wheels slightly
   Show answer

   Letting the engine slow the rear wheels slightly. For a conventional rear-wheel-drive vehicle, easing off the accelerator lets the engine act like a brake on the rear wheels. That can reduce the rear slide and give the front of the vehicle time to catch up while you steer. The faster-wheel choice reverses the manual's description, and no skid response removes the need for steering. Use gentle input: release the gas, avoid a sudden brake application, and work to keep the rear from outrunning the front.

2. 2. When rain, sleet, or snow requires windshield wipers, what does Alabama law require regarding headlights?

   1. Turn on high beams whenever precipitation begins
   2. Use parking lights only while the wipers are running
   3. Turn on headlights, unless the wipers are used intermittently
   4. Headlights are required only after sunset
   Show answer

   Turn on headlights, unless the wipers are used intermittently. Alabama ties headlight use to windshield wipers when the wipers are operating because of rain, sleet, or snow. The rule improves visibility to other road users during weather that can obscure a vehicle. Intermittent wiper use is specifically excluded, so the choice “Turn on headlights, unless the wipers are used intermittently” includes the important qualification. Parking lights alone do not satisfy the rule, high beams can create glare, and waiting for darkness ignores the weather trigger. When steady precipitation makes you run the wipers, turn on the headlights as part of the same habit.

3. 3. What does the Alabama manual recommend for tires when driving in snow?

   1. Bald tires for better contact
   2. Snow treads on the drive wheels, while still driving below normal speed
   3. Overinflated tires
   4. Chains on all four wheels at all times
   Show answer

   Snow treads on the drive wheels, while still driving below normal speed. Snow treads on the drive wheels are recommended for general driving during snow because they greatly improve traction for starting and stopping. Do not be overconfident because you have them; you still must drive at less than normal speed. Start slowly to find out how slippery the road is, then adjust your speed to the situation, leaving extra room to stop on packed snow.

Source: the Alabama Driver Manual, Chapter 7: Adjust to Driving Conditions. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.