Bad weather, skids, winter and rural roads

Key points

1. Bald tires reduce traction and increase stopping distance.

   Source: Handbook p. 44

   “Bald tires reduce traction and increase stopping distance. This can be dangerous in bad weather.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 44

2. Bridges and overpasses freeze before the rest of the road. The best option is to slow down and stay alert.

   Source: Handbook p. 44

   “in severe weather bridges and overpasses freeze before the rest of the roadway. The best option is to slow down and stay alert.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 44

3. Without ABS, gently pump the brakes to avoid skidding on slippery roads.

   Source: Handbook p. 44

   “If your car does not have Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), gently pump the brakes.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 44

4. If you hydroplane, ease off the gas and keep the wheel straight until the tires grip again.

   Source: Handbook p. 44

   “Ease your foot off the gas pedal Keep the wheel straight Do not try to stop or turn until your tires are gripping the road again”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 44

5. In a skid, stay off the brake and turn the wheel where you want the car to go.

   Source: Handbook p. 45

   “Stay off the brake Turn the wheel in the direction you want the vehicle to go”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 45

6. In winter, do not use cruise control on slippery roads, and do not use your high beams.

   Source: Handbook p. 45

   “Do not use cruise control on slippery roads Turn on your headlights and do not use your high beams (brights)”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 45

7. Give snowplows at least 200 feet when their lights are flashing.

   Source: Handbook p. 45

   “Give snowplows at least 200 feet of room when their lights are flashing red, amber or green”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 45

8. Yield to livestock. Do not honk, slow down and keep a safe distance.

   Source: Handbook p. 45

   “Do not honk your horn because this might scare the animal. Slow down and keep a safe distance.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 45

9. No one under 16 may operate a farm tractor or self propelled farm machinery on highways.

   Source: Handbook p. 45

   “No one under 16 years old can operate a farm tractor or self-propelled farm machinery on highways.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 45

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Wisconsin practice test

1. 1. What is the best option in severe weather?

   1. Slow down and stay alert
   2. Speed up and make sharp turns
   3. Brake rapidly in every situation
   4. Drive without checking conditions
   Show answer

   Slow down and stay alert. The handbook identifies slowing down and staying alert as the best option in severe weather. Slippery pavement, heavy rain, ice, or snow can reduce the time available to respond, so extra attention and lower speed help preserve control. Rapid braking and sudden sharp turns can make a slide worse, while speeding increases the danger created by reduced traction. The safest choice may be to stay off the road entirely when conditions are severe. If you must drive, look farther ahead, leave more room, and make steering and braking changes gradually instead of reacting abruptly.

2. 2. If a vehicle starts skidding on a slippery road, which response follows Wisconsin guidance?

   1. Stay off the brake and steer where you want to go
   2. Brake hard and steer into oncoming traffic
   3. Close your eyes until the tires recover
   4. Turn sharply away from the intended path
   Show answer

   Stay off the brake and steer where you want to go. During a skid, stay off the brake and turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the vehicle to go. As the car begins to straighten, turn the wheel back the other way to regain control. Braking hard can worsen the loss of traction, and steering into oncoming traffic creates a second danger. Closing your eyes removes the visual guidance needed for correction. Keep your movements deliberate, look toward the safe path, and avoid a sudden overcorrection.

3. 3. What should you do when approaching livestock along a Wisconsin highway?

   1. Drive onto the shoulder and cut between them
   2. Sound the horn repeatedly to clear the lane
   3. Accelerate closely past the animals
   4. Slow down, avoid honking, and keep a safe distance
   Show answer

   Slow down, avoid honking, and keep a safe distance. Livestock can be startled by noise and may move unpredictably. The handbook says to be patient, yield the right of way to animals on or along the highway, avoid honking, slow down, and keep a safe distance. Repeated horn use may scare an animal into the travel path. Passing close at speed removes the needed reaction space, and cutting between animals from the shoulder is unpredictable. Reduce speed early, wait for a safe opening, and give the animals room to settle.

Source: the Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Section 7: 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.