Patente Quiz B
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Lesson and quiz, category B licence

Driving in adverse conditions (Guida in condizioni particolari)

On the exam this topic tests how to adapt lights, speed and manoeuvres to fog, rain, snow, ice, darkness, low sun, wind and long descents; this site has 22 true or false statements to practise on it.

The theory exam has 30 statements in 20 minutes and you pass with at most 3 mistakes. Source: Codice della Strada.

Skip to the quiz Study the rules

The real theory exam is in Italian, with French or German available on request. Lessons here keep the Italian terms in italics, and the quiz shows each statement in Italian with English help underneath. Switch to Italian only in the quiz to practise under exam conditions.

The rules

Question 1 of 1

Rule 1

Which lights to use

Outside built up areas dipped headlights stay on by day too, on every extra urban road and on motorways; vehicles fitted with daytime running lights may use those instead. In tunnels dipped headlights always go on, by day and even when the tunnel is lit, because the eye needs time to adjust between light and dark. Front fog lights are for fog, haze, falling snow or heavy rain, not clear weather. The rear fog light goes on only in fog or particularly intense precipitation, because it dazzles drivers behind and masks brake lights.

Example

At midday in July you enter a fully lit motorway tunnel. You switch on dipped headlights before the entrance.

Legal reference: CdS art. 152; CdS art. 153

Exam traps

  • «In tunnels only if there is no lighting»: false, always.
  • «The rear fog light is used whenever visibility is reduced» or «front fog lights in any weather»: false.

Rule 2

Fog

In fog you set your speed by how far you can see, so you can stop within the visible distance. Main beam makes things worse, because the light bounces off the droplets and forms a white wall: use dipped lights and fog lights. Following the tail lights of the car ahead closely is a mistake, because you travel at its speed without seeing the road and with no room to brake. Lowering the window helps you hear nearby vehicles, especially at junctions.

Example

On the Po Valley plain visibility drops to about forty metres. You slow down until you can stop within that distance and let the car ahead pull away.

Legal reference: CdS art. 141; CdS art. 153

Exam traps

  • «In thick fog main beam improves visibility»: false.
  • «It helps to follow the lights ahead closely»: false.

Rule 3

Rain and aquaplaning

Aquaplaning happens when a film of water gets between tyre and road and removes grip. The risk rises with speed, worn tread and standing water, so in heavy rain you slow down. On a wet road braking distances grow, and more so downhill, because the weight pushing forward adds to the loss of grip. After a deep puddle you dry the brakes with light presses. Hazard lights are not switched on while driving in rain: they mark a stationary vehicle that is a danger.

Example

The steering suddenly goes light over standing water on the motorway. You lift off the accelerator without braking and hold the wheel straight until the tyres grip again.

Legal reference: CdS art. 141

Exam traps

  • «In heavy rain you drive with hazard lights on»: false.
  • «On a wet downhill braking is the same as on dry road»: false.

Rule 4

Snow and ice

On snow and ice every manoeuvre is made as gently as possible: no sudden acceleration, braking or steering. To slow down on ice you use engine braking, gradually. Chains go on the driven wheels, which on a rear wheel drive car are the back ones. An automatic gearbox does not prevent skids: grip depends on contact between tyre and road.

Example

On a rear wheel drive car you fit chains to the rear wheels, not the front, even if the front is easier.

Legal reference: CdS art. 141

Exam traps

  • «On ice it is best to brake hard»: false.
  • «Chains sempre (always) go on the front»: false, on the driven wheels.

Rule 5

Darkness, glare and low sun

At night your speed must let you stop within the distance lit by your headlights. You do not look straight at oncoming headlights, which leave a blind patch for a few seconds: look towards the right hand edge. When low sun dazzles you slow down, not speed up, because the stopping distance must stay within what you can actually see.

Example

At sunset, driving west, the sun shines straight through the windscreen. You lower the sun visor and slow down until the road is readable again.

Legal reference: CdS art. 141

Exam traps

  • «With dazzling sun it is best to speed up and get through»: false.

Rule 6

Crosswinds and long descents

A strong crosswind calls for a firm grip on the wheel, especially leaving tunnels and on viaducts, where a gust can push the vehicle sideways. On long, steep descents you do not coast in neutral: you lose engine braking, and brakes used constantly overheat until they fade. You select a low gear and brake in short spells.

Example

Coming down an Alpine pass you select third or second and brake only before the hairpins, letting the brakes cool on the straights.

Legal reference: CdS art. 141

Exam traps

  • «Downhill, neutral saves fuel and is advisable»: false.

Rule 7

What can go wrong

Three scenes show what happens when lights and speed ignore the weather. First scene: one December morning on the A4 motorway between Brescia and Verona fog cuts visibility to a few metres. A driver switches on main beam to see better and sits a few metres behind a van's tail lights to find the way. The van brakes for a queue and the car hits it, and more cars behind do the same. Art. 141 of the Codice della Strada requires a speed that lets you stop within the visible distance, and main beam in fog only creates a wall of light. Second scene: on the Brenner state road at midday a driver enters a lit tunnel without switching on dipped headlights. Just past the entrance he slows behind a broken down van. The driver following, eyes not yet adjusted from sunlight to the gloom, sees the unlit car late and runs into it. Art. 153 requires dipped headlights in tunnels at all times, by day and in lit tunnels too, precisely to be visible in those seconds. Third scene: on the A24 motorway towards L'Aquila, after snowfall, a driver in a front wheel drive automatic, sure that the automatic gearbox prevents skids, takes an icy descent at normal speed and brakes hard before a bend. The wheels lock, the car goes straight on and hits the barrier. On ice you slow down earlier, using engine braking and doing it gradually. The shared lesson is simple. In bad weather you choose the right lights, drive so you can stop within what you see, and make every manoeuvre slow and gentle.

Legal reference: CdS art. 141; CdS art. 153

CdS: Codice della Strada (d.lgs. 285/1992). Reg.: its implementing regulation (d.P.R. 495/1992). c.: comma, the numbered paragraph of an article.

Full text of the Codice: www.aci.it/i-servizi/normative/codice-della-strada.html

Trap words

False statements on the exam often repeat a true rule and change a single word. These are the Italian words to read carefully in this topic. They stay in Italian because that is how they appear on the exam.

Words that appear in every topic

sempre
always. An absolute: the statement is true only if there is no exception at all.
«Keeping to the limit sempre (always) guarantees a safe speed»: false, in fog or on ice you go slower.
solo, soltanto, esclusivamente
only. It rules out every other case, so a single exception makes the statement false.
«The children sign is placed soltanto (only) outside primary schools»: false, it also appears near parks and sports grounds.
mai, in nessun caso
never, in no case. The statement is true only if the behaviour is not allowed in any situation.
«A driver with priority may in nessun caso (never) give it up»: false, they may, as long as they make it clear.
ovvero
In the language of the Codice it means «or» and introduces an alternative. It does not mean «that is».
Emergency stop: the vehicle has broken down ovvero (or) the driver must stop because they feel unwell (art. 157). Two separate cases; either one is enough.
obbligatoriamente, è obbligatorio
compulsory. A duty: it is not enough for the behaviour to be allowed, it must be required.
«Overtaking on the left is obbligatorio (compulsory) even past a driver turning left»: false, in that case you pass on the right.
è consentito, è ammesso
allowed, permitted. A permission, not a duty. «È consentito» does not mean «è obbligatorio», and the reverse.
«It is consentito (allowed) to pass on the right a driver who has signalled a left turn»: true, and art. 148(7) actually requires it.
di norma, di regola
as a rule, normally. It states the general rule, which allows exceptions, so the statement does not claim to hold in every case.
«Outside built up areas warning signs are placed di norma (as a rule) 150 metres ahead»: true, and a panel gives any other distance.
anche
also, even. It stretches the rule to one more case; ask whether that added case really belongs.
«The no parking sign anche (also) bans stopping»: false, a brief stop is still allowed under a no parking sign.
automaticamente, di per sé
automatically, in itself. It suggests an effect that applies on its own, when the effect usually depends on a sign or a specific condition.
«In fog the motorway limit automaticamente (automatically) drops to 90 km/h»: false, the automatic cut applies to rain and snow.
qualsiasi, qualunque, in ogni caso
any, in every case. It generalises; look for the category or situation the rule leaves out.
«The safe distance is the same at qualunque (any) speed»: false, it grows with speed.
corsia
lane. The part of the carriageway wide enough for one line of vehicles (art. 3).
A two way carriageway (carreggiata) usually has two corsie (lanes), one for each direction.
carreggiata
carriageway. The part of the road for vehicles, made up of one or more lanes (art. 3). It does not include the verge or the pavement.
A speed limit applies to the whole carreggiata (carriageway), not only to the lane next to the sign.
banchina
verge, hard strip. The strip beside the carriageway and outside it, not meant for driving (art. 3).
Outside built up areas you park off the carriageway, for example on a suitable banchina (verge) (art. 157(3)).
fermata
stop. A brief halt to let people get in or out, with the driver present and ready to move off (art. 157).
Pulling in to drop off a passenger and leaving straight away is a fermata (stop), not a sosta (parking).
sosta
parking. A prolonged halt during which the driver may leave the vehicle (art. 157).
A divieto di sosta (no parking) does not ban stopping; a divieto di fermata (no stopping) bans parking too.
arresto
halt. An interruption caused by traffic, such as a red light or a queue. It is not the driver's choice (art. 157).
Stopping at a red light is an arresto (halt); no stopping ban prevents it.

Check yourself

Three statements on the topic. Answer and see straight away whether the rule has stuck. These answers are not saved.

Question 1 of 1

  1. In galleria le luci anabbaglianti si accendono solo quando l'illuminazione interna è assente.

    In a tunnel dipped headlights are needed only when there is no internal lighting.

  2. Con nebbia fitta conviene seguire da vicino le luci posteriori del veicolo che precede per orientarsi.

    In thick fog it is best to follow the rear lights of the vehicle ahead closely to keep oriented.

  3. Con pioggia molto forte le luci di emergenza vanno tenute accese durante la marcia.

    In very heavy rain the hazard lights should be kept on while driving.

Topic quiz: 22 statements

Untimed. After each answer you see the solution, the explanation, the trap words highlighted and a link back to the rule. At the end you get your score and can retest just the ones you missed.

Question 1 of 1

  1. Fuori dei centri abitati le luci anabbaglianti devono restare accese anche di giorno.

    Outside built up areas dipped headlights must stay on during the day too.

  2. In galleria le luci anabbaglianti si accendono solo quando l'illuminazione interna è assente.

    In a tunnel dipped headlights are needed only when there is no internal lighting.

  3. Con nebbia fitta l'uso degli abbaglianti migliora la visibilità.

    In thick fog main beam headlights improve visibility.

  4. L'aquaplaning si verifica quando tra pneumatico e asfalto si interpone un velo d'acqua che annulla l'aderenza.

    Aquaplaning happens when a film of water between tyre and road cancels grip.

  5. Su fondo ghiacciato conviene frenare bruscamente per ridurre subito la velocità.

    On an icy surface braking hard is the best way to cut speed quickly.

  6. Il vento laterale forte richiede una presa più salda del volante, soprattutto all'uscita delle gallerie.

    Strong side wind calls for a firmer grip on the wheel, above all when leaving tunnels.

  7. Guidare di notte richiede una velocità tale da potersi arrestare entro il tratto illuminato dai fari.

    Night driving requires a speed that allows stopping within the stretch lit by the headlights.

  8. In discesa lunga e ripida conviene procedere in folle per risparmiare carburante.

    On a long steep descent it is advisable to coast in neutral to save fuel.

  9. In galleria le luci anabbaglianti vanno tenute accese anche di giorno e anche quando la galleria è illuminata.

    In tunnels dipped headlights must stay on during the day and even when the tunnel is lit.

  10. Con pioggia intensa la velocità va ridotta perché il rischio di aquaplaning cresce al crescere della velocità.

    In heavy rain speed must come down because the risk of aquaplaning grows with speed.

  11. Le luci posteriori per nebbia possono essere usate anche in caso di precipitazioni particolarmente intense.

    Rear fog lights may also be used during particularly heavy precipitation.

  12. Con nebbia fitta è utile abbassare il finestrino per percepire i rumori del traffico.

    In thick fog it helps to lower the window and listen to the traffic.

  13. Su strada innevata le manovre vanno eseguite con la massima dolcezza, evitando accelerazioni e frenate brusche.

    On a snow covered road every manoeuvre must be made as gently as possible, avoiding sharp acceleration and braking.

  14. Di notte conviene evitare di guardare direttamente i proiettori dei veicoli che sopraggiungono.

    At night it is best not to look straight at the headlights of oncoming vehicles.

  15. Dopo aver attraversato una pozzanghera profonda conviene asciugare i freni con leggere frenate.

    After driving through a deep puddle the brakes should be dried with light applications.

  16. Con nebbia fitta conviene seguire da vicino le luci posteriori del veicolo che precede per orientarsi.

    In thick fog it is best to follow the rear lights of the vehicle ahead closely to keep oriented.

  17. Le catene da neve si montano sulle ruote anteriori di qualsiasi veicolo.

    Snow chains are fitted to the front wheels of any vehicle.

  18. I proiettori fendinebbia anteriori possono essere tenuti accesi in qualunque condizione atmosferica.

    Front fog lamps may be kept on in any weather.

  19. Con il sole basso che abbaglia conviene accelerare per uscire prima dal tratto critico.

    With a low dazzling sun it is better to speed up and get out of the difficult stretch sooner.

  20. Con il cambio automatico il rischio di slittamento sul ghiaccio è eliminato.

    With an automatic gearbox the risk of skidding on ice is removed.

  21. Con pioggia molto forte le luci di emergenza vanno tenute accese durante la marcia.

    In very heavy rain the hazard lights should be kept on while driving.

  22. In discesa su fondo bagnato lo spazio di frenata è uguale a quello su fondo asciutto.

    Going downhill on a wet surface the braking distance is the same as on a dry one.

What next

All exam topics

Educational content. For the official rules, see the Codice della Strada and legal notes.