Adjusting to conditions — Kansas Permit Test

A Kansas driver should always reduce speed prior to entering a curve, to a speed that allows slight and constant acceleration through the curve.

Braking inside a curve unloads the tires just when they are working hardest. All the slowing happens before it.

Always reduce speed prior to entering the curve to a safe speed (a speed that allows you to apply slight and constant acceleration through the curve).

Hard braking after entry to a Kansas curve could cause the vehicle tires to lose traction.

The tires are already using most of their grip to turn. Braking asks for grip that is not there.

Hard braking after the entry to a curve could cause the vehicle tires to lose traction.

A Kansas driver should reduce speed more in a curve when traction is poor, when following other vehicles, or when they cannot see the end of the curve.

A blind curve could have anything stopped in it. Slower is the only way to keep a stopping option.

Reduce speed more when traction is poor, when following other vehicles or when you cannot see the end of the curve.

Kansas roadways are more slippery when it first starts to rain, snow or sleet, as the water mixes with dirt, oil and other substances on the roadway.

The first few minutes of rain are the worst of it. Drivers relax once it has been raining a while, which is backwards.

Roadways are more slippery when it first starts to rain, snow or sleet as the water will mix with dirt, oil and other substances on the roadway.

A sudden rain on a hot day can make Kansas roadway pavement very slippery for the first few minutes, because heat causes the oil in the asphalt to come to the top of the surface.

A hot road brings its own oil up. The shower that follows floats it, and the surface behaves like ice.

Since heat causes the oil in the asphalt roadway to come to the top of the surface, a sudden rain on a hot day can make the roadway pavement very slippery for the first few minutes.

On wet Kansas roadways a driver should reduce speed about 10 mph below recommended speeds to allow for additional stopping distance and potential traction loss while steering.

Ten under is a rule you can apply without thinking. It covers both the longer stop and the weaker steering.

On wet roadways you should reduce speed about 10 mph below recommended speeds to allow for additional stopping distance and potential traction loss while steering.

If there is packed snow on a Kansas road a driver should reduce their speed by half or more.

Packed snow is much worse than wet. Half speed is the starting point, not the safe answer.

If there is packed snow on the road, reduce your speed by half or more.

Vehicles in Kansas may be equipped with studded snow tires from November 1st to April 1st each year.

The window is set by law because studs chew up the road. Outside it they are not allowed.

Vehicles in Kansas may be equipped with studded snow tires from November 1st to April 1st each year.

When does a Kansas driver reduce speed for a curve?

Before entering the curve at all. Braking inside a curve unloads the tires just when they are working hardest. All the slowing happens before it. Kansas Driving Handbook, p.59: “Always reduce speed prior to entering the curve to a safe speed (a speed that allows you to apply slight and constant acceleration through the curve).”