Hazardous weather — West Virginia Permit Test
Hazardous weather on the West Virginia permit test — 5 rules, each with the reason behind it and a question on it while it is fresh.
The rules
Rain and wet pavement are most dangerous at the start of a light rain, when oil, dirt and water form a slippery film on the road.
The road is at its worst before the rain has had time to wash it, which is the opposite of what most people expect.
Rain and wet pavement are dangerous particularly at the start of a light rain when a mixture of oil dirt and water form a slippery film on the road.
Partial hydroplaning starts at about 35 miles an hour, and at 55 miles an hour tires can ride entirely on top of the water with no friction left to brake, accelerate or corner.
Once the tire is on water rather than road, the steering wheel and the brake pedal both stop meaning anything.
At 55 mph tires ride totally on top of the water
Tires with deep treads let water escape from under them and can prevent complete hydroplaning at normal highway speeds.
The tread is not for grip on a dry road; it is the channel the water leaves through.
Tires with deep treads allow water to escape from under the tires and can prevent complete hydroplaning at normal highway speeds.
Never attempt to drive across a flooded roadway: as little as six inches of water can float a smaller vehicle, and two feet will carry most vehicles away.
A floating vehicle can roll while it fills, which is how people end up trapped inside.
As little as six (6) inches of water can float some smaller vehicles, while two (2) feet of water will carry most away.
If your vehicle stalls in a flooded roadway, leave it immediately and seek higher ground.
Motorists trapped inside their vehicles are nearly half of all flash flood deaths in the United States.
If your vehicle stalls in a flooded roadway, leave it immediately and seek higher ground.
On the test
When is a wet road at its most slippery?
At the start of a light rain. The road is at its worst before the rain has had time to wash it, which is the opposite of what most people expect. West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, p.63: “Rain and wet pavement are dangerous particularly at the start of a light rain when a mixture of oil dirt and water form a slippery film on the road.”
How this works
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All West Virginia permit topics
Where these come from
Every rule here is checked against West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, published by the West Virginia Department of Transportation, and against the state code itself. Last checked 2026-09-06.