35.36. What should a driver do if it starts to drizzle while driving on a dry asphalt concrete road?
UAЯк слід вчинити водієві, якщо під час руху сухою дорогою з асфальтобетонним покриттям почав накрапати дощ?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about safe speed and adapting driving style to sudden changes in road conditions. The onset of rain on dry asphalt concrete is often the most insidious moment: dust, sand, wear products, and traces of oil become wet and form a slippery film, which sharply reduces tire grip on the road. In such conditions, the braking distance increases, the risk of skidding and loss of control rises, and visibility can quickly deteriorate due to droplets on the glass and glare from the wet surface.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules regarding driving speed and the driver's responsibilities: in particular, the requirements of paragraph 12.1 on choosing a safe speed taking into account the road situation, and paragraph 2.3 on attentiveness and timely response to danger. The correct tactic in this situation is logical: reduce speed and act more cautiously to maintain control of the vehicle, have a margin for braking, and safely perform maneuvers.
The analysis of answer options in the theoretical exam is straightforward. The advice to drive without changing speed ignores the fact that the surface has already become slippery, and therefore the "usual" speed may become dangerous. The option to increase speed is the most risky: on a slippery film, any braking or turning can result in a skid, and at higher speeds, the consequences of a mistake are much more serious. That is why the correct choice within the Traffic Rules of Ukraine for this exam question is to reduce speed and exercise increased caution.
Clause 12.1
When choosing a safe driving speed within the established limits, the driver must take into account the road situation, the specifics of the cargo being transported, and the condition of the vehicle, in order to be able to constantly control its movement and drive it safely.
Application: when rain begins, the road situation changes (traction worsens, braking distance increases), so the driver is required to choose a lower safe speed.
Clause 2.3 (subclause "b")
To ensure road safety, the driver is obliged to: be attentive, monitor the road situation, respond appropriately to its changes, monitor the correct placement and securing of cargo, the technical condition of the vehicle, and not be distracted from driving this vehicle.
Application: the onset of rain is a sudden change in the road situation, which requires increased attention and caution.
Clause 2.3 (subclause "d")
To ensure road safety, the driver is obliged: in the event of a danger to traffic that the driver can objectively detect, he must immediately take measures to reduce speed up to stopping the vehicle or safely bypassing the obstacle for other road users.
Application: deterioration of traction and visibility with the onset of rain is a potential danger that the driver can recognize in advance, so he must reduce speed.
Clause 12.2
At night and in conditions of insufficient visibility, the driving speed must be such that the driver can stop the vehicle within the visible distance of the road.
Application: rain is often accompanied by reduced visibility, so speed should be further reduced to a level that allows stopping within the visible distance.
Thus, the correct answer is "Reduce speed and be especially careful," considering that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, the driver is obliged to choose a safe speed taking into account changes in the road situation, be attentive, and in case of danger immediately reduce speed.
When you are driving on a dry asphalt concrete road and it suddenly starts to drizzle, the tire grip conditions change almost immediately. At first glance, there may not yet be puddles of water, but it is the first drops that create the most insidious situation.
On dry asphalt, there is always a thin layer of dust, sand, and wear products, as well as traces of oil from vehicles. At the beginning of rain, this mixture gets wet and turns into a slippery film that acts like "grease" between the tire and the road. As a result, the braking distance increases and the risk of skidding during any sudden maneuver rises, even if the speed still seems "normal."
Additionally, the perception of the road situation worsens: the windshield quickly becomes covered with droplets, glare from the wet surface may appear, and drivers ahead begin to change their speed. According to the Traffic Rules, the driver must choose a safe speed taking into account the road surface condition and visibility, and also control the vehicle in such a way as to be able to stop in time within the visible distance. When the surface becomes slippery, it is much more difficult to meet these requirements without reducing speed.
Therefore, the correct tactic at the beginning of rain is simple: reduce speed, avoid sudden braking and steering movements, increase the following distance, and act with particular caution until you are sure that the surface does not provoke skidding.
Thus, the correct answer is "Reduce speed and be especially careful," because at the beginning of rain, a slippery film of dust and contaminants forms on the asphalt, grip decreases, and the risk of losing control increases, so the safe speed must be reduced immediately.