The manual's Snow and Ice section says that when you stop on a snowy or icy road, you should do what?
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A.
Keep your foot off the brake and let the engine slow the vehicle. Correct
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B.
Pump the brake pedal firmly and repeatedly to keep control.
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C.
Hold the brake down steadily until the vehicle has stopped.
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D.
Shift into neutral and coast to a stop without braking.
The answer is "Keep your foot off the brake and let the engine slow the vehicle."
The Snow and Ice list on p.73 says to keep your foot off the brake and let the engine slow the vehicle, in the same list that calls for at least three times the normal stopping distance. The firm, steady pressure rule lives in the Anti-lock Braking System section on p.66 and applies to ABS stopping, not to the engine-braking advice this list is giving; a driver who learned the ABS rule 'brake hard, keep firm and steady pressure' and carries it over to any slick-road stop picks C.
The traps in the wrong answers
B. Pump the brake pedal firmly and repeatedly to keep control.
Pumping the pedal applies the brakes, which conflicts with this list's instruction to keep your foot off the brake and let the engine slow the vehicle. Carries over the pre-ABS habit of pumping the brakes on ice from older driver training, which this list does not endorse.
C. Hold the brake down steadily until the vehicle has stopped.
The Snow and Ice list on p.73 does not ask for steady pedal pressure. Applies the Anti-lock Braking System rule on p.66 ('brake hard and keep firm, steady pressure') to any slick-road stop, when that rule governs ABS stopping, not the engine-braking advice in the Snow and Ice list.
D. Shift into neutral and coast to a stop without braking.
Neutral disconnects the engine drag the manual wants doing the slowing. Assumes disengaging the engine helps traction, when the Snow and Ice list wants the engine connected and pulling the vehicle down.
This question tests your knowledge of Defensive Driving in North Carolina. Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook, "Snow and Ice," p.73..
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