Rainy night, pedestrian with an umbrella
Look at the picture, read the situation, and mark each of the three statements true (○) or false (✕). All three right scores 2 points.
You are driving through a residential area at 40 km/h on a rainy night, and the wet road surface is reflecting the streetlights. A pedestrian with an umbrella is walking along the left edge of the road; they are wearing dark clothes and you can make out only a silhouette. Answer true or false for each of the following.
- (1)Even on a rainy road, you can brake just as you normally do.
- (2)Pedestrians are hard to see in the rain, so you drive more slowly than usual.
- (3)Out of consideration for the vehicle behind you, you keep driving with your high beams on.
Show the answers and explanation
- (1) ✕ FalseEven on a rainy road, you can brake just as you normally do.
- (2) ○ TruePedestrians are hard to see in the rain, so you drive more slowly than usual.
- (3) ✕ FalseOut of consideration for the vehicle behind you, you keep driving with your high beams on.
Explanation
On a wet road with worn tires, stopping distance can be about twice what it is on a dry road with good tires (Rules of the Road (kyōsoku), Ch. 5, Sec. 4, 2(3)). At night you notice pedestrians later, so you need to slow down more than usual (Rules of the Road, Ch. 6, Sec. 3, 1(1)). High beams dazzle oncoming drivers and pedestrians, so as a rule you switch to low beams (Road Traffic Act, Art. 52).
Source: Rules of the Road (kyōsoku), Ch. 5, Sec. 4, 2(3) + Ch. 6, Sec. 3, 1(1) (driving on a rainy night) / Road Traffic Act, Art. 52 (use of headlights)
