When it has just started raining, where is the most slippery path of the road likely to be?

When it has just started raining, where is the most slippery path of the road likely to be?

• A. The center of the lane
• B. The left edge
• C. Near the shoulder
• D. The right lane

Answer: (A)

When rain just starts, the road surface is often most slippery in the center of the lane. Oil, grease, and rubber deposits from vehicles tend to build up there, and the rain lifts that film up, creating a very slick surface. The center is also the part of the road that bears the most traffic, so it accumulates more of this slippery residue than the edges or shoulder. As a result, traction is reduced there first, before the rest of the roadway is cleaned by the rain. So the center of the lane is the likely slickest spot to encounter. In that situation, slow down, brake gently, and give extra following distance. The edges and shoulder may have other hazards like loose grit or dirt, which can affect traction differently, but they aren’t the slickest spot at the moment rain begins.

When rain just starts, the road surface is often most slippery in the center of the lane. Oil, grease, and rubber deposits from vehicles tend to build up there, and the rain lifts that film up, creating a very slick surface. The center is also the part of the road that bears the most traffic, so it accumulates more of this slippery residue than the edges or shoulder. As a result, traction is reduced there first, before the rest of the roadway is cleaned by the rain. So the center of the lane is the likely slickest spot to encounter. In that situation, slow down, brake gently, and give extra following distance. The edges and shoulder may have other hazards like loose grit or dirt, which can affect traction differently, but they aren’t the slickest spot at the moment rain begins.