Highway pavement will be particularly treacherous and most slippery:
Answers
If it has been raining several hours.
If it has just begun to rain.
If it has been raining for one to two hours.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is: If it has just begun to rain.
Explanation:
When it starts to rain, the pavement becomes especially treacherous and slippery for the first few moments. This is because rain mixes with oil, dirt, and other debris that have accumulated on the road surface. During dry conditions, oil from vehicles and other residues form a thin layer on the pavement. When the rain first begins, the water mixes with these substances, creating a slick, greasy layer. This combination makes the road extremely slippery, especially for the first 15 to 30 minutes of rainfall.
After this initial period, the rain washes away most of the dirt and oil, which leads to a reduction in slipperiness. In the case of prolonged rain (e.g., after an hour or more), the road may still be wet but generally safer to drive on than it was in the early stages of rainfall. Water typically flows off the road or spreads out evenly, reducing the hazardous buildup of slippery layers.
In contrast, if it has been raining for several hours, while roads will still be wet, the dangerous oily mixture will have been largely washed away, reducing the slipperiness compared to when it just started to rain. Similarly, if the rain has been ongoing for one to two hours, the road’s surface may be wet, but it will not be as slick as it was initially, due to the cleaning effect of the rain.
Therefore, the most hazardous time to drive is when it just begins to rain, as the road surface is still coated with oil and debris mixed with the rain, creating a slick surface that significantly increases the risk of accidents.