Violation code392.14

§392.14

Failing to use extreme caution in hazardous conditions

49 CFR §392.14

At a glance

Severity
5
OOS eligible
No
BASIC category
Unsafe Driving
Typical fine
$500–$5,000 per offense

Extreme caution is required when hazardous conditions (snow, ice, sleet, fog, smoke, dust, mist) adversely affect visibility or traction. Driving must be reduced or discontinued when conditions become sufficiently dangerous.

§392.14 imposes a two-step duty: first, exercise extreme caution when hazardous conditions adversely affect visibility or traction; second, discontinue operation when conditions become sufficiently dangerous. The rule's enforcement bite shows up after a crash — officers and litigators look back at whether the driver kept moving in conditions that should have parked the truck.

Severity weight

Severity weight 5 in the Unsafe Driving BASIC. The post-crash discoverability of §392.14 makes it a frequent finding even when the citation issues weeks after the event, via FMCSA's accident review process.

How to prevent it

  • Issue and document a written adverse-weather policy. Drivers should know they have authority to shut down, and pay should not penalize that choice.
  • Track NOAA advisories at the dispatch level. A weather-driven layover paid by the carrier is cheaper than a §392.14 citation plus crash exposure.
  • Coach drivers to articulate "the road conditions that caused me to stop" in the duty status remark — the documentation matters at audit.

How Roadworthy HQ helps

§392.14 findings link to the driver's record, to the dispatch context if recorded, and to the §385.337(b) corrective action documentation. The carrier policy and the driver's acknowledgment are retained in the audit binder under §391.51.

Related violations

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Roadside findings link to the driver and vehicle, with corrective action documented and surfaced in the audit binder.

Not legal advice · CFR is the authoritative source · SMS Appendix A publishes current severity weights