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Safe driving and emergencies

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The whole pool, with the answer and the explanation for each one. Practise first, then read through anything you were unsure of.

Show all 26 questions with answers

  1. 1 of 26 · Safe driving

    Under normal road and weather conditions, what is the minimum following distance behind the vehicle ahead?

    • A.2 secondsAnswer
    • B.1 second
    • C.1 car length
    • D.6 seconds

    Explanation: Stay at least 2 seconds behind the vehicle ahead: when its rear passes a fixed mark, count; if you reach the mark before you finish, you are too close. Increase the gap when conditions are less than ideal. The rule works at any speed.

  2. 2 of 26 · Safe driving

    What minimum following distance is recommended for drivers of large vehicles such as motor homes?

    • A.4 secondsAnswer
    • B.2 seconds
    • C.3 seconds
    • D.10 seconds

    Explanation: Heavier vehicles need more room to stop, so drivers of large vehicles such as motor homes should keep a minimum 4-second following distance instead of 2 seconds.

  3. 3 of 26 · Safe driving

    When driving in an urban area, how far ahead should you look?

    • A.At least 12 to 15 seconds aheadAnswer
    • B.About 2 to 3 seconds ahead
    • C.Just past the hood of your vehicle
    • D.At least 40 seconds ahead

    Explanation: In urban areas, look at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead; in rural areas, at least 20 to 25 seconds. This visual lead time gives you time to spot and respond to hazards before you reach them.

  4. 4 of 26 · Safe driving

    How often should you glance in your rear view mirrors while driving?

    • A.Every 8 to 12 secondsAnswer
    • B.Only before changing lanes
    • C.About once a minute
    • D.Only when a vehicle is honking behind you

    Explanation: Check behind you every 8 to 12 seconds — about once a block in the city — and also whenever you expect to slow down or stop, so you know what is behind you.

  5. 5 of 26 · Safe driving

    A driver is following you too closely. What should you do?

    • A.If it is safe, slow down slightly to encourage them to pass, and leave more space ahead of youAnswer
    • B.Tap your brakes repeatedly to warn them
    • C.Speed up to get away from them

    Explanation: If someone tailgates you and it is safe, reduce your speed just enough to encourage them to pass. If they still do not pass, widen the space between you and the vehicle ahead so you can stop gradually if you must.

  6. 6 of 26 · Safe driving

    Besides at night, when must you turn on your headlights?

    • A.Whenever you cannot clearly see 150 metres aheadAnswer
    • B.Only when it is raining heavily
    • C.Only on highways with a speed limit over 80 km/h

    Explanation: Turn your headlights on at night and at any time you cannot clearly see 150 metres in front of you. Daytime running lights are not enough: they are dimmer and leave your tail-lights off.

  7. 7 of 26 · Safe driving

    At night, you must switch to low beams when an oncoming vehicle is within what distance?

    • A.300 metresAnswer
    • B.100 metres
    • C.50 metres
    • D.1 kilometre

    Explanation: Dim to low beams within 300 metres of an oncoming vehicle — even on a divided highway — and within 150 metres when you are following another vehicle, so you do not blind the other driver.

  8. 8 of 26 · Safe driving

    An oncoming vehicle’s headlights are dazzling you at night. Where should you look?

    • A.Slightly down and to the right edge of your lane until it passesAnswer
    • B.Directly at the oncoming headlights to judge their distance
    • C.At the centre line, and switch on your high beams

    Explanation: Do not stare into oncoming lights. Look slightly down and toward the right edge of your lane until the vehicle passes, and slow down if the glare makes the road hard to see.

  9. 9 of 26 · Safe driving

    Why should you use low beams rather than high beams in fog or smoke?

    • A.High beams reflect back at you and create glareAnswer
    • B.High beams drain the battery faster in cold weather
    • C.Low beams make your vehicle look larger to other drivers

    Explanation: In fog, smoke and rain, high beams bounce off the water droplets or particles and throw glare back at you. Low beams light the road without blinding you; if you still cannot see, move well off the road and wait.

  10. 10 of 26 · Safe driving

    Your tires start to hydroplane on a wet road. What should you do?

    • A.Do not brake; ease off the accelerator and steer where you want the front of the vehicle to goAnswer
    • B.Brake hard to regain grip
    • C.Accelerate to push through the water

    Explanation: Hydroplaning means the tires have lost contact with the road. Braking can make you lose control; instead release the accelerator to let the vehicle slow, and look and steer where you want to go.

  11. 11 of 26 · Safe driving

    Why should you not use cruise control when roads may be icy?

    • A.On ice it keeps applying the accelerator, and you could lose controlAnswer
    • B.It uses more fuel in cold weather
    • C.It is illegal to use cruise control between November and March

    Explanation: Do not use cruise control when weather and road conditions are poor. When the tires hit ice, the system keeps feeding power to the wheels and you could lose control; keep your own foot in charge of the speed.

  12. 12 of 26 · Safe driving

    In cold weather, which road surface tends to form slippery patches before others?

    • A.Bridge decks and overpassesAnswer
    • B.Sunny stretches of open road
    • C.Freshly sanded roads

    Explanation: Bridge decks and overpasses freeze more readily than other road surfaces, and shaded areas can stay icy after the sun has melted the rest. Avoid unnecessary lane or speed changes on them.

  13. 13 of 26 · Safe driving

    You start to feel tired on a long drive. What should you do?

    • A.Stop in a safe place for a rest and walk aroundAnswer
    • B.Turn up the heat and keep going
    • C.Drive faster to finish the trip sooner

    Explanation: Fatigue slows your reactions and impairs judgement, and can lead you off the road or into oncoming traffic. When you feel tired, stop for a rest and walk around; a warm, comfortable vehicle makes drowsiness worse.

  14. 14 of 26 · Safe driving

    What makes up your total stopping distance?

    • A.Perception distance + reaction distance + braking distanceAnswer
    • B.Braking distance only
    • C.Reaction distance + following distance

    Explanation: Total stopping distance is the ground covered while you notice the danger, while you move your foot to the brake — about three-quarters of a second each on average — and while the brakes slow the vehicle. Road conditions, fatigue and worn brakes or tires all lengthen it.

  15. 15 of 26 · Emergencies & collisions

    Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS) and you must stop suddenly. How should you brake?

    • A.Apply steady, firm pressure without pumping, and steer where you want to goAnswer
    • B.Pump the brake pedal quickly
    • C.Release the pedal as soon as you feel it vibrate

    Explanation: With ABS, press the brake firmly and keep steady pressure; do not pump or release it. The vibration you feel is the ABS working, and it lets you keep steering while you brake.

  16. 16 of 26 · Emergencies & collisions

    In a vehicle without ABS, what is threshold braking?

    • A.Pressing the brake firmly to the point just before the wheels lockAnswer
    • B.Locking the wheels on purpose to skid to a stop
    • C.Using only the park brake

    Explanation: Without ABS, locked wheels stop rolling and you lose steering. Brake firmly up to the point just before lockup; if the wheels do lock, ease off slightly to get steering back, then brake firmly again.

  17. 17 of 26 · Emergencies & collisions

    Your vehicle starts to skid. What is the general rule for regaining control?

    • A.Take your feet off the brake and accelerator, and look and steer where you want the front of the vehicle to goAnswer
    • B.Brake as hard as you can and hold the wheel straight
    • C.Steer sharply in the opposite direction to the skid

    Explanation: Most skids come from driver error such as going too fast or braking too hard. To recover, stay off both the brake and the accelerator, look and steer where you want the front of the vehicle to go, and avoid large steering corrections.

  18. 18 of 26 · Emergencies & collisions

    You accelerate too quickly on a slippery road and the wheels spin (a power skid). What should you do first?

    • A.Take your foot off the gas pedal so the wheels stop spinningAnswer
    • B.Press the brake hard
    • C.Press the accelerator harder to push through

    Explanation: A power skid happens when you accelerate too quickly. Lift off the gas so the wheels stop spinning, make any steering corrections needed without over-correcting, then use gentle acceleration to keep moving.

  19. 19 of 26 · Emergencies & collisions

    Your right wheels drop off the pavement onto the gravel shoulder. What should you do?

    • A.Grip the wheel firmly, ease off the gas, avoid braking, and return to the road gradually once it is clearAnswer
    • B.Steer sharply back onto the pavement right away
    • C.Brake hard until you stop on the shoulder

    Explanation: Do not jerk the vehicle straight back onto the road. Hold the wheel firmly, take your foot off the gas, brake only gently if you must, check for traffic, and then steer back gradually into your lane at a controlled speed.

  20. 20 of 26 · Emergencies & collisions

    Your brakes fail completely while your wheels are pointed straight. What can you do to slow down?

    • A.Carefully use the park brake and shift to a lower gearAnswer
    • B.Turn the engine off and remove the key
    • C.Shift into Park at once

    Explanation: If the brakes fail and your wheels are not turned, apply the park brake carefully and shift to a lower gear to bring the vehicle to a controlled stop. Do not drive again until the brakes have been checked and repaired.

  21. 21 of 26 · Emergencies & collisions

    A front tire goes flat while you are driving and the vehicle pulls hard to one side. What should you do?

    • A.Grip the wheel firmly, resist braking right away, and let the vehicle slow as you take your foot off the gasAnswer
    • B.Brake hard immediately
    • C.Speed up to keep the vehicle straight

    Explanation: A flat front tire pulls the vehicle toward that side. Hold the wheel firmly, resist the urge to brake, take your foot off the gas and let the engine slow you; once you have control and speed is down, brake gently and pull off the road.

  22. 22 of 26 · Emergencies & collisions

    Both headlights suddenly go out at night. What should you try first?

    • A.Turn on the hazard lights and switch the headlight control off and onAnswer
    • B.Brake hard and stop in your lane
    • C.Follow the tail-lights of the vehicle ahead closely

    Explanation: Turn on the hazard lights and switch the headlight control off and on. If the lights stay off, slow down, move to the emergency stopping lane or edge of the road, and park in a safe place.

  23. 23 of 26 · Emergencies & collisions

    Your vehicle breaks down on the highway. Where should you place reflective triangles?

    • A.Behind the vehicle, about 10 to 20 metres apartAnswer
    • B.On the roof of the vehicle
    • C.In front of the vehicle, touching the bumper

    Explanation: Pull as far off the road as you can, turn on the hazard lights, raise the hood, and place reflective triangles behind the vehicle about 10 to 20 metres apart so approaching drivers get an early warning.

  24. 24 of 26 · Emergencies & collisions

    You are stranded off the highway in winter and your vehicle is in a safe place. What is usually safest?

    • A.Stay with the vehicle, run the engine just enough to stay warm, and open a window slightlyAnswer
    • B.Walk to find help, even in a storm
    • C.Run the engine nonstop with all windows closed tight

    Explanation: It is usually safer to stay with a vehicle that is in a safe place. Run the engine only enough to stay warm and keep a window open a little: a leaky exhaust can fill the vehicle with carbon monoxide, which you cannot see, smell or taste.

  25. 25 of 26 · Emergencies & collisions

    Nobody is hurt in a collision and no public property is damaged. When must it still be reported to police?

    • A.When the overall damage exceeds $5000Answer
    • B.Only when the other driver asks you to
    • C.When the overall damage exceeds $20,000
    • D.Never, if no one is injured

    Explanation: Report a collision to police if anyone is injured or killed, if overall damage exceeds $5000, or if a traffic control device, parking meter or public property is damaged. Check alberta.ca for the current threshold. If police come to the scene, all drivers must remain.

  26. 26 of 26 · Emergencies & collisions

    You are involved in a minor collision. Which of these should you do?

    • A.Exchange names, contact information and insurance details, but do not discuss who was at faultAnswer
    • B.Agree with the other driver on who was at fault before leaving
    • C.Leave without exchanging information if the damage looks small

    Explanation: Exchange names, contact information and insurance details with the other drivers, record witnesses and the time, place and weather, and notify your insurer as soon as possible. Do not discuss fault — that is for police and insurers to decide.