Series 3-23a: Collision Avoidance 1

The “Collision Avoidance” section of the Alberta School Bus Knowledge Test assesses a driver’s understanding of safe driving practices to prevent accidents.

Alberta School Bus Test - SERIES 3-23a: Collision Avoidance 1

1 / 30

One major benefit of commentary driving is that it:

Reduces fuel consumption

Allows you to drive faster safely

Eliminates the need to check mirrors

Develops good visual skills and helps resist distractions

2 / 30

In the same example, the “decide” step includes:

Choosing to hit a parked car rather than a child if necessary

Honking continuously regardless of child movement

Speeding up to clear the area sooner

Driving in the oncoming lane

3 / 30

On left curves, you should:

Move closer to the center line to see better

Keep the rear of the bus over the center line

Keep the front of the vehicle to the right side of the lane

Move left toward oncoming traffic

4 / 30

A common cause of collisions with the vehicle ahead is:

Following too close

Driving under the speed limit

Excessive signaling

Using low-beam headlights in the daytime

5 / 30

Head-on collisions could be largely avoided if everyone:

Stayed carefully on the right side except when permitted to pass

Drove slightly over the center line

Used high beams at all times

Drove slower than the posted limit

6 / 30

A good method to negotiate curves is to:

Coast through with no pedal use

Slow down before the curve and gently apply power after entering

Speed up into the curve and brake hard in the middle

Stay centered over the center line for the widest path

7 / 30

In the example of commentary driving, the driver first:

Immediately brakes hard

Identifies existing conditions and potential hazards

Ignores the children because they are off the road

Swerves away from parked cars

8 / 30

If a head-on collision seems unavoidable after following previous steps, you should:

Aim directly for the vehicle to stop it

Swerve into the oncoming lane to surprise the other driver

Ride right off the road rather than into the oncoming vehicle

Brake and stop in the middle of the lane only

9 / 30

The six positions another vehicle can take relative to yours before a collision include:

Ahead, behind, oncoming, intersection/angle, passing you, you passing

Above, below, left, right, front, back

Only left and right

Only front, back, and oncoming

10 / 30

Commentary driving is a technique where the driver:

Uses only mirrors and not direct vision

Drives with the radio off to focus

Verbalizes their main observations and interpretations while driving

Follows GPS spoken instructions only

11 / 30

One reason a driver might move into the wrong lane is:

Clear and empty roadway

A problem in their lane, such as a construction barrier or animal

Perfect weather conditions

Excessive lane markings

12 / 30

When being tailgated and unable to get rid of the tailgater, you should:

Decrease your following distance to clear the area faster

Move into the oncoming lane

Increase your following distance from the vehicle ahead

Turn on hazard lights continuously

13 / 30

“Domino” effect crashes involving many vehicles are often caused by:

Too many lane markings

Many drivers following too close

Use of automatic transmissions

Drivers using turn signals too early

14 / 30

For a school bus, the minimum normal following distance from the vehicle ahead should be:

Two seconds

One second

Four seconds

Three seconds

15 / 30

On right curves, you should:

Use the left lane if available

Move slightly into the shoulder

Keep the front of the vehicle close to the right side of the lane

Keep close to the center line

16 / 30

In the example involving children playing near parked cars, the “predict” step is:

Child could run out onto the road from behind parked cars

The cars will move suddenly

The road will become slippery

The traffic light will turn red

17 / 30

You should also increase following distance when:

Road conditions are poor and visibility is reduced

You are late for your route

The road is straight and empty

It is sunny and dry

18 / 30

With practice, commentary driving should lead to:

Silent but active observation becoming a habit

Relying on passengers to point out hazards

Ignoring hazards that aren’t directly ahead

Turning off all internal bus lights

19 / 30

In the same example, the “execute” step is:

Turning on hazard lights and stopping immediately

Ignoring the situation because the road is clear behind

Reducing speed and preparing to brake

Changing lanes without signaling

20 / 30

The four-second rule involves:

Timing the gap after the vehicle ahead passes a fixed object

Counting stop signs passed in four seconds

Blinking headlights four times

Measuring four bus lengths between vehicles

21 / 30

A tailgater (vehicle behind) creates a hazard because:

They may not be able to stop in time if you brake

They reduce your fuel economy

They improve overall traffic flow

They increase your following distance automatically

22 / 30

If an oncoming vehicle enters your lane and continues toward you, one key defensive action is to:

Move left to force them back

Reduce your speed immediately and prepare to stop

Turn off your headlights

Speed up to get past them quickly

23 / 30

Faulty driving maneuvers that may cause lane intrusion include:

Using daytime running lights

Driving at or below the speed limit

Misjudging distance needed to pass or making a wide turn

Signaling too early

24 / 30

A professional operator defends against rear-end collisions with the vehicle ahead by:

Focusing mostly on the speedometer

Staying alert and allowing a safe following distance

Maintaining a fixed speed regardless of traffic

Relying on the vehicle’s horn to warn others

25 / 30

Following distance should also be increased when following:

Dangerous goods carriers

Vehicles with trailers only in good weather

Vehicles with very bright tail lights

Police cars only

26 / 30

Centrifugal force on a curve tends to:

Eliminate the need to steer

Pull the vehicle into the center of the curve

Push the vehicle in a straight line, outward from the curve

Stop the vehicle from turning

27 / 30

If you reach the roadside object before finishing the “one-thousand-and-four” count, you should:

Pull onto the shoulder immediately

Maintain speed and change lanes

Speed up to pass the vehicle ahead

Slow down to increase following distance

28 / 30

The four basic hazard-avoidance steps used with commentary driving are:

Look, listen, turn, stop

Signal, merge, pass, return

See, steer, speed, stop

Identify, predict, decide, execute

29 / 30

If you are already at the speed limit and being tailgated, a good response is to:

Slow down slightly to encourage them to pass

Speed up above the limit

Brake hard to warn them

Ignore them and maintain your speed exactly

30 / 30

Your following distance should be more than four seconds when following:

Only vehicles going slower than you

Vehicles with clear rear visibility

Oversize vehicles that obscure your vision

Very small cars

Your score is

This section highlights the importance of keeping a safe distance from other vehicles, anticipating the actions of fellow road users, and identifying dangerous situations promptly. Drivers should demonstrate an understanding of proper braking techniques, defensive driving practices, and safe navigation through intersections. The examination also includes the effective use of mirrors and emphasizes the importance of clear communication with other drivers. Mastering techniques to avoid collisions is vital for school bus operators to ensure the safety of students and all road users, making it a central focus of the knowledge assessment.