Chapter 3-4a: Driving at night and in bad weather

The “Driving at Night and in Bad Weather” section of the Ontario truck driver knowledge test prepares drivers for challenging conditions that affect visibility and road safety.

Ontario Truck Driver Test - Chapter 3-4a: Driving at night and in bad weather

1 / 30

In rain, you should leave extra space between you and the vehicle ahead to:

Make room to speed up suddenly

Allow more stopping distance and reduce spray that affects visibility

Let other drivers cut in

Keep other vehicles from passing

2 / 30

In fog, which headlights should you use?

Low-beam headlights (and fog lights if equipped)

High-beam headlights only

Parking lights only

No lights, to avoid glare

3 / 30

A key safety reminder when driving in fog is to:

Turn on high beams and flash them often

Stop on the road if you feel unsure

Drive as close as possible to the car ahead

Leave a safe braking distance and remain calm and patient

4 / 30

On country roads at night, you should switch to low beams when:

Approaching a curve or hilltop

You are driving under the speed limit

You see no signs on the road

Following no other traffic

5 / 30

If your wiper blades do not clean the windshield without streaking, you should:

Use high beams instead

Drive only in daylight

Turn them off and rely on ventilation

Replace them

6 / 30

In rain, you should drive slowly enough to:

Match the speed of other traffic regardless of visibility

Be able to stop within the distance you can see

Keep your tires very warm

Avoid leaving any following distance

7 / 30

Rain makes road surfaces particularly slippery:

Only at very low temperatures

Especially as the first drops begin to fall

Only after many hours of rain

Only when it stops raining

8 / 30

At night, when facing oncoming vehicles with bright headlights, you should look:

Down at your speedometer

Directly into the headlights

To the left edge of the road

Up and beyond and slightly to the right of the oncoming lights

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When fog appears to be clearing, you should:

Begin passing other vehicles immediately

Avoid speeding up suddenly

Accelerate quickly back to the speed limit

Turn off your headlights

10 / 30

To reduce the risk of hydroplaning, you should:

Drive close to the vehicle in front

Have good tires with deep tread and slow down when the road is wet

Use cruise control in heavy rain

Drive faster to cut through the water

11 / 30

In fog, your following distance should be:

Increased, to allow extra distance to brake safely

Kept the same as in clear conditions

Decreased, to see the vehicle ahead better

Determined only by the speed limit

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Hydroplaning occurs when:

Your tires lose air pressure slowly

Your engine overheats in rain

Your windshield wipers fail

Your tires ride on top of the water, like water skis

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To reduce daytime glare from the sun, you should:

Turn on your high-beam headlights

Close your eyes briefly

Use your sun visor or good quality sunglasses

Drive faster to get out of the glare

14 / 30

If visibility in fog is decreasing rapidly, you should:

Move off the road into a safe parking area and wait for the fog to lift

Stop on the travelled portion of the road

Turn on high beams and keep going

Sound your horn continuously

15 / 30

In fog, you should NOT:

Stop on the travelled portion of the road

Increase following distance

Reduce speed gradually

Use low-beam headlights

16 / 30

To stay safe in fog, you should manage distractions by:

Using your phone navigation in your hand

Reducing distractions, such as turning off your cell phone

Turning up the radio for company

Talking frequently on the phone to stay alert

17 / 30

You should avoid driving through puddles because they:

Can hide potholes and may damage your vehicle or cause loss of control

Cool your brakes safely

Clean your tires

Improve traction

18 / 30

To reduce glare at night around other vehicles, you should:

Use low-beam headlights within 150 metres of oncoming traffic or when following within 60 metres

Turn off your headlights near other vehicles

Use parking lights only

Use high-beam headlights at all times for maximum visibility

19 / 30

Overdriving your headlights occurs when:

Your headlights are set to low beam

You are driving only in well-lit areas

You are driving slower than the speed limit

Your stopping distance is farther than you can see with your headlights

20 / 30

Glare is best described as:

Dazzling light that makes it hard to see and be aware of others

Dim light that makes it hard to read signs

Any light coming from behind the vehicle

Light that only affects your rearview mirror

21 / 30

A major reason to avoid driving on flooded roads is that:

It improves engine cooling too much

It uses more fuel

It cleans the underside of your vehicle

Water may prevent your brakes from working

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When entering a tunnel on a bright day, you should first:

Keep your sunglasses on for as long as possible

Slow down and let your eyes adjust to the reduced light

Turn off your headlights

Speed up to exit the tunnel quickly

23 / 30

Fog is best described as:

A heavy rainfall

A thin layer of cloud resting on the ground

A strong wind that pushes the car

A patch of ice on the roadway

24 / 30

When driving in fog, you should use this as a guide:

Roadside trees and fences

The centre line only

The right edge of the road rather than the centre line

Oncoming vehicles’ headlights

25 / 30

After driving through a flooded stretch of road, you should:

Turn the engine off while moving

Pump the brakes lightly at high speed without stopping

Test your brakes at about 50 km/h by stopping quickly and firmly when safe

Continue driving normally without checking the brakes

26 / 30

Reflective road signs can contribute to overdriving your headlights because they:

Only work with high beams

Are too dim to be helpful

Can make you believe you see farther than you really can

Absorb too much light

27 / 30

If fog becomes too dense to continue, you should:

Drive slowly with no lights

Drive on the shoulder with high beams

Pull completely off the road into a safe parking area and turn on emergency flashers plus low beams

Stop in your lane with hazard lights on

28 / 30

A danger of overdriving your headlights is that:

You will use more fuel

Your headlights will burn out faster

You may not have enough distance to stop safely

Oncoming drivers will see you too clearly

29 / 30

The safest overall strategy when there is a fog warning is to:

Follow large trucks closely

Drive faster to get through the fog quickly

Drive with hazard lights only

Delay your trip until the fog clears

30 / 30

When driving at night or in bad weather that reduces visibility, you should:

Slow down to a speed that suits the conditions

Maintain the speed limit regardless of visibility

Use high beams at all times

Follow the vehicle ahead closely

Your score is

This section emphasizes the need for reduced speeds, increased following distances, and heightened alertness during night driving or adverse weather such as rain, snow, or fog. Drivers are taught to use headlights properly, avoid sudden maneuvers, and check that all lights and wipers are functioning. The section also covers recognizing hazards like black ice and slippery roads. Adhering to these guidelines helps truck drivers minimize risks, ensuring safer journeys for themselves and others on the road.