Chapter 5-13: Impairing factors (other than drugs and alcohol)

The “Impairing Factors” section of the Saskatchewan written driving test highlights how various conditions can negatively affect driving ability.

Saskatchewan Driving Test - Chapter 5-13: Impairing factors (other than drugs and alcohol)

1 / 30

Even slight variations in angry driving behavior are:

Still considered road rage

Acceptable if traffic is heavy

Only a problem on highways

Not serious and can be ignored

2 / 30

If someone is driving aggressively behind you, the best way to ensure your safety is to:

Speed up to get away

Pull over and let that person pass

Change lanes repeatedly

Brake suddenly to warn them

3 / 30

Aggressive driving is more commonly known as:

Careful driving

Safe driving

Defensive driving

Road rage

4 / 30

Aggressive driving (road rage) occurs when a motorist becomes:

Overly cautious

Angry, hostile, or furious behind the wheel

Calm and relaxed

Confused about directions

5 / 30

While driving, you should never:

Report emergencies

Use any features of a hands-free unit

End a stressful conversation

Take notes or look up phone numbers

6 / 30

Many collisions caused by cellphones are the result of:

Weather changes

Poor road conditions

Driver distraction

Mechanical failure

7 / 30

To avoid contributing to road rage, you should:

Race other drivers to prove a point

Yell at other drivers if they make mistakes

Not take traffic problems personally

Honk frequently to express frustration

8 / 30

In fog, blowing snow, or heavy rain, you should:

Use low beam headlights

Use only parking lights

Use high beam headlights

Turn off your headlights

9 / 30

If you know you are under emotional or physical stress, you should:

Drive more slowly and carefully

Not drive and arrange for someone else to drive you

Avoid highways but keep driving elsewhere

Drive only on familiar roads

10 / 30

When you need to dial a number on your cellphone, you should:

Pull off the road before dialing

Dial while slowing down in your lane

Dial at red lights only

Dial quickly while turning

11 / 30

One recommended action when you begin to feel tired while driving is to:

Drink coffee and ignore the fatigue

Turn up the radio and keep driving

Stop and rest

Open the windows and speed up

12 / 30

A recommended characteristic of the person who drives you when you are under stress is that they:

Are a close family member, regardless of their health

Are not involved in the emotional situation and are physically well

Are emotionally involved so they understand you

Are willing to drive fast to arrive sooner

13 / 30

An early warning sign of fatigue is:

Keeping a large following distance

Reducing your speed below the limit

Frequently checking your mirrors

Staring straight ahead instead of scanning properly

14 / 30

To promote safer traffic flow, you should:

Use the passing lane as a parking area

Speed up to prevent others from passing

Not block the passing lane

Drive in the passing lane at all times

15 / 30

Emotional or physical stress while driving:

Has no effect on your driving ability

Distracts you from the thinking part of your driving

Only matters on long trips

Always improves concentration

16 / 30

To reduce cellphone distraction, you should:

Hold it in your lap and glance at it

Place it on the steering wheel

Put your cellphone where it will not tempt you or switch it off/airplane mode

Keep it in your hand for quick access

17 / 30

When encountering an aggressive driver, you should:

Try to block them from passing

Avoid eye contact

Stare back to show confidence

Follow closely to monitor them

18 / 30

Driving while tired is especially unwise when:

You are driving in city traffic

You are driving at low speeds

You are driving on a winding road

You are driving along a straight road

19 / 30

To deal with fatigue, a good strategy is to:

Change drivers when you start to feel tired

Follow another vehicle closely

Move to the fast lane

Turn off your headlights

20 / 30

When smoking in a vehicle, you should:

Turn the heater to maximum

Keep all windows closed

Open the windows

Use air recirculation only

21 / 30

If a phone conversation becomes stressful or emotional while you are driving, you should:

Turn up the radio and continue talking

Keep driving and ignore your emotions

Pull over or end the conversation

Speak louder to resolve it quickly

22 / 30

The safest overall practice for using a phone in a vehicle is:

Whenever possible, pull over to a safe spot to use the phone

Use it only when stopped in a traffic jam

Use it only when traffic is light

Use it only on highways

23 / 30

When visibility is poor, you should adjust your speed to:

Match the speed of other drivers

The number of seconds you can see ahead

The maximum speed limit

Half of the posted limit regardless of conditions

24 / 30

If you cannot see 12 seconds ahead even after slowing down, you should:

Move to the centre of the road

Find a safe place and get off the road

Keep driving with your hazard lights on

Follow the vehicle ahead closely

25 / 30

If you cannot stay awake while driving, you should:

Continue but drive slower

Get off the road

Open the windows and keep going

Turn on your hazard lights and stay in your lane

26 / 30

To help others see you in fog, dust, or heavy rain, you should:

Turn on interior lights

Make sure your headlights and tail lights are on and clean

Use only your hazard flashers

Drive without lights to avoid glare

27 / 30

A behavior that helps prevent road rage is:

Using your horn often

Tailgating slower vehicles

Blocking the passing lane

Not making obscene gestures

28 / 30

During the first 10 minutes of a rainstorm, roads are:

The least slippery

The most slippery

Only slippery on hills

No different than dry conditions

29 / 30

When driving in heavy rain, you should:

Use cruise control to maintain speed

Slow down and make only small, gentle movements with the controls

Brake hard to maintain control

Frequently change lanes

30 / 30

Cigarette smoke inside a vehicle can cause:

Better visibility through the glass

No effect on the windows

A film on the inside of the windshield and windows

Only an odor with no visual impact

Your score is

This section examines factors such as fatigue, stress, illness, and prescription or over-the-counter medications that may cause drowsiness or slow reaction times. Test-takers learn how distractions such as mobile phones, eating, or adjusting in-car controls can reduce focus and increase the risk of accidents. Understanding these impairing factors is crucial for safe driving, as they can be just as dangerous as drugs or alcohol. Mastery of this section encourages drivers to recognize and manage anything that might compromise their alertness on Saskatchewan’s roads.