Series 3-22: Detecting Other Driving Hazards

The “Detecting Other Driving Hazards” section of the Alberta School Bus knowledge test assesses a driver’s ability to recognize and respond to various dangers beyond typical road conditions.

Alberta School Bus Test - SERIES 3-22: Detecting Other Driving Hazards

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A motion-related clue to danger might be:

A pedestrian standing still, facing away from the road

Children playing near the road or a pedestrian running toward the road

A person sitting on a park bench

A cyclist walking their bike on a path far from traffic

2 / 25

Quick, jerky stops when not necessary indicate:

Normal braking behaviour

A possible hazard that requires you to give extra room

Safe and defensive driving

Good anticipation of traffic flow

3 / 25

A clue to a potential hazard involving other road users is:

People standing inside a building

Parked cars in a closed lot

Pedestrians or joggers on the shoulder or sidewalk near the road

Empty sidewalks far from the road

4 / 25

A red-light-runner is most likely to arrive at the intersection:

Within about four seconds of the light changing

Ten seconds after the light changes

Only before the light turns red

Only late at night

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An attentiveness-related hazard clue is:

A pedestrian whose vision is obscured or who is distracted (e.g., by an umbrella or music)

A cyclist signalling well in advance

A driver carefully checking mirrors before stepping out

A pedestrian making clear eye contact with you

6 / 25

Single vehicle hazards involve:

Only vehicles travelling at high speed

Two vehicles travelling in opposite directions

Three or more vehicles in a collision

Only the motion of an individual vehicle

7 / 25

Out-of-province licence plates suggest:

The driver will never need extra space

The driver knows the local roads well

The driver may be unfamiliar with the area and could stop or change directions unexpectedly

The driver is always more skilled

8 / 25

Multiple vehicle hazards are typically formed:

Only in parking lots

Only on deserted rural roads

Only during perfect weather conditions

At traffic conflict points where traffic converges or intersects

9 / 25

One key difficulty of real driving situations is that hazards:

Are always easy to predict and avoid

Only occur in good weather

Often occur in combination, requiring split-second thinking and action

Always occur one at a time

10 / 25

Left turns at controlled intersections:

Are one of the most dangerous driving manoeuvres and cause many serious collisions

Are always safe and low risk

Require no special attention

Are less risky than right turns

11 / 25

High-volume traffic can increase hazards because:

It guarantees smoother traffic flow

Visibility can be restricted by other traffic

It removes the need to adjust speed

It eliminates the risk of collisions

12 / 25

When entering an intersection, the immediate danger usually comes from:

Parked vehicles beside the road

Traffic coming from your left on the cross-street

Traffic behind your vehicle

Pedestrians on the sidewalk behind you

13 / 25

If you entered the intersection legally on a green light and the light turns yellow or red while you wait to turn left, you:

May complete your turn at the earliest safe opportunity

Must remain stopped until the next green

Are not allowed to finish the turn

Must back out of the intersection

14 / 25

Frequent lane changes by another driver suggest:

The driver is trying to help traffic flow

The driver is following all safety rules

The driver has excellent lane control

Possible aggressiveness, inattentiveness, indecisiveness, fatigue, or alcohol impairment

15 / 25

If many vehicles are ahead of you waiting to turn left and it may take more than one light cycle, you might:

Go straight through, then make three right turns on side streets to reach your destination

Honk until drivers move faster

Block the intersection to force your turn

Drive onto private property to turn around

16 / 25

While waiting to turn left in an intersection, your front wheels should be:

Turned fully to the left as soon as you stop

Kept straight until you actually begin the turn

Turned randomly to keep moving

Turned slightly right

17 / 25

A clue that another vehicle may present a hazard and deserves extra space is:

Maintaining a steady, appropriate speed

Keeping a long following distance

Frequent speed changes when not required by conditions

Using turn signals early

18 / 25

To make left turns safer, the most important thing for a driver is to be:

Unconcerned about cross traffic

Knowledgeable and mindful of the dangers

Focused only on the traffic light colour

Fast and assertive

19 / 25

Another driver’s failure to adjust to icy, slippery road conditions:

Is a clue that they are a potential hazard

Means you can follow them closely

Means they are highly skilled in winter driving

Has no impact on your driving decisions

20 / 25

Other road user hazards include:

Road signs and signals

Only other buses

Only vehicles larger than your bus

Pedestrians, cyclists, joggers, and animals near the roadway

21 / 25

The correct sequence for checking when entering an intersection is:

Look left, then right, then left again before moving into the intersection

Look straight ahead, then left

Look right only and proceed

Look in the rear-view mirror first

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When waiting in the intersection to turn left on a green light, you must:

Block oncoming traffic to force your turn

Turn as soon as your light is green, regardless of oncoming traffic

Yield to all oncoming traffic going straight through

Only watch for pedestrians, not vehicles

23 / 25

A driver who fails to signal intentions:

Is usually very experienced

Is always paying attention to traffic

Is not a concern to other road users

May present a hazard because their actions are unpredictable

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If you do not have a clear view of all oncoming traffic lanes when turning left, you should:

Honk and proceed anyway

Not begin your turn until you have a clear view and it is safe

Turn slowly into the blind area

Rely on other drivers to avoid you

25 / 25

The main reason for keeping your wheels straight while waiting to turn left is:

To save fuel

To make your turn slower

To reduce tire wear

To avoid being pushed into oncoming traffic if rear-ended

Your score is

This includes unexpected actions from other drivers, such as sudden lane changes, aggressive driving, or vehicles running red lights. School bus drivers must remain alert and prepared to react appropriately to these unpredictable situations. The test ensures drivers can identify these hazards early and take preventive measures to protect their passengers. Strong skills in hazard detection are vital for maintaining a safe journey and upholding the high safety standards required for Alberta school bus drivers.