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

1 / 25

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

Honk and proceed anyway

Turn slowly into the blind area

Rely on other drivers to avoid you

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

2 / 25

High-volume traffic can increase hazards because:

It guarantees smoother traffic flow

It eliminates the risk of collisions

Visibility can be restricted by other traffic

It removes the need to adjust speed

3 / 25

Left turns at controlled intersections:

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

Require no special attention

Are less risky than right turns

Are always safe and low risk

4 / 25

A motion-related clue to danger might be:

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

A pedestrian standing still, facing away from the road

5 / 25

Other road user hazards include:

Only other buses

Road signs and signals

Pedestrians, cyclists, joggers, and animals near the roadway

Only vehicles larger than your bus

6 / 25

Frequent lane changes by another driver suggest:

The driver has excellent lane control

The driver is following all safety rules

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

The driver is trying to help traffic flow

7 / 25

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

Drive onto private property to turn around

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

Block the intersection to force your turn

Honk until drivers move faster

8 / 25

Out-of-province licence plates suggest:

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

The driver will never need extra space

9 / 25

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

Fast and assertive

Knowledgeable and mindful of the dangers

Focused only on the traffic light colour

Unconcerned about cross traffic

10 / 25

Single vehicle hazards involve:

Three or more vehicles in a collision

Only vehicles travelling at high speed

Only the motion of an individual vehicle

Two vehicles travelling in opposite directions

11 / 25

A driver who fails to signal intentions:

May present a hazard because their actions are unpredictable

Is usually very experienced

Is not a concern to other road users

Is always paying attention to traffic

12 / 25

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

Pedestrians or joggers on the shoulder or sidewalk near the road

Parked cars in a closed lot

People standing inside a building

Empty sidewalks far from the road

13 / 25

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

Kept straight until you actually begin the turn

Turned randomly to keep moving

Turned fully to the left as soon as you stop

Turned slightly right

14 / 25

Quick, jerky stops when not necessary indicate:

Safe and defensive driving

Good anticipation of traffic flow

Normal braking behaviour

A possible hazard that requires you to give extra room

15 / 25

Multiple vehicle hazards are typically formed:

Only on deserted rural roads

Only during perfect weather conditions

At traffic conflict points where traffic converges or intersects

Only in parking lots

16 / 25

One key difficulty of real driving situations is that hazards:

Are always easy to predict and avoid

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

Always occur one at a time

Only occur in good weather

17 / 25

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

Only late at night

Within about four seconds of the light changing

Only before the light turns red

Ten seconds after the light changes

18 / 25

The correct sequence for checking when entering an intersection is:

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

Look right only and proceed

Look straight ahead, then left

Look in the rear-view mirror first

19 / 25

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

Traffic coming from your left on the cross-street

Traffic behind your vehicle

Parked vehicles beside the road

Pedestrians on the sidewalk behind you

20 / 25

An attentiveness-related hazard clue is:

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

A driver carefully checking mirrors before stepping out

A pedestrian making clear eye contact with you

A cyclist signalling well in advance

21 / 25

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

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

Only watch for pedestrians, not vehicles

Yield to all oncoming traffic going straight through

Block oncoming traffic to force your turn

22 / 25

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

To avoid being pushed into oncoming traffic if rear-ended

To reduce tire wear

To make your turn slower

To save fuel

23 / 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

Are not allowed to finish the turn

Must back out of the intersection

Must remain stopped until the next green

24 / 25

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

Is a clue that they are a potential hazard

Means they are highly skilled in winter driving

Has no impact on your driving decisions

Means you can follow them closely

25 / 25

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

Maintaining a steady, appropriate speed

Using turn signals early

Keeping a long following distance

Frequent speed changes when not required by conditions

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.