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

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

Aim directly for the vehicle to stop it

Brake and stop in the middle of the lane only

Ride right off the road rather than into the oncoming vehicle

Swerve into the oncoming lane to surprise the other driver

2 / 30

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

Four seconds

Two seconds

Three seconds

One second

3 / 30

On left curves, you should:

Keep the rear of the bus over the center line

Move closer to the center line to see better

Move left toward oncoming traffic

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

4 / 30

Head-on collisions could be largely avoided if everyone:

Used high beams at all times

Drove slightly over the center line

Drove slower than the posted limit

Stayed carefully on the right side except when permitted to pass

5 / 30

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

Very small cars

Oversize vehicles that obscure your vision

Only vehicles going slower than you

Vehicles with clear rear visibility

6 / 30

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

Only left and right

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

Above, below, left, right, front, back

Only front, back, and oncoming

7 / 30

A tailgater (vehicle behind) creates a hazard because:

They increase your following distance automatically

They improve overall traffic flow

They reduce your fuel economy

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

8 / 30

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

Use of automatic transmissions

Many drivers following too close

Drivers using turn signals too early

Too many lane markings

9 / 30

A good method to negotiate curves is to:

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

Coast through with no pedal use

10 / 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

Relying on the vehicle’s horn to warn others

Maintaining a fixed speed regardless of traffic

11 / 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

Changing lanes without signaling

Reducing speed and preparing to brake

12 / 30

Commentary driving is a technique where the driver:

Follows GPS spoken instructions only

Drives with the radio off to focus

Verbalizes their main observations and interpretations while driving

Uses only mirrors and not direct vision

13 / 30

A common cause of collisions with the vehicle ahead is:

Excessive signaling

Following too close

Using low-beam headlights in the daytime

Driving under the speed limit

14 / 30

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

Reduce your speed immediately and prepare to stop

Speed up to get past them quickly

Move left to force them back

Turn off your headlights

15 / 30

You should also increase following distance when:

Road conditions are poor and visibility is reduced

You are late for your route

It is sunny and dry

The road is straight and empty

16 / 30

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

Look, listen, turn, stop

See, steer, speed, stop

Signal, merge, pass, return

Identify, predict, decide, execute

17 / 30

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

Increase your following distance from the vehicle ahead

Move into the oncoming lane

Decrease your following distance to clear the area faster

Turn on hazard lights continuously

18 / 30

On right curves, you should:

Use the left lane if available

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

Keep close to the center line

Move slightly into the shoulder

19 / 30

Centrifugal force on a curve tends to:

Pull the vehicle into the center of the curve

Stop the vehicle from turning

Eliminate the need to steer

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

20 / 30

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

Honking continuously regardless of child movement

Speeding up to clear the area sooner

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

Driving in the oncoming lane

21 / 30

With practice, commentary driving should lead to:

Turning off all internal bus lights

Relying on passengers to point out hazards

Ignoring hazards that aren’t directly ahead

Silent but active observation becoming a habit

22 / 30

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

Excessive lane markings

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

Clear and empty roadway

Perfect weather conditions

23 / 30

The four-second rule involves:

Counting stop signs passed in four seconds

Timing the gap after the vehicle ahead passes a fixed object

Blinking headlights four times

Measuring four bus lengths between vehicles

24 / 30

Following distance should also be increased when following:

Police cars only

Dangerous goods carriers

Vehicles with trailers only in good weather

Vehicles with very bright tail lights

25 / 30

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

Brake hard to warn them

Ignore them and maintain your speed exactly

Speed up above the limit

Slow down slightly to encourage them to pass

26 / 30

Faulty driving maneuvers that may cause lane intrusion include:

Misjudging distance needed to pass or making a wide turn

Using daytime running lights

Driving at or below the speed limit

Signaling too early

27 / 30

One major benefit of commentary driving is that it:

Eliminates the need to check mirrors

Allows you to drive faster safely

Develops good visual skills and helps resist distractions

Reduces fuel consumption

28 / 30

In the example of commentary driving, the driver first:

Swerves away from parked cars

Ignores the children because they are off the road

Immediately brakes hard

Identifies existing conditions and potential hazards

29 / 30

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

Maintain speed and change lanes

Speed up to pass the vehicle ahead

Pull onto the shoulder immediately

Slow down to increase following distance

30 / 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 road will become slippery

The cars will move suddenly

The traffic light will turn red

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.