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

Faulty driving maneuvers that may cause lane intrusion include:

Signaling too early

Misjudging distance needed to pass or making a wide turn

Driving at or below the speed limit

Using daytime running lights

2 / 30

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

Perfect weather conditions

Excessive lane markings

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

Clear and empty roadway

3 / 30

In the same example, the “execute” step is:

Ignoring the situation because the road is clear behind

Turning on hazard lights and stopping immediately

Changing lanes without signaling

Reducing speed and preparing to brake

4 / 30

The four-second rule involves:

Measuring four bus lengths between vehicles

Timing the gap after the vehicle ahead passes a fixed object

Blinking headlights four times

Counting stop signs passed in four seconds

5 / 30

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

Look, listen, turn, stop

Signal, merge, pass, return

Identify, predict, decide, execute

See, steer, speed, stop

6 / 30

With practice, commentary driving should lead to:

Relying on passengers to point out hazards

Ignoring hazards that aren’t directly ahead

Silent but active observation becoming a habit

Turning off all internal bus lights

7 / 30

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

Speeding up to clear the area sooner

Honking continuously regardless of child movement

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

Driving in the oncoming lane

8 / 30

A professional operator defends against rear-end collisions with the vehicle ahead by:

Maintaining a fixed speed regardless of traffic

Relying on the vehicle’s horn to warn others

Staying alert and allowing a safe following distance

Focusing mostly on the speedometer

9 / 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

10 / 30

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

Above, below, left, right, front, back

Only front, back, and oncoming

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

Only left and right

11 / 30

A good method to negotiate curves is to:

Stay centered over the center line for the widest path

Speed up into the curve and brake hard in the middle

Coast through with no pedal use

Slow down before the curve and gently apply power after entering

12 / 30

On left curves, you should:

Move left toward oncoming traffic

Keep the rear of the bus over the center line

Move closer to the center line to see better

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

13 / 30

One major benefit of commentary driving is that it:

Reduces fuel consumption

Allows you to drive faster safely

Develops good visual skills and helps resist distractions

Eliminates the need to check mirrors

14 / 30

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

Slow down to increase following distance

Maintain speed and change lanes

Speed up to pass the vehicle ahead

Pull onto the shoulder immediately

15 / 30

A tailgater (vehicle behind) creates a hazard because:

They improve overall traffic flow

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

They increase your following distance automatically

They reduce your fuel economy

16 / 30

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

Oversize vehicles that obscure your vision

Vehicles with clear rear visibility

Only vehicles going slower than you

Very small cars

17 / 30

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

Two seconds

Three seconds

Four seconds

One second

18 / 30

Following distance should also be increased when following:

Vehicles with very bright tail lights

Police cars only

Dangerous goods carriers

Vehicles with trailers only in good weather

19 / 30

On right curves, you should:

Move slightly into the shoulder

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

Use the left lane if available

Keep close to the center line

20 / 30

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

Move into the oncoming lane

Increase your following distance from the vehicle ahead

Turn on hazard lights continuously

Decrease your following distance to clear the area faster

21 / 30

In the example of commentary driving, the driver first:

Immediately brakes hard

Identifies existing conditions and potential hazards

Ignores the children because they are off the road

Swerves away from parked cars

22 / 30

You should also increase following distance when:

You are late for your route

The road is straight and empty

Road conditions are poor and visibility is reduced

It is sunny and dry

23 / 30

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

Brake hard to warn them

Speed up above the limit

Ignore them and maintain your speed exactly

Slow down slightly to encourage them to pass

24 / 30

Commentary driving is a technique where the driver:

Uses only mirrors and not direct vision

Drives with the radio off to focus

Verbalizes their main observations and interpretations while driving

Follows GPS spoken instructions only

25 / 30

A common cause of collisions with the vehicle ahead is:

Following too close

Using low-beam headlights in the daytime

Driving under the speed limit

Excessive signaling

26 / 30

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

Use of automatic transmissions

Too many lane markings

Drivers using turn signals too early

Many drivers following too close

27 / 30

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

Brake and stop in the middle of the lane only

Ride right off the road rather than into the oncoming vehicle

Aim directly for the vehicle to stop it

Swerve into the oncoming lane to surprise the other driver

28 / 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 traffic light will turn red

The road will become slippery

The cars will move suddenly

29 / 30

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

Turn off your headlights

Reduce your speed immediately and prepare to stop

Speed up to get past them quickly

Move left to force them back

30 / 30

Head-on collisions could be largely avoided if everyone:

Used high beams at all times

Stayed carefully on the right side except when permitted to pass

Drove slightly over the center line

Drove slower than the posted limit

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.