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:

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

Aim directly for the vehicle to stop it

2 / 30

A common cause of collisions with the vehicle ahead is:

Using low-beam headlights in the daytime

Driving under the speed limit

Following too close

Excessive signaling

3 / 30

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

Ignore them and maintain your speed exactly

Brake hard to warn them

Slow down slightly to encourage them to pass

Speed up above the limit

4 / 30

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

Only front, back, and oncoming

Above, below, left, right, front, back

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

Only left and right

5 / 30

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

Honking continuously regardless of child movement

Speeding up to clear the area sooner

Driving in the oncoming lane

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

6 / 30

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

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

Perfect weather conditions

Excessive lane markings

Clear and empty roadway

7 / 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

Turn off your headlights

Speed up to get past them quickly

Move left to force them back

8 / 30

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

Four seconds

Three seconds

Two seconds

One second

9 / 30

Faulty driving maneuvers that may cause lane intrusion include:

Using daytime running lights

Misjudging distance needed to pass or making a wide turn

Driving at or below the speed limit

Signaling too early

10 / 30

Head-on collisions could be largely avoided if everyone:

Stayed carefully on the right side except when permitted to pass

Drove slower than the posted limit

Drove slightly over the center line

Used high beams at all times

11 / 30

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

Turning on hazard lights and stopping immediately

Reducing speed and preparing to brake

Ignoring the situation because the road is clear behind

Changing lanes without signaling

12 / 30

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

Pull onto the shoulder immediately

Maintain speed and change lanes

Slow down to increase following distance

Speed up to pass the vehicle ahead

13 / 30

A good method to negotiate curves is to:

Stay centered over the center line for the widest path

Slow down before the curve and gently apply power after entering

Coast through with no pedal use

Speed up into the curve and brake hard in the middle

14 / 30

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

Turn on hazard lights continuously

Move into the oncoming lane

Decrease your following distance to clear the area faster

Increase your following distance from the vehicle ahead

15 / 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

16 / 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

17 / 30

In the example involving children playing near parked cars, the “predict” step is:

The traffic light will turn red

Child could run out onto the road from behind parked cars

The cars will move suddenly

The road will become slippery

18 / 30

Centrifugal force on a curve tends to:

Eliminate the need to steer

Pull the vehicle into the center of the curve

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

Stop the vehicle from turning

19 / 30

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

See, steer, speed, stop

Look, listen, turn, stop

Signal, merge, pass, return

Identify, predict, decide, execute

20 / 30

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

Vehicles with clear rear visibility

Only vehicles going slower than you

Very small cars

Oversize vehicles that obscure your vision

21 / 30

One major benefit of commentary driving is that it:

Develops good visual skills and helps resist distractions

Allows you to drive faster safely

Reduces fuel consumption

Eliminates the need to check mirrors

22 / 30

Commentary driving is a technique where the driver:

Uses only mirrors and not direct vision

Follows GPS spoken instructions only

Verbalizes their main observations and interpretations while driving

Drives with the radio off to focus

23 / 30

The four-second rule involves:

Counting stop signs passed in four seconds

Blinking headlights four times

Measuring four bus lengths between vehicles

Timing the gap after the vehicle ahead passes a fixed object

24 / 30

You should also increase following distance when:

The road is straight and empty

It is sunny and dry

You are late for your route

Road conditions are poor and visibility is reduced

25 / 30

With practice, commentary driving should lead to:

Turning off all internal bus lights

Ignoring hazards that aren’t directly ahead

Silent but active observation becoming a habit

Relying on passengers to point out hazards

26 / 30

A tailgater (vehicle behind) creates a hazard because:

They reduce your fuel economy

They improve overall traffic flow

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

They increase your following distance automatically

27 / 30

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

Staying alert and allowing a safe following distance

Focusing mostly on the speedometer

Maintaining a fixed speed regardless of traffic

Relying on the vehicle’s horn to warn others

28 / 30

In the example of commentary driving, the driver first:

Immediately brakes hard

Swerves away from parked cars

Ignores the children because they are off the road

Identifies existing conditions and potential hazards

29 / 30

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

Use of automatic transmissions

Drivers using turn signals too early

Too many lane markings

Many drivers following too close

30 / 30

On right curves, you should:

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

Move slightly into the shoulder

Keep close to the center line

Use the left lane if available

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.