Series 3-24a: Emergency Driving Techniques 1

The “Emergency Driving Techniques” section of the Alberta School Bus Knowledge Test evaluates a driver’s ability to handle unexpected situations safely and effectively.

Alberta School Bus Test - SERIES 3-24a: Emergency Driving Techniques 1

1 / 25

On a vehicle with ABS in an emergency stop, you should release brake pressure:

As soon as you feel vibration

Whenever you begin to steer

When your speed drops by half

Only when you no longer need to brake

2 / 25

Front wheel skids can result from:

Clean, dry pavement

Use of low gear on hills

Faulty brakes or excessive acceleration or speed on curves

Keeping a large following distance

3 / 25

Pumping ABS brakes:

Engages an emergency mode

Defeats the computer’s effort to sense a wheel skid

Helps the system work faster

Is required on slippery roads

4 / 25

Once mastered, threshold braking will:

Only work on dry roads

Stop you faster than any other method with non-ABS brakes

Damage the braking system

Always stop you slower but more comfortably

5 / 25

ABS systems “feel” tire slip using:

A pressure gauge on the dashboard

Computer-controlled sensors at each wheel

The parking brake cable

The power steering pump

6 / 25

When ABS is working correctly, you:

Retain your ability to steer during a panic stop

Should not attempt to steer at all

Must steer in a straight line only

Cannot steer until the vehicle stops

7 / 25

“Threshold braking” means:

Applying brake pressure up to the point of almost locking the wheels, then adjusting

Using only the parking brake to stop

Pumping the brakes rapidly with no feel

Slamming the brakes to the floor immediately

8 / 25

When a tire blowout occurs, your first steering response should be to:

Immediately turn onto the shoulder

Let go of the wheel to avoid injury

Turn sharply into the skid

Grip the steering wheel firmly and steer straight down the centre of your lane

9 / 25

What is the best way to control a skid?

Lock the brakes immediately

Avoid it in the first place by adjusting speed and driving smoothly

Turn the steering wheel quickly in any direction

Accelerate to straighten the vehicle

10 / 25

Skids are primarily caused by:

Passenger movement

Driver error

Mechanical design of the bus

Weather forecasts

11 / 25

When braking hard with ABS, you should:

Pump the brakes rapidly

Release the pedal if you feel pulsation

Press the brake hard and hold it, regardless of noise or pulsation

Apply light, intermittent pressure

12 / 25

During a skid, tires lose:

Air pressure immediately

Contact with the rims

The ability to rotate

Proper traction with the road surface

13 / 25

If the vehicle fishtails in the opposite direction after the first skid, you should:

Steer in the direction of the new skid

Hold the wheel rigidly straight

Apply the parking brake hard

Apply full throttle

14 / 25

A slippery film that can cause skids often develops:

Only during snow storms

Only after hours of steady rain

After the first few minutes of rain

Only in freezing temperatures

15 / 25

To become familiar with ABS operation, it is suggested that you:

Practice hard stops in an empty parking lot to activate the ABS

Avoid ever activating ABS intentionally

Only read about ABS in the manual

Test ABS only in heavy traffic

16 / 25

When correcting a skid, you should turn your wheels:

In the opposite direction of the skid

Straight ahead and hold them there

All the way to the left

In the same direction the rear of the vehicle is skidding

17 / 25

If a front tire blows out, the steering will:

Pull away from the side with the blowout

Not be affected

Pull strongly toward the side with the blowout

Become completely loose in your hands

18 / 25

A tire-failure skid can result from:

Low engine oil pressure

Excessive use of turn signals

Overuse of windshield wipers

Under-inflation or a sudden deflation from a blowout

19 / 25

Hydroplaning is most likely caused by:

Travelling too fast on a water-covered road

Driving at night

Using high-beam headlights in rain

Using winter tires in summer

20 / 25

ABS (anti-lock braking systems) are designed to:

Eliminate the need for driver input

Reduce fuel consumption

Make braking completely automatic

Prevent wheel lockup and maintain steering control

21 / 25

Skids almost always happen because the vehicle was:

Being driven in a straight line

Using low beam headlights

Too light for the road surface

Travelling too fast for conditions

22 / 25

A flat tire acts like:

A traction aid

A shock absorber on that side

A steering stabilizer

A brake on that side of the vehicle

23 / 25

When traction is lost, which vehicle control(s) are affected?

Steering, braking, decelerating and accelerating

Only braking

Only steering

Only accelerating

24 / 25

Once you lose traction and go into a skid, control is regained by:

Steering and braking properly

Turning off the engine

Shifting to neutral and coasting

Accelerating hard

25 / 25

When correcting a skid, you must be careful not to:

Over-steer

Use turn signals

Use the horn

Look in your mirrors

Your score is

This section covers crucial skills such as safely executing emergency stops, steering to avoid obstacles, and managing mechanical failures while keeping students safe. Drivers are tested on their ability to respond to skids, tire blowouts, and sudden road obstructions. Knowledge of the appropriate use of emergency equipment and clear communication with passengers during emergencies is also emphasized. Mastery of these techniques ensures school bus drivers are prepared to act quickly and responsibly in critical situations.