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

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

2 / 25

When ABS is working correctly, you:

Should not attempt to steer at all

Must steer in a straight line only

Retain your ability to steer during a panic stop

Cannot steer until the vehicle stops

3 / 25

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

Only steering

Steering, braking, decelerating and accelerating

Only braking

Only accelerating

4 / 25

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

Eliminate the need for driver input

Prevent wheel lockup and maintain steering control

Reduce fuel consumption

Make braking completely automatic

5 / 25

Once mastered, threshold braking will:

Damage the braking system

Only work on dry roads

Always stop you slower but more comfortably

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

6 / 25

“Threshold braking” means:

Pumping the brakes rapidly with no feel

Slamming the brakes to the floor immediately

Using only the parking brake to stop

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

7 / 25

When braking hard with ABS, you should:

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

Apply light, intermittent pressure

Pump the brakes rapidly

Release the pedal if you feel pulsation

8 / 25

If a front tire blows out, the steering will:

Pull strongly toward the side with the blowout

Become completely loose in your hands

Pull away from the side with the blowout

Not be affected

9 / 25

A tire-failure skid can result from:

Excessive use of turn signals

Overuse of windshield wipers

Under-inflation or a sudden deflation from a blowout

Low engine oil pressure

10 / 25

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

Avoid ever activating ABS intentionally

Test ABS only in heavy traffic

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

Only read about ABS in the manual

11 / 25

What is the best way to control a skid?

Lock the brakes immediately

Accelerate to straighten the vehicle

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

Turn the steering wheel quickly in any direction

12 / 25

Hydroplaning is most likely caused by:

Using winter tires in summer

Travelling too fast on a water-covered road

Driving at night

Using high-beam headlights in rain

13 / 25

A slippery film that can cause skids often develops:

Only after hours of steady rain

After the first few minutes of rain

Only in freezing temperatures

Only during snow storms

14 / 25

During a skid, tires lose:

Contact with the rims

Proper traction with the road surface

The ability to rotate

Air pressure immediately

15 / 25

ABS systems “feel” tire slip using:

A pressure gauge on the dashboard

The parking brake cable

Computer-controlled sensors at each wheel

The power steering pump

16 / 25

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

Look in your mirrors

Use turn signals

Use the horn

Over-steer

17 / 25

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

Turning off the engine

Accelerating hard

Shifting to neutral and coasting

Steering and braking properly

18 / 25

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

As soon as you feel vibration

When your speed drops by half

Only when you no longer need to brake

Whenever you begin to steer

19 / 25

Pumping ABS brakes:

Defeats the computer’s effort to sense a wheel skid

Helps the system work faster

Engages an emergency mode

Is required on slippery roads

20 / 25

Skids are primarily caused by:

Weather forecasts

Passenger movement

Driver error

Mechanical design of the bus

21 / 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 full throttle

Apply the parking brake hard

22 / 25

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

Let go of the wheel to avoid injury

Immediately turn onto the shoulder

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

Turn sharply into the skid

23 / 25

Skids almost always happen because the vehicle was:

Too light for the road surface

Being driven in a straight line

Using low beam headlights

Travelling too fast for conditions

24 / 25

Front wheel skids can result from:

Use of low gear on hills

Clean, dry pavement

Keeping a large following distance

Faulty brakes or excessive acceleration or speed on curves

25 / 25

When correcting a skid, you should turn your wheels:

All the way to the left

In the same direction the rear of the vehicle is skidding

Straight ahead and hold them there

In the opposite direction of the skid

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.