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

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Skids are primarily caused by:

Passenger movement

Driver error

Mechanical design of the bus

Weather forecasts

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

Steer in the direction of the new skid

Apply full throttle

Hold the wheel rigidly straight

Apply the parking brake hard

3 / 25

ABS systems “feel” tire slip using:

Computer-controlled sensors at each wheel

The parking brake cable

The power steering pump

A pressure gauge on the dashboard

4 / 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

Slamming the brakes to the floor immediately

Pumping the brakes rapidly with no feel

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

Reduce fuel consumption

Make braking completely automatic

Prevent wheel lockup and maintain steering control

Eliminate the need for driver input

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When ABS is working correctly, you:

Cannot steer until the vehicle stops

Retain your ability to steer during a panic stop

Must steer in a straight line only

Should not attempt to steer at all

7 / 25

A tire-failure skid can result from:

Low engine oil pressure

Overuse of windshield wipers

Under-inflation or a sudden deflation from a blowout

Excessive use of turn signals

8 / 25

Once mastered, threshold braking will:

Always stop you slower but more comfortably

Only work on dry roads

Damage the braking system

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

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

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

Only read about ABS in the manual

Test ABS only in heavy traffic

Avoid ever activating ABS intentionally

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

Use turn signals

Use the horn

Look in your mirrors

Over-steer

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When correcting a skid, you should turn your wheels:

Straight ahead and hold them there

All the way to the left

In the opposite direction of the skid

In the same direction the rear of the vehicle is skidding

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Hydroplaning is most likely caused by:

Using winter tires in summer

Driving at night

Using high-beam headlights in rain

Travelling too fast on a water-covered road

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

Let go of the wheel to avoid injury

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

Immediately turn onto the shoulder

Turn sharply into the skid

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

Steering and braking properly

Shifting to neutral and coasting

Turning off the engine

Accelerating hard

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If a front tire blows out, the steering will:

Not be affected

Become completely loose in your hands

Pull away from the side with the blowout

Pull strongly toward the side with the blowout

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When braking hard with ABS, you should:

Apply light, intermittent pressure

Release the pedal if you feel pulsation

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

Pump the brakes rapidly

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

Whenever you begin to steer

As soon as you feel vibration

Only when you no longer need to brake

When your speed drops by half

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During a skid, tires lose:

The ability to rotate

Contact with the rims

Air pressure immediately

Proper traction with the road surface

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What is the best way to control a skid?

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

Lock the brakes immediately

Accelerate to straighten the vehicle

Turn the steering wheel quickly in any direction

20 / 25

Pumping ABS brakes:

Engages an emergency mode

Is required on slippery roads

Helps the system work faster

Defeats the computer’s effort to sense a wheel skid

21 / 25

A flat tire acts like:

A steering stabilizer

A traction aid

A brake on that side of the vehicle

A shock absorber on that side

22 / 25

Front wheel skids can result from:

Faulty brakes or excessive acceleration or speed on curves

Use of low gear on hills

Keeping a large following distance

Clean, dry pavement

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

Steering, braking, decelerating and accelerating

Only accelerating

Only steering

Only braking

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Skids almost always happen because the vehicle was:

Being driven in a straight line

Travelling too fast for conditions

Using low beam headlights

Too light for the road surface

25 / 25

A slippery film that can cause skids often develops:

Only in freezing temperatures

Only after hours of steady rain

After the first few minutes of rain

Only during snow storms

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.