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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Front wheel skids can result from:

Clean, dry pavement

Use of low gear on hills

Keeping a large following distance

Faulty brakes or excessive acceleration or speed on curves

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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

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

Hold the wheel rigidly straight

Steer in the direction of the new skid

Apply the parking brake hard

Apply full throttle

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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

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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

Avoid ever activating ABS intentionally

Test ABS only in heavy traffic

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When ABS is working correctly, you:

Cannot steer until the vehicle stops

Should not attempt to steer at all

Must steer in a straight line only

Retain your ability to steer during a panic stop

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When correcting a skid, you should turn your wheels:

In the same direction the rear of the vehicle is skidding

In the opposite direction of the skid

All the way to the left

Straight ahead and hold them there

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A tire-failure skid can result from:

Excessive use of turn signals

Under-inflation or a sudden deflation from a blowout

Overuse of windshield wipers

Low engine oil pressure

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

Use turn signals

Look in your mirrors

Use the horn

Over-steer

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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

Whenever you begin to steer

Only when you no longer need to brake

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Skids are primarily caused by:

Weather forecasts

Mechanical design of the bus

Driver error

Passenger movement

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A flat tire acts like:

A brake on that side of the vehicle

A traction aid

A shock absorber on that side

A steering stabilizer

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Skids almost always happen because the vehicle was:

Using low beam headlights

Being driven in a straight line

Travelling too fast for conditions

Too light for the road surface

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During a skid, tires lose:

Proper traction with the road surface

Contact with the rims

The ability to rotate

Air pressure immediately

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

Eliminate the need for driver input

Prevent wheel lockup and maintain steering control

Make braking completely automatic

Reduce fuel consumption

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

Immediately turn onto the shoulder

Turn sharply into the skid

Let go of the wheel to avoid injury

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

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Once mastered, threshold braking will:

Always stop you slower but more comfortably

Damage the braking system

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

Only work on dry roads

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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

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If a front tire blows out, the steering will:

Pull strongly toward the side with the blowout

Not be affected

Become completely loose in your hands

Pull away from the side with the blowout

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

Only steering

Steering, braking, decelerating and accelerating

Only braking

Only accelerating

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Pumping ABS brakes:

Helps the system work faster

Defeats the computer’s effort to sense a wheel skid

Engages an emergency mode

Is required on slippery roads

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Hydroplaning is most likely caused by:

Travelling too fast on a water-covered road

Driving at night

Using winter tires in summer

Using high-beam headlights in rain

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“Threshold braking” means:

Pumping the brakes rapidly with no feel

Using only the parking brake to stop

Slamming the brakes to the floor immediately

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

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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

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What is the best way to control a skid?

Lock the brakes immediately

Turn the steering wheel quickly in any direction

Accelerate to straighten the vehicle

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

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.