Series 3-5: Stopping Your Vehicle

The “Stopping Your Vehicle” section of the Alberta School Bus knowledge test examines a driver’s ability to stop safely and effectively under various conditions.

Alberta School Bus Test - SERIES 3-5: Stopping Your Vehicle

1 / 20

What should you always do after stopping and parking on a hill?

Set the park brake, turn off the ignition, and remove the keys

Only turn off the ignition, leaving the keys in the bus

Leave the bus in gear without the park brake

Leave the engine idling with the park brake off

2 / 20

Which three factors determine how long it takes a vehicle to stop?

Acceleration time, turning time, braking time

Perception time, steering time, idle time

Reaction time, turning time, coasting time

Perception time, reaction time, braking time

3 / 20

Under what conditions should starting on an uphill grade be practiced?

With a full load of passengers to simulate real conditions

Only during peak traffic hours

Only at night to avoid distractions

Without passengers on board and in an area with little or no traffic

4 / 20

How should you position your front wheels when parking on an upgrade with a curb?

Leave wheels straight

Turn wheels into the curb

Turn wheels away from the curb

Turn wheels sharply to the right

5 / 20

As your speed or load increases, what happens to your total stopping distance?

It is unaffected by speed and load

It decreases slightly

It stays about the same

It increases dramatically

6 / 20

How should you position your front wheels when parking on a downgrade with a curb?

Turn wheels into the curb

Turn wheels slightly to the left regardless of curb

Turn wheels away from the curb

Leave wheels straight

7 / 20

When stopping and parking on a hill, what should you do regarding following traffic?

Check side mirrors for following traffic and signal to pull over

Ignore following traffic and stop immediately

Rely on brake lights only to warn others

Use hand signals only

8 / 20

When starting on a hill with a standard transmission, what should already be engaged while you are stopped?

The clutch

The emergency flashers

The parking brake

The horn

9 / 20

Which is a recommended technique when coming to a normal stop?

Ease off the accelerator in advance of the stop to begin reducing speed

Pump the brakes rapidly from high speed

Maintain speed until the last moment, then brake hard

Shift to neutral and coast well before stopping

10 / 20

If there is no curb, how should you turn your wheels when parked on either an uphill or downhill grade?

Turn the wheels to the right

Leave the wheels straight

It does not matter how the wheels are turned

Turn the wheels to the left

11 / 20

What is the average reaction time for most people?

About 1/4 of a second

About 1½ seconds

About 3/4 of a second

About 3 seconds

12 / 20

Which of the following can negatively affect perception time?

Use of signal lights

Use of the parking brake

Use of alcohol or other drugs (including prescription or over-the-counter)

Use of seat belts

13 / 20

How should you brake to achieve a smooth final stop?

Use only the parking brake to come to a stop

Apply the brake and clutch at the same time from high speed

Ease up on the brake pedal slightly just before stopping, then reapply pressure to come to a complete stop

Press the brake as hard as possible and hold it

14 / 20

On a downgrade, how should you initially apply the brakes when preparing to stop on a hill?

Apply brakes lightly at first, possibly tapping them, then apply firm, even pressure for a smooth stop

Shift to neutral and coast to a stop

Use only the engine brake without touching the pedal

Apply maximum braking immediately

15 / 20

What is reaction time?

The time the bus spends coasting in neutral

The time it takes the brakes to bring the bus to a stop

The time it takes to physically react by releasing the gas and moving to the brake pedal

The time it takes to turn the steering wheel

16 / 20

What is perception time?

The time it takes to move your foot from gas to brake

The time it takes the engine to respond to the brake

The time between pressing the brake and coming to a full stop

The time it takes to see a situation and understand there is a reason to stop

17 / 20

What is the average perception time for most people?

About 2 seconds

About 3/4 of a second

About 1/10 of a second

About 5 seconds

18 / 20

What is braking time?

The time from when the brakes are applied until the vehicle actually stops

The time it takes to move the foot to the brake pedal

The time spent slowing down by using the engine only

The total time to see, decide, and react

19 / 20

What is meant by total stopping distance?

The distance between your bus and the vehicle behind you

The braking distance only

The sum of perception distance, reaction distance, and braking distance

The distance travelled while the bus is in neutral

20 / 20

In the recommended hill-start procedure, what is the correct sequence involving the clutch, gear, and parking brake?

Press the accelerator fully, then release the clutch and parking brake together

Release the parking brake first, then find a gear, then depress the clutch

Shift into neutral, then release the parking brake and coast forward

Depress the clutch, shift into gear, grasp the parking brake handle, release the clutch to the friction point while adding accelerator, then release the parking brake as the clutch begins to grab

Your score is

This section focuses on knowing when and how to stop, maintaining safe following distances, and using appropriate braking techniques. Drivers must understand the importance of anticipating stops, especially near school zones and loading areas, to ensure student safety. The test also covers the correct use of stop arms and warning lights. Mastery of stopping procedures is crucial for preventing accidents and keeping students safe, making this section a vital part of the Alberta School Bus knowledge test.