Chapter 3-4a: Driving at night and in bad weather

The “Driving at Night and in Bad Weather” section of the Ontario truck driver knowledge test prepares drivers for challenging conditions that affect visibility and road safety.

Ontario Truck Driver Test - Chapter 3-4a: Driving at night and in bad weather

1 / 30

To reduce the risk of hydroplaning, you should:

Have good tires with deep tread and slow down when the road is wet

Use cruise control in heavy rain

Drive close to the vehicle in front

Drive faster to cut through the water

2 / 30

In rain, you should drive slowly enough to:

Avoid leaving any following distance

Be able to stop within the distance you can see

Match the speed of other traffic regardless of visibility

Keep your tires very warm

3 / 30

When driving in fog, you should use this as a guide:

Oncoming vehicles’ headlights

The centre line only

Roadside trees and fences

The right edge of the road rather than the centre line

4 / 30

Fog is best described as:

A thin layer of cloud resting on the ground

A strong wind that pushes the car

A heavy rainfall

A patch of ice on the roadway

5 / 30

To reduce glare at night around other vehicles, you should:

Use low-beam headlights within 150 metres of oncoming traffic or when following within 60 metres

Use parking lights only

Turn off your headlights near other vehicles

Use high-beam headlights at all times for maximum visibility

6 / 30

In fog, you should NOT:

Increase following distance

Stop on the travelled portion of the road

Reduce speed gradually

Use low-beam headlights

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If fog becomes too dense to continue, you should:

Stop in your lane with hazard lights on

Drive slowly with no lights

Drive on the shoulder with high beams

Pull completely off the road into a safe parking area and turn on emergency flashers plus low beams

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Glare is best described as:

Light that only affects your rearview mirror

Any light coming from behind the vehicle

Dim light that makes it hard to read signs

Dazzling light that makes it hard to see and be aware of others

9 / 30

When driving at night or in bad weather that reduces visibility, you should:

Slow down to a speed that suits the conditions

Maintain the speed limit regardless of visibility

Follow the vehicle ahead closely

Use high beams at all times

10 / 30

A major reason to avoid driving on flooded roads is that:

It cleans the underside of your vehicle

It improves engine cooling too much

Water may prevent your brakes from working

It uses more fuel

11 / 30

On country roads at night, you should switch to low beams when:

Following no other traffic

You see no signs on the road

Approaching a curve or hilltop

You are driving under the speed limit

12 / 30

In fog, which headlights should you use?

No lights, to avoid glare

Parking lights only

High-beam headlights only

Low-beam headlights (and fog lights if equipped)

13 / 30

To stay safe in fog, you should manage distractions by:

Using your phone navigation in your hand

Talking frequently on the phone to stay alert

Turning up the radio for company

Reducing distractions, such as turning off your cell phone

14 / 30

If your wiper blades do not clean the windshield without streaking, you should:

Turn them off and rely on ventilation

Drive only in daylight

Replace them

Use high beams instead

15 / 30

The safest overall strategy when there is a fog warning is to:

Drive faster to get through the fog quickly

Drive with hazard lights only

Delay your trip until the fog clears

Follow large trucks closely

16 / 30

In rain, you should leave extra space between you and the vehicle ahead to:

Allow more stopping distance and reduce spray that affects visibility

Keep other vehicles from passing

Make room to speed up suddenly

Let other drivers cut in

17 / 30

When fog appears to be clearing, you should:

Begin passing other vehicles immediately

Accelerate quickly back to the speed limit

Avoid speeding up suddenly

Turn off your headlights

18 / 30

After driving through a flooded stretch of road, you should:

Turn the engine off while moving

Continue driving normally without checking the brakes

Test your brakes at about 50 km/h by stopping quickly and firmly when safe

Pump the brakes lightly at high speed without stopping

19 / 30

A danger of overdriving your headlights is that:

You will use more fuel

Oncoming drivers will see you too clearly

You may not have enough distance to stop safely

Your headlights will burn out faster

20 / 30

You should avoid driving through puddles because they:

Cool your brakes safely

Improve traction

Can hide potholes and may damage your vehicle or cause loss of control

Clean your tires

21 / 30

Rain makes road surfaces particularly slippery:

Only when it stops raining

Especially as the first drops begin to fall

Only at very low temperatures

Only after many hours of rain

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In fog, your following distance should be:

Increased, to allow extra distance to brake safely

Decreased, to see the vehicle ahead better

Kept the same as in clear conditions

Determined only by the speed limit

23 / 30

To reduce daytime glare from the sun, you should:

Close your eyes briefly

Turn on your high-beam headlights

Drive faster to get out of the glare

Use your sun visor or good quality sunglasses

24 / 30

Hydroplaning occurs when:

Your tires ride on top of the water, like water skis

Your tires lose air pressure slowly

Your engine overheats in rain

Your windshield wipers fail

25 / 30

If visibility in fog is decreasing rapidly, you should:

Sound your horn continuously

Move off the road into a safe parking area and wait for the fog to lift

Turn on high beams and keep going

Stop on the travelled portion of the road

26 / 30

Reflective road signs can contribute to overdriving your headlights because they:

Only work with high beams

Are too dim to be helpful

Absorb too much light

Can make you believe you see farther than you really can

27 / 30

When entering a tunnel on a bright day, you should first:

Speed up to exit the tunnel quickly

Turn off your headlights

Slow down and let your eyes adjust to the reduced light

Keep your sunglasses on for as long as possible

28 / 30

A key safety reminder when driving in fog is to:

Drive as close as possible to the car ahead

Stop on the road if you feel unsure

Leave a safe braking distance and remain calm and patient

Turn on high beams and flash them often

29 / 30

At night, when facing oncoming vehicles with bright headlights, you should look:

Directly into the headlights

To the left edge of the road

Up and beyond and slightly to the right of the oncoming lights

Down at your speedometer

30 / 30

Overdriving your headlights occurs when:

You are driving slower than the speed limit

Your headlights are set to low beam

Your stopping distance is farther than you can see with your headlights

You are driving only in well-lit areas

Your score is

This section emphasizes the need for reduced speeds, increased following distances, and heightened alertness during night driving or adverse weather such as rain, snow, or fog. Drivers are taught to use headlights properly, avoid sudden maneuvers, and check that all lights and wipers are functioning. The section also covers recognizing hazards like black ice and slippery roads. Adhering to these guidelines helps truck drivers minimize risks, ensuring safer journeys for themselves and others on the road.