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

Hydroplaning occurs when:

Your engine overheats in rain

Your windshield wipers fail

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

Your tires lose air pressure slowly

2 / 30

If fog becomes too dense to continue, you should:

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

Drive slowly with no lights

Stop in your lane with hazard lights on

Drive on the shoulder with high beams

3 / 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

4 / 30

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

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

Turn the engine off while moving

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In rain, you should drive slowly enough to:

Match the speed of other traffic regardless of visibility

Keep your tires very warm

Be able to stop within the distance you can see

Avoid leaving any following distance

6 / 30

To reduce daytime glare from the sun, you should:

Use your sun visor or good quality sunglasses

Turn on your high-beam headlights

Close your eyes briefly

Drive faster to get out of the glare

7 / 30

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

The centre line only

Oncoming vehicles’ headlights

Roadside trees and fences

The right edge of the road rather than the centre line

8 / 30

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

Drive only in daylight

Use high beams instead

Replace them

Turn them off and rely on ventilation

9 / 30

Fog is best described as:

A strong wind that pushes the car

A patch of ice on the roadway

A thin layer of cloud resting on the ground

A heavy rainfall

10 / 30

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

You are driving under the speed limit

You see no signs on the road

Approaching a curve or hilltop

Following no other traffic

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

Use high-beam headlights at all times for maximum visibility

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

12 / 30

In fog, your following distance should be:

Determined only by the speed limit

Decreased, to see the vehicle ahead better

Increased, to allow extra distance to brake safely

Kept the same as in clear conditions

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In fog, you should NOT:

Reduce speed gradually

Use low-beam headlights

Increase following distance

Stop on the travelled portion of the road

14 / 30

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

Can make you believe you see farther than you really can

Only work with high beams

Absorb too much light

Are too dim to be helpful

15 / 30

Glare is best described as:

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

Dim light that makes it hard to read signs

Any light coming from behind the vehicle

Light that only affects your rearview mirror

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

It cleans the underside of your vehicle

Water may prevent your brakes from working

It uses more fuel

It improves engine cooling too much

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

Down at your speedometer

To the left edge of the road

Directly into the headlights

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

18 / 30

When fog appears to be clearing, you should:

Begin passing other vehicles immediately

Turn off your headlights

Avoid speeding up suddenly

Accelerate quickly back to the speed limit

19 / 30

You should avoid driving through puddles because they:

Cool your brakes safely

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

Clean your tires

Improve traction

20 / 30

A key safety reminder when driving in fog is to:

Stop on the road if you feel unsure

Drive as close as possible to the car ahead

Turn on high beams and flash them often

Leave a safe braking distance and remain calm and patient

21 / 30

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

Let other drivers cut in

Make room to speed up suddenly

Keep other vehicles from passing

Allow more stopping distance and reduce spray that affects visibility

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A danger of overdriving your headlights is that:

Your headlights will burn out faster

You will use more fuel

You may not have enough distance to stop safely

Oncoming drivers will see you too clearly

23 / 30

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

Slow down and let your eyes adjust to the reduced light

Keep your sunglasses on for as long as possible

Turn off your headlights

Speed up to exit the tunnel quickly

24 / 30

To reduce the risk of hydroplaning, you should:

Use cruise control in heavy rain

Drive close to the vehicle in front

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

Drive faster to cut through the water

25 / 30

In fog, which headlights should you use?

No lights, to avoid glare

High-beam headlights only

Parking lights only

Low-beam headlights (and fog lights if equipped)

26 / 30

Overdriving your headlights occurs when:

You are driving only in well-lit areas

Your headlights are set to low beam

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

You are driving slower than the speed limit

27 / 30

If visibility in fog is decreasing rapidly, you should:

Turn on high beams and keep going

Sound your horn continuously

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

Stop on the travelled portion of the road

28 / 30

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

Drive with hazard lights only

Drive faster to get through the fog quickly

Delay your trip until the fog clears

Follow large trucks closely

29 / 30

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

Talking frequently on the phone to stay alert

Reducing distractions, such as turning off your cell phone

Using your phone navigation in your hand

Turning up the radio for company

30 / 30

Rain makes road surfaces particularly slippery:

Only after many hours of rain

Especially as the first drops begin to fall

Only at very low temperatures

Only when it stops raining

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.