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

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

Approaching a curve or hilltop

You see no signs on the road

You are driving under the speed limit

Following no other traffic

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

Down at your speedometer

Directly into the headlights

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

To the left edge of the road

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Fog is best described as:

A heavy rainfall

A patch of ice on the roadway

A thin layer of cloud resting on the ground

A strong wind that pushes the car

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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

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

Water may prevent your brakes from working

It improves engine cooling too much

It cleans the underside of your vehicle

It uses more fuel

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In fog, your following distance should be:

Determined only by the speed limit

Kept the same as in clear conditions

Increased, to allow extra distance to brake safely

Decreased, to see the vehicle ahead better

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Glare is best described as:

Any light coming from behind the vehicle

Dim light that makes it hard to read signs

Light that only affects your rearview mirror

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

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

Talking frequently on the phone to stay alert

Turning up the radio for company

Using your phone navigation in your hand

Reducing distractions, such as turning off your cell phone

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Rain makes road surfaces particularly slippery:

Especially as the first drops begin to fall

Only when it stops raining

Only after many hours of rain

Only at very low temperatures

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

Turn off your headlights

Slow down and let your eyes adjust to the reduced light

Speed up to exit the tunnel quickly

Keep your sunglasses on for as long as possible

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

Turn off your headlights near other vehicles

Use parking lights only

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

Use high-beam headlights at all times for maximum visibility

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A danger of overdriving your headlights is that:

Your headlights will burn out faster

Oncoming drivers will see you too clearly

You may not have enough distance to stop safely

You will use more fuel

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

Turn the engine off while moving

Continue driving normally without checking the brakes

Pump the brakes lightly at high speed without stopping

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

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

Roadside trees and fences

Oncoming vehicles’ headlights

The right edge of the road rather than the centre line

The centre line only

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When fog appears to be clearing, you should:

Avoid speeding up suddenly

Turn off your headlights

Begin passing other vehicles immediately

Accelerate quickly back to the speed limit

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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

Stop in your lane with hazard lights on

Drive slowly with no lights

Drive on the shoulder with high beams

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You should avoid driving through puddles because they:

Clean your tires

Cool your brakes safely

Improve traction

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

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Overdriving your headlights occurs when:

You are driving slower than the speed limit

Your headlights are set to low beam

You are driving only in well-lit areas

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

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

Replace them

Drive only in daylight

Turn them off and rely on ventilation

Use high beams instead

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To reduce the risk of hydroplaning, you should:

Drive faster to cut through the water

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

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To reduce daytime glare from the sun, you should:

Close your eyes briefly

Use your sun visor or good quality sunglasses

Drive faster to get out of the glare

Turn on your high-beam headlights

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In fog, you should NOT:

Increase following distance

Reduce speed gradually

Stop on the travelled portion of the road

Use low-beam headlights

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

Only work with high beams

Absorb too much light

Are too dim to be helpful

Can make you believe you see farther than you really can

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Hydroplaning occurs when:

Your tires lose air pressure slowly

Your engine overheats in rain

Your windshield wipers fail

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

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

Keep other vehicles from passing

Make room to speed up suddenly

Let other drivers cut in

Allow more stopping distance and reduce spray that affects visibility

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

Maintain the speed limit regardless of visibility

Follow the vehicle ahead closely

Use high beams at all times

Slow down to a speed that suits the conditions

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In fog, which headlights should you use?

No lights, to avoid glare

Low-beam headlights (and fog lights if equipped)

Parking lights only

High-beam headlights only

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In rain, you should drive slowly enough to:

Be able to stop within the distance you can see

Keep your tires very warm

Match the speed of other traffic regardless of visibility

Avoid leaving any following distance

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A key safety reminder when driving in fog is to:

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

Stop on the road if you feel unsure

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If visibility in fog is decreasing rapidly, you should:

Stop on the travelled portion of the road

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

Turn on high beams and keep going

Sound your horn continuously

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.