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

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

Roadside trees and fences

The right edge of the road rather than the centre line

Oncoming vehicles’ headlights

The centre line only

2 / 30

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

Follow large trucks closely

Drive with hazard lights only

Delay your trip until the fog clears

Drive faster to get through the fog quickly

3 / 30

Overdriving your headlights occurs when:

Your headlights are set to low beam

You are driving only in well-lit areas

You are driving slower than the speed limit

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

4 / 30

When fog appears to be clearing, you should:

Turn off your headlights

Avoid speeding up suddenly

Begin passing other vehicles immediately

Accelerate quickly back to the speed limit

5 / 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

6 / 30

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

Use parking lights only

Use high-beam headlights at all times for maximum visibility

Turn off your headlights near other vehicles

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

7 / 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

Speed up to exit the tunnel quickly

Turn off your headlights

8 / 30

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

Directly into the headlights

To the left edge of the road

Down at your speedometer

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

9 / 30

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

Slow down to a speed that suits the conditions

Follow the vehicle ahead closely

Maintain the speed limit regardless of visibility

Use high beams at all times

10 / 30

A danger of overdriving your headlights is that:

You may not have enough distance to stop safely

You will use more fuel

Oncoming drivers will see you too clearly

Your headlights will burn out faster

11 / 30

To reduce the risk of hydroplaning, you should:

Drive close to the vehicle in front

Use cruise control in heavy rain

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

Drive faster to cut through the water

12 / 30

To reduce daytime glare from the sun, you should:

Turn on your high-beam headlights

Drive faster to get out of the glare

Use your sun visor or good quality sunglasses

Close your eyes briefly

13 / 30

In fog, you should NOT:

Increase following distance

Reduce speed gradually

Stop on the travelled portion of the road

Use low-beam headlights

14 / 30

Rain makes road surfaces particularly slippery:

Only at very low temperatures

Only when it stops raining

Only after many hours of rain

Especially as the first drops begin to fall

15 / 30

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

Let other drivers cut in

Keep other vehicles from passing

Make room to speed up suddenly

Allow more stopping distance and reduce spray that affects visibility

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

Using your phone navigation in your hand

Turning up the radio for company

Talking frequently on the phone to stay alert

Reducing distractions, such as turning off your cell phone

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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

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

Light that only affects your rearview mirror

18 / 30

If fog becomes too dense to continue, you should:

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

Drive slowly with no lights

Stop in your lane with hazard lights on

19 / 30

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 uses more fuel

It cleans the underside of your vehicle

20 / 30

Fog is best described as:

A patch of ice on the roadway

A thin layer of cloud resting on the ground

A strong wind that pushes the car

A heavy rainfall

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

Drive only in daylight

Replace them

Turn them off and rely on ventilation

Use high beams instead

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You should avoid driving through puddles because they:

Improve traction

Clean your tires

Cool your brakes safely

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

23 / 30

Hydroplaning occurs when:

Your tires lose air pressure slowly

Your windshield wipers fail

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

Your engine overheats in rain

24 / 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

Following no other traffic

Approaching a curve or hilltop

25 / 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

26 / 30

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

Pump the brakes lightly at high speed without stopping

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

Turn the engine off while moving

Continue driving normally without checking the brakes

27 / 30

In fog, your following distance should be:

Decreased, to see the vehicle ahead better

Kept the same as in clear conditions

Determined only by the speed limit

Increased, to allow extra distance to brake safely

28 / 30

If visibility in fog is decreasing rapidly, you should:

Turn on high beams and keep going

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

Stop on the travelled portion of the road

Sound your horn continuously

29 / 30

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

Absorb too much light

Can make you believe you see farther than you really can

Are too dim to be helpful

Only work with high beams

30 / 30

In fog, which headlights should you use?

High-beam headlights only

Low-beam headlights (and fog lights if equipped)

Parking lights only

No lights, to avoid glare

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.