Chapter 5-13: Impairing factors (other than drugs and alcohol)

The “Impairing Factors” section of the Saskatchewan written driving test highlights how various conditions can negatively affect driving ability.

Saskatchewan Driving Test - Chapter 5-13: Impairing factors (other than drugs and alcohol)

1 / 30

Aggressive driving is more commonly known as:

Defensive driving

Road rage

Careful driving

Safe driving

2 / 30

A recommended characteristic of the person who drives you when you are under stress is that they:

Are emotionally involved so they understand you

Are not involved in the emotional situation and are physically well

Are a close family member, regardless of their health

Are willing to drive fast to arrive sooner

3 / 30

Many collisions caused by cellphones are the result of:

Mechanical failure

Poor road conditions

Weather changes

Driver distraction

4 / 30

When smoking in a vehicle, you should:

Use air recirculation only

Keep all windows closed

Turn the heater to maximum

Open the windows

5 / 30

To help others see you in fog, dust, or heavy rain, you should:

Use only your hazard flashers

Drive without lights to avoid glare

Turn on interior lights

Make sure your headlights and tail lights are on and clean

6 / 30

If someone is driving aggressively behind you, the best way to ensure your safety is to:

Brake suddenly to warn them

Pull over and let that person pass

Change lanes repeatedly

Speed up to get away

7 / 30

In fog, blowing snow, or heavy rain, you should:

Use only parking lights

Use low beam headlights

Use high beam headlights

Turn off your headlights

8 / 30

To promote safer traffic flow, you should:

Speed up to prevent others from passing

Use the passing lane as a parking area

Not block the passing lane

Drive in the passing lane at all times

9 / 30

When encountering an aggressive driver, you should:

Avoid eye contact

Follow closely to monitor them

Try to block them from passing

Stare back to show confidence

10 / 30

To avoid contributing to road rage, you should:

Honk frequently to express frustration

Race other drivers to prove a point

Not take traffic problems personally

Yell at other drivers if they make mistakes

11 / 30

The safest overall practice for using a phone in a vehicle is:

Use it only when traffic is light

Whenever possible, pull over to a safe spot to use the phone

Use it only on highways

Use it only when stopped in a traffic jam

12 / 30

An early warning sign of fatigue is:

Reducing your speed below the limit

Staring straight ahead instead of scanning properly

Keeping a large following distance

Frequently checking your mirrors

13 / 30

If you know you are under emotional or physical stress, you should:

Avoid highways but keep driving elsewhere

Drive more slowly and carefully

Not drive and arrange for someone else to drive you

Drive only on familiar roads

14 / 30

A behavior that helps prevent road rage is:

Blocking the passing lane

Tailgating slower vehicles

Not making obscene gestures

Using your horn often

15 / 30

Driving while tired is especially unwise when:

You are driving at low speeds

You are driving along a straight road

You are driving in city traffic

You are driving on a winding road

16 / 30

When you need to dial a number on your cellphone, you should:

Dial quickly while turning

Dial at red lights only

Dial while slowing down in your lane

Pull off the road before dialing

17 / 30

When visibility is poor, you should adjust your speed to:

Half of the posted limit regardless of conditions

Match the speed of other drivers

The number of seconds you can see ahead

The maximum speed limit

18 / 30

If you cannot stay awake while driving, you should:

Turn on your hazard lights and stay in your lane

Get off the road

Continue but drive slower

Open the windows and keep going

19 / 30

If a phone conversation becomes stressful or emotional while you are driving, you should:

Pull over or end the conversation

Keep driving and ignore your emotions

Turn up the radio and continue talking

Speak louder to resolve it quickly

20 / 30

Even slight variations in angry driving behavior are:

Only a problem on highways

Acceptable if traffic is heavy

Not serious and can be ignored

Still considered road rage

21 / 30

One recommended action when you begin to feel tired while driving is to:

Stop and rest

Turn up the radio and keep driving

Open the windows and speed up

Drink coffee and ignore the fatigue

22 / 30

Emotional or physical stress while driving:

Has no effect on your driving ability

Always improves concentration

Only matters on long trips

Distracts you from the thinking part of your driving

23 / 30

Cigarette smoke inside a vehicle can cause:

No effect on the windows

Only an odor with no visual impact

Better visibility through the glass

A film on the inside of the windshield and windows

24 / 30

When driving in heavy rain, you should:

Use cruise control to maintain speed

Frequently change lanes

Brake hard to maintain control

Slow down and make only small, gentle movements with the controls

25 / 30

If you cannot see 12 seconds ahead even after slowing down, you should:

Move to the centre of the road

Follow the vehicle ahead closely

Find a safe place and get off the road

Keep driving with your hazard lights on

26 / 30

While driving, you should never:

Use any features of a hands-free unit

Report emergencies

Take notes or look up phone numbers

End a stressful conversation

27 / 30

Aggressive driving (road rage) occurs when a motorist becomes:

Overly cautious

Calm and relaxed

Angry, hostile, or furious behind the wheel

Confused about directions

28 / 30

To deal with fatigue, a good strategy is to:

Follow another vehicle closely

Move to the fast lane

Change drivers when you start to feel tired

Turn off your headlights

29 / 30

To reduce cellphone distraction, you should:

Keep it in your hand for quick access

Place it on the steering wheel

Put your cellphone where it will not tempt you or switch it off/airplane mode

Hold it in your lap and glance at it

30 / 30

During the first 10 minutes of a rainstorm, roads are:

No different than dry conditions

Only slippery on hills

The least slippery

The most slippery

Your score is

This section examines factors such as fatigue, stress, illness, and prescription or over-the-counter medications that may cause drowsiness or slow reaction times. Test-takers learn how distractions such as mobile phones, eating, or adjusting in-car controls can reduce focus and increase the risk of accidents. Understanding these impairing factors is crucial for safe driving, as they can be just as dangerous as drugs or alcohol. Mastery of this section encourages drivers to recognize and manage anything that might compromise their alertness on Saskatchewan’s roads.