Series 3-24a: Emergency Driving Techniques 1

The “Emergency Driving Techniques” section of the Alberta School Bus Knowledge Test evaluates a driver’s ability to handle unexpected situations safely and effectively.

Alberta School Bus Test - SERIES 3-24a: Emergency Driving Techniques 1

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When braking hard with ABS, you should:

Apply light, intermittent pressure

Release the pedal if you feel pulsation

Press the brake hard and hold it, regardless of noise or pulsation

Pump the brakes rapidly

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When correcting a skid, you should turn your wheels:

Straight ahead and hold them there

In the same direction the rear of the vehicle is skidding

In the opposite direction of the skid

All the way to the left

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Skids almost always happen because the vehicle was:

Travelling too fast for conditions

Being driven in a straight line

Using low beam headlights

Too light for the road surface

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On a vehicle with ABS in an emergency stop, you should release brake pressure:

Whenever you begin to steer

As soon as you feel vibration

When your speed drops by half

Only when you no longer need to brake

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ABS (anti-lock braking systems) are designed to:

Reduce fuel consumption

Make braking completely automatic

Prevent wheel lockup and maintain steering control

Eliminate the need for driver input

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Hydroplaning is most likely caused by:

Using high-beam headlights in rain

Using winter tires in summer

Travelling too fast on a water-covered road

Driving at night

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If a front tire blows out, the steering will:

Pull away from the side with the blowout

Become completely loose in your hands

Pull strongly toward the side with the blowout

Not be affected

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When traction is lost, which vehicle control(s) are affected?

Steering, braking, decelerating and accelerating

Only steering

Only braking

Only accelerating

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If the vehicle fishtails in the opposite direction after the first skid, you should:

Apply full throttle

Hold the wheel rigidly straight

Apply the parking brake hard

Steer in the direction of the new skid

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Front wheel skids can result from:

Keeping a large following distance

Faulty brakes or excessive acceleration or speed on curves

Use of low gear on hills

Clean, dry pavement

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A slippery film that can cause skids often develops:

Only in freezing temperatures

After the first few minutes of rain

Only during snow storms

Only after hours of steady rain

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A flat tire acts like:

A shock absorber on that side

A traction aid

A brake on that side of the vehicle

A steering stabilizer

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“Threshold braking” means:

Using only the parking brake to stop

Applying brake pressure up to the point of almost locking the wheels, then adjusting

Pumping the brakes rapidly with no feel

Slamming the brakes to the floor immediately

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Skids are primarily caused by:

Driver error

Weather forecasts

Passenger movement

Mechanical design of the bus

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When ABS is working correctly, you:

Should not attempt to steer at all

Must steer in a straight line only

Retain your ability to steer during a panic stop

Cannot steer until the vehicle stops

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Once mastered, threshold braking will:

Damage the braking system

Stop you faster than any other method with non-ABS brakes

Only work on dry roads

Always stop you slower but more comfortably

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Once you lose traction and go into a skid, control is regained by:

Accelerating hard

Steering and braking properly

Turning off the engine

Shifting to neutral and coasting

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To become familiar with ABS operation, it is suggested that you:

Practice hard stops in an empty parking lot to activate the ABS

Avoid ever activating ABS intentionally

Only read about ABS in the manual

Test ABS only in heavy traffic

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During a skid, tires lose:

The ability to rotate

Air pressure immediately

Contact with the rims

Proper traction with the road surface

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When a tire blowout occurs, your first steering response should be to:

Grip the steering wheel firmly and steer straight down the centre of your lane

Let go of the wheel to avoid injury

Turn sharply into the skid

Immediately turn onto the shoulder

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When correcting a skid, you must be careful not to:

Use turn signals

Over-steer

Use the horn

Look in your mirrors

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Pumping ABS brakes:

Is required on slippery roads

Engages an emergency mode

Defeats the computer’s effort to sense a wheel skid

Helps the system work faster

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What is the best way to control a skid?

Turn the steering wheel quickly in any direction

Lock the brakes immediately

Accelerate to straighten the vehicle

Avoid it in the first place by adjusting speed and driving smoothly

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A tire-failure skid can result from:

Under-inflation or a sudden deflation from a blowout

Low engine oil pressure

Excessive use of turn signals

Overuse of windshield wipers

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ABS systems “feel” tire slip using:

Computer-controlled sensors at each wheel

The parking brake cable

A pressure gauge on the dashboard

The power steering pump

Your score is

This section covers crucial skills such as safely executing emergency stops, steering to avoid obstacles, and managing mechanical failures while keeping students safe. Drivers are tested on their ability to respond to skids, tire blowouts, and sudden road obstructions. Knowledge of the appropriate use of emergency equipment and clear communication with passengers during emergencies is also emphasized. Mastery of these techniques ensures school bus drivers are prepared to act quickly and responsibly in critical situations.