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BC Class 7 overview

BC Class 7: Speed, space and communication

Speed limits and appropriate speeds, curves, steering, stopping distance, the two-second rule, space behind and beside, safe gaps, signals, lights and the horn.

  • 40 questions
  • Topic drill
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Speed, space and communication · Question 1Score 0/0

You've stopped and want to let another driver go ahead of you. Why is waving them on generally a bad idea?

Study reference: Learn to Drive Smart (ICBC, March 2026 edition), Ch. 5 See-think-do — Do: speed control, steering, space margins, communication, pp. 68–79

All 40 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

  1. You've stopped and want to let another driver go ahead of you. Why is waving them on generally a bad idea?

    1. They may face hazards you can't see
    2. It counts as a distracted driving offence
    3. It cancels your right-of-way later
    4. Hand gestures are illegal in B.C.

  2. You notice a parked car with its front wheels turned out toward the road. What might this tell you?

    1. The car is waiting for a tow
    2. The driver may be about to pull out
    3. The driver is about to back up
    4. The car has broken steering

  3. Why does your vehicle need a longer distance to stop when you're going downhill?

    1. Tires grip better going downhill
    2. Brakes cool down too fast on hills
    3. Gravity keeps pulling it forward
    4. Inertia is weaker on a downgrade

  4. Is it legal to coast down a hill in neutral or with the clutch pushed in?

    1. No, you must stay in gear
    2. Yes, to save fuel on long hills
    3. Only with an automatic transmission
    4. Yes, if the hill isn't steep

  5. You spot a possible hazard ahead. What does it mean to 'cover the brake'?

    1. Press the brake firmly right away
    2. Keep your foot on the gas pedal
    3. Rest your foot on the brake without pressing
    4. Pump the brake pedal several times

  6. When should fog lamps be used?

    1. In fog, in place of brake lights
    2. In fog, with or instead of headlamps
    3. Whenever you're driving at night
    4. Any time there's light rain

  7. A cyclist is riding in a protected cycle lane beside your lane. What is the minimum passing distance?

    1. 1.0 metre
    2. 1.5 metres
    3. 0.5 metre
    4. No minimum applies

  8. From a stop in ideal conditions, about how long does it take most vehicles to turn left and reach 50 km/h, before any safety margin?

    1. About five seconds
    2. About three seconds
    3. About ten seconds
    4. About seven seconds

  9. It's raining hard and the road is slippery. What following distance should you leave?

    1. Three seconds
    2. Six seconds
    3. Four seconds
    4. Two seconds

  10. You need to pass a person walking on the shoulder of an 80 km/h highway. What minimum gap does the law require?

    1. 1.5 metres
    2. 3.0 metres
    3. 0.5 metre
    4. 1.0 metre

  11. In good weather and road conditions, what is the minimum following distance?

    1. Three seconds
    2. Two seconds
    3. One second
    4. Four seconds

  12. Why isn't driving far below the speed of surrounding traffic always the safest choice?

    1. Frustrated drivers may try to pass you
    2. Low speeds can overheat your engine
    3. Brakes work poorly at low speeds
    4. Police ticket anyone driving under the posted limit

  13. On a multi-lane road, which lane is often the safest one to choose?

    1. The centre lane
    2. The right lane
    3. The fastest lane
    4. The left lane

  14. You're on a rural B.C. road outside any town and see no speed sign. What is the limit?

    1. 70 km/h
    2. 90 km/h
    3. 80 km/h
    4. 100 km/h

  15. You're travelling on a high-speed road in good conditions. What following distance should you keep?

    1. Five seconds
    2. One second
    3. Three seconds
    4. Two seconds

  16. You must cross two lanes straight across from a stop sign. Using the guide's estimate plus its safety margin, about how big a gap do you need?

    1. About ten seconds
    2. About two seconds
    3. About four seconds
    4. About six seconds

  17. A driver is tailgating you. What does the guide suggest you do?

    1. Turn on your hazard lights
    2. Speed up so you can pull well away from them
    3. Brake sharply to warn the driver
    4. Slow slightly to add space in front

  18. You're pulling out from a row of parked cars and your turn signal may be hard to see. What should you add?

    1. A long horn blast
    2. Your hazard lights
    3. Your high beams
    4. A hand signal

  19. When judging a gap in traffic, what mistake does the guide warn about with motorcycles and bicycles?

    1. Overestimating how fast they are coming
    2. Assuming they will always stay right
    3. Underestimating how fast they are coming
    4. Thinking they must yield to cars

  20. On a street with a 50 km/h limit, what is the least space you must leave when passing a cyclist?

    1. 1.5 metres
    2. 0.5 metre
    3. 1.0 metre
    4. 2.0 metres

  21. You turn into a back lane (alleyway) in a municipality. There is no speed sign. What is the maximum speed?

    1. 15 km/h
    2. 50 km/h
    3. 20 km/h
    4. 30 km/h

  22. You stop behind another car at a red light. About how much space should you leave?

    1. About one car length
    2. Just enough to see its plate
    3. About half a car length
    4. About three car lengths

  23. Your steering wheel has an airbag. Which hand positions may be better than 10 and 2?

    1. 10 and 2, with hands inside the rim
    2. 9 and 3, or 8 and 4 o'clock
    3. Any position, using one hand
    4. 11 and 1, or 12 and 6 o'clock

  24. What is the best way to drive through a curve?

    1. Hold your speed and brake at the exit
    2. Brake firmly at the middle of the curve
    3. Speed up as you enter, then coast
    4. Slow down before it and avoid braking in it

  25. You're driving a pickup with a tall load. What is the main extra risk on a curve taken at higher speed?

    1. Its brakes are likely to fade
    2. Its steering will lock up
    3. It is more likely to tip over
    4. It is more likely to stall

  26. According to the guide, when are hazard lights used?

    1. When you've stopped for an emergency
    2. When parked briefly in a no-stop zone
    3. When driving in heavy rain
    4. Whenever you're running late

  27. You're on a gravel road with dust in the air, and a driver is following close behind you. What gap should you keep from the vehicle ahead?

    1. At least one second
    2. Exactly one car length
    3. At least three seconds
    4. Exactly two seconds

  28. The posted limit is 80 km/h, but it's foggy and the road is slick. What does that 80 km/h represent?

    1. A safe target speed in any weather
    2. The minimum speed you must keep
    3. The exact speed you're expected to drive
    4. The maximum for ideal conditions only

  29. On a two-lane road, where in your lane should you generally position your vehicle?

    1. Fairly close to the centre line
    2. On the paved shoulder when possible
    3. Straddling the centre line slightly
    4. As close to the right edge as you can

  30. How can you let drivers behind you know you're about to slow down or stop?

    1. Sound your horn briefly
    2. Turn on your left turn signal
    3. Tap lightly on the brake pedal
    4. Flash your hazard lights twice

  31. There are no speed signs on a street inside a B.C. city. What is the speed limit?

    1. 60 km/h
    2. 30 km/h
    3. 50 km/h
    4. 40 km/h

  32. When is it appropriate to use your horn?

    1. When greeting a friend on the sidewalk
    2. When the driver ahead is going too slowly
    3. When the light turns green for you
    4. When it gives a useful warning to prevent a crash

  33. In B.C. in 2014, speed was a factor in about what share of reported fatal collisions?

    1. About 60 per cent
    2. About 27 per cent
    3. About 10 per cent
    4. About 45 per cent

  34. You're carrying a load that sticks out past the back of your vehicle. What should you attach to the end of it?

    1. A white reflector
    2. An orange cone
    3. A red flag
    4. A yellow light

  35. After you spot a hazard, roughly how long passes before your vehicle even begins to slow down?

    1. About three seconds
    2. About a quarter of a second
    3. About one and a half seconds
    4. About five seconds

  36. Halfway through a curve, you feel your tires start to lose their grip. What should you do?

    1. Ease off the gas, then re-apply it gently
    2. Shift into neutral and coast through
    3. Steer sharply toward the inside edge
    4. Brake hard until the car slows down

  37. You were following too closely and rear-ended a car that stopped suddenly. Who is held responsible?

    1. You, as the following driver
    2. Both drivers share it equally
    3. The driver who stopped suddenly
    4. No one, if nobody was hurt

  38. You'll turn right at the next intersection, but several driveways come before it. When should you signal?

    1. Never; right turns need no signal
    2. Once it's clear where you'll be turning
    3. Only after you begin your turn
    4. Right away, well before the driveways

  39. You're stopped and want to turn right into traffic moving at 50 km/h. About how long does the turn and speed-up take in ideal conditions?

    1. About seven seconds
    2. About five seconds
    3. About twelve seconds
    4. About two seconds

  40. At a stop sign, a car approaching from your left has its right signal on, but it isn't slowing or moving right. What should you do?

    1. Flash your headlights, then go across
    2. Wait to see what the driver actually does
    3. Honk and pull out in front of it
    4. Cross now, since the car is turning

Speed, space and communication: key rules to remember

Our summary of what the official handbook says on this topic, in our own words. Read it before or after the practice questions above, then check the original chapter. Read the official chapter ↗

Do: the four skills

  • Every manoeuvre combines speed control, steering, space margins and communication.
  • The solution you choose usually depends on where the space is (ahead, to the side).
  • Example scenario: rural road at 80 km/h, sharp-curve sign → slow (to 30 km/h in the example) before the curve, accelerate slightly from the midpoint.

Speed control

  • Tools: accelerator and brake (plus gears with a standard transmission). Aim for appropriate, steady speeds.
  • Safest speed is not always the slowest: driving much slower than traffic can frustrate others into passing.
  • Posted speed = maximum for ideal conditions only; go slower on slippery roads or with limited visibility.
  • Default B.C. limits (unless a sign says otherwise): 50 km/h within cities and towns; 80 km/h outside cities and towns; 20 km/h maximum in a lane or alleyway within municipalities unless posted otherwise.
  • Steady speed: anticipate, slow gradually for a stop sign; braking hard late can cause a rear-end crash. Steady speed saves fuel.
  • Cover the brake: foot off the accelerator, resting lightly on the brake pedal without braking, so you can respond faster.
  • Crash fact (B.C., 2014): speed a factor in about 27 per cent of reported fatal collisions; 4,942 injured and 167 killed in speed-related collisions.

Physics

  • Traction reduced by slippery or sandy surfaces, worn tires, under- or over-inflated tires → slow down.
  • Inertia: moving objects keep going straight; the faster you go, the greater the force.
  • Gravity: vehicle slows uphill, speeds up downhill; downhill needs a longer stopping distance.
  • Higher centre of gravity (some SUVs, pickups, camper vans; or a higher load) → less stable on uneven surfaces, more likely to tip over on a curve taken at higher speed.

Curves, gears, steering

  • Slow down before the curve and avoid braking in it; from the middle, straighten the wheels and accelerate out.
  • If you start to lose traction in a curve: don't brake; ease off the accelerator and re-apply gently once traction returns.
  • It is illegal to coast downhill in neutral or with the clutch in.
  • Good steering = controlling the wheel + good road position.

Wheel control, road position, tailgating

  • Both hands on the outside of the wheel (hands inside can be injured in a crash).
  • Hands at equal height: 9 and 3 or 10 and 2; with a steering-wheel airbag, 9 and 3 or 8 and 4 may be better (hands could hit the face at 10 and 2).
  • Look well ahead for a smooth line; look in the direction of a turn.
  • Overloading changes steering, especially on curves; check owner's manual weight limits.
  • Stopped behind another vehicle at an intersection: leave about one car length; more behind a large vehicle.
  • Tailgating is a major cause of crashes; if you rear-end the vehicle ahead you are held responsible.

Stopping distance, two-second rule

  • Reaction: about 3/4 second to see-think plus about 3/4 second to do before the vehicle starts slowing.
  • Minimum 2 seconds following distance in good weather and road conditions; 3 seconds on high-speed roads; 4 seconds in bad weather or on uneven or slippery roads.
  • At least 3 seconds behind a large vehicle that blocks vision or a motorcycle that can stop quickly; also good to keep at least 3 seconds when someone follows close behind you, or on unpaved roads with dust/gravel.
  • Count from when the vehicle ahead passes a fixed object ("one thousand and one…").

Space behind and beside, lane position

  • Being tailgated: slow down slightly to increase space in front; or change lanes or pull over to let them pass.
  • Passing a cyclist, pedestrian or other vulnerable road user (e.g., personal mobility device): slow down, pass when safe — required by law: at least 1.0 m; at least 1.5 m on roads with speed limits above 50 km/h; at least 0.5 m if the person is on a sidewalk or in a protected cycle lane.
  • Turning left off a highway onto a driveway/side road: watch mirrors, ensure space behind.
  • Leave an escape route on multi-lane highways.
  • Lane position: two-lane road → fairly close to the centre line; curb lane → away from roadside hazards like opening doors; most lanes → near the centre; avoid others' blind spots.
  • Total stopping distance = from noticing a hazard until stopped; braking distance depends on speed, vehicle and road conditions.

Lane choice and safe gaps

  • On a multi-lane road the right lane is often safest (away from oncoming traffic, less tailgating).
  • Gap = space needed to cross or merge; consider traffic speed, time for the manoeuvre, time to accelerate to traffic speed.
  • Ideal-condition estimates from a stop: about 2 seconds per lane to go straight across; about 5 seconds to turn right and reach 50 km/h; about 7 seconds to turn left and reach 50 km/h (more if crossing several lanes). Add an extra 2 seconds for safety.
  • Don't underestimate the speed of approaching motorcycles or bicycles.
  • If in doubt about who goes first between opposing turners, the left-turning driver yields.

Communication: signals and lights

  • Mixed messages (signal on but speed/position say straight) → wait and see what the driver does.
  • Turn signals are the primary tool: use for turns, lane changes, pulling out, pulling over.
  • Be timely (signal well ahead), be clear (don't signal so early that driveways before your turn confuse people), mean what you say (make sure the signal cancels).
  • Hard-to-see signal (e.g., pulling out from parked cars) → add a hand signal. Hand signals exist for left turn, right turn (cyclists may use either version) and stop.
  • Brake lights: tap the brake lightly to warn you are slowing/stopping. Backup lights: vehicle in reverse; in parking lots they also hint at a space.

Hazard lights, horn, eye contact, body/vehicle language

  • Hazard lights: stopped for an emergency; trucks also use them when travelling well below the limit.
  • Horn: light tap to alert (e.g., driver pulling out of a driveway); use only when it gives a useful signal and helps prevent a crash.
  • Make eye contact with pedestrians, other drivers, riders and cyclists.
  • Waving others on is generally not a good idea — they may face hazards you can't see.
  • Vehicle language: moving over in the lane → lane change/turn; slowing near a corner → turn; parked vehicle with wheels turned out → may pull out.
  • Load extending behind the vehicle → attach a red flag to the end.
  • Fog lamps: only in place of or with headlamps when fog makes headlamps a disadvantage.
  • New drivers often panic or freeze in emergencies; leave time and space, look ahead, stay focused.

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