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New Brunswick Class 7 overview

New Brunswick Class 7: Seat belts, distraction and safe driving habits

Seat belt and child seat rules, seat belt penalties, hand-held device rules, speed and impact, reaction time, following distance, driving posture, defensive driving and wildlife.

  • 28 questions
  • Topic drill
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Seat belts, distraction and safe driving habits · Question 1Score 0/0

Your GPS is mounted on the dashboard. What does the law say about using it while driving?

Study reference: New Brunswick Driver's Handbook (2022 PDF edition), Ch. 5 Safe Driving — 5.1–5.7 The vehicle, Seat belts, The driver, White cane, 5.10 Some rules for safe driving, pp. 54–62, 67–68

All 28 questions in this test

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

  1. Your GPS is mounted on the dashboard. What does the law say about using it while driving?

    1. You may program it at stop lights
    2. You may not manually program or adjust it
    3. You may use it freely if it is mounted
    4. You may adjust it if you slow down

  2. Transport Canada recommends that children up to what age ride in the back seat?

    1. 12 and under
    2. 9 and under
    3. 6 and under
    4. 16 and under

  3. Where should your hands usually be on the steering wheel?

    1. At about 10 and 2 o'clock
    2. At 6 o'clock with both hands
    3. At 12 o'clock with one hand
    4. Anywhere that feels comfortable

  4. A 17-year-old passenger is caught without a seat belt. Who is charged?

    1. The driver, who loses two points
    2. The passenger, with no loss of points
    3. Both, and each loses two points
    4. Nobody, if the driver is belted

  5. Which foot should you use for both the brake and the accelerator?

    1. Your left foot for the brake
    2. Your right foot
    3. Either foot, whichever is closer
    4. Both feet in an emergency

  6. You see a pedestrian with a white cane waiting to cross. What should you do?

    1. Wave them across
    2. Use extreme caution; they cannot see you
    3. Sound your horn to let them know you are there
    4. Drive past quickly before they step out

  7. In good conditions, what following distance does the handbook recommend?

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

  8. You see a ball bounce into the street ahead. What does defensive driving tell you to expect?

    1. Nothing, unless you see a person
    2. A child or animal may run into the road
    3. A vehicle ahead is about to stop
    4. The ball will roll away on its own

  9. Your car has air bags. Do you still need to wear a seat belt?

    1. Only on highways over 80 km/h
    2. Only in the back seat
    3. No, air bags replace seat belts in newer cars
    4. Yes, seat belts must be used with air bags

  10. When are moose and deer most likely to be a danger on New Brunswick roads?

    1. At midday
    2. Only in winter
    3. At dawn and dusk
    4. Only on gravel roads

  11. Roads are wet and visibility is poor. How should you change your following distance?

    1. Follow closer to see the tail lights
    2. Slow down and use a longer count
    3. Use one car length per 40 km/h
    4. Keep the same two-second count

  12. Using the car-length method, how much space should you leave when driving at 80 km/h?

    1. At least four car lengths
    2. At least one car length
    3. At least two car lengths
    4. At least eight car lengths

  13. While driving in winter you start yawning and feel dizzy and nauseated. What could be the cause?

    1. Studded tires
    2. Carbon monoxide from a leaking exhaust
    3. Low tire pressure from the cold weather
    4. Cold engine oil

  14. How should snow tires be installed for the best traction and steering control?

    1. On the rear wheels only
    2. On the front wheels only
    3. On all four wheels
    4. On the drive wheels only, mixed with radials

  15. Except where there are two or more marked lanes going your way, where must you never pass?

    1. Within 1 km of a town
    2. Near an intersection, bridge or rail crossing
    3. On a straight road with a broken line
    4. On any road where the speed limit is over 80 km/h

  16. A child must ride in a child safety seat until reaching which of these thresholds?

    1. Age 6, 18 kg or 100 cm tall
    2. Age 12, 45 kg or 150 cm tall
    3. Age 9, 36 kg or 145 cm tall
    4. Age 8, 30 kg or 135 cm tall

  17. What is the average driver's reaction time under normal conditions?

    1. About two seconds
    2. About three-quarters of a second
    3. About three seconds
    4. About one-tenth of a second

  18. You are on a two-lane highway behind a line of three cars. How many may you pass at once?

    1. As many as you can before a curve
    2. One car at a time
    3. All three if the road is clear
    4. Two cars at a time

  19. Who is responsible for making sure a 14-year-old passenger wears a seat belt?

    1. The passenger
    2. The vehicle owner, even if not in the car
    3. The driver
    4. The passenger's parent, even if not in the car

  20. Which of these is prohibited while you are driving?

    1. Using a GPS mounted and set before you leave
    2. Holding a phone to call or text
    3. Adjusting the heater
    4. Listening to the radio

  21. What does a posted speed limit tell you?

    1. The speed police allow before ticketing
    2. The speed you must drive at all times
    3. The maximum safe speed under ideal conditions
    4. The minimum speed in good weather

  22. Your car has five working seat belts. How many people may ride in it, including you?

    1. Seven, if the trip is short
    2. Any number, if the driver is belted
    3. Five
    4. Six, if one is a small child

  23. At 50 km/h, about how far does your car travel during an average reaction time before you brake?

    1. About 50 metres
    2. About 3 metres
    3. About 25 metres
    4. About 10 metres

  24. Which vehicles are exempt from New Brunswick's child seat rules?

    1. Vehicles on rural roads
    2. Taxis, emergency vehicles and buses
    3. Vehicles built before the 1990 model year
    4. Pickup trucks and vans

  25. How much brake pedal travel should remain at all times when you press the brake?

    1. At least half
    2. At least one-third
    3. At least three-quarters
    4. At least one-tenth

  26. Which is one of the most common causes of crashes in New Brunswick?

    1. Using winter tires
    2. Inattention or driver distraction
    3. Flat tires
    4. Driving with headlights on

  27. If you double your speed, how much greater is the force of impact in a collision?

    1. Eight times as great
    2. Twice as great
    3. Four times as great
    4. Three times as great

  28. Where should you avoid installing a child car seat?

    1. In any seat with a lap and shoulder belt
    2. Behind the driver's seat
    3. In a front seat with a passenger air bag
    4. In the middle of the back seat

Seat belts, distraction and safe driving habits: 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 ↗

5.1 The vehicle, 5.2 Check your vehicle (pp. 54–55)

  • Keep the vehicle in good mechanical condition; key parts checked regularly by qualified mechanics.
  • Diagram checks: brakes keep 1/3 of pedal travel remaining at all times, hand brake works, no leaks; tires with no exposed ply cords, bulges or tread cuts; horn audible for 60 m; lights working and properly aimed; glass clear, no unauthorized or expired stickers.

5.3 Seat belts save lives, 5.4 Penalties (pp. 55–57)

  • Every occupant of a seat with a seat belt must wear one; number of passengers is limited to the number of working seat belts (fine if exceeded).
  • The driver must make sure passengers under 16 are belted; passengers 16 and older are responsible for themselves.
  • Children must ride in a proper child safety seat fastened to the vehicle until they reach one of: age 9, weight 36 kg (79 lb), or height 145 cm (57 in). Taxis, emergency vehicles and buses are exempt.
  • Use caution with a child seat in a front seat with an air bag; most manufacturers advise using the rear seats. Transport Canada recommends children 12 and under ride in the back seat.
  • Never wear a shoulder belt without the lap belt; seat belts must be used with air bags.
  • Driver convicted of not wearing a seat belt: fine and 2 points. Drivers are charged (not assessed points for others) for unbelted passengers under 16. Passengers over 16 are charged themselves, with no points.

5.5 Preparing your vehicle for winter (pp. 57–58)

  • A leaking muffler/exhaust can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, especially when stalled in traffic or a blizzard; never start the car in a closed garage. Yawning, headache, dizziness, weariness or nausea: turn off the engine, get out, get fresh air.
  • Studded tires may skid more in an emergency stop than rubber tires; studded tires allowed October 15 to April 30.
  • Mount snow tires on all four wheels; do not mix radials with non-radial snow tires.

5.6 The driver (pp. 58–61)

  • Most common crash causes in NB: inattention/distraction, too fast for conditions, failure to grant right of way, impaired driving, obstructed view, following too closely, improper use of lanes.
  • Hand-held electronic devices are prohibited while driving (phones for calls or texts, portable GPS, video game and mp3 players); manually programming or adjusting a GPS while driving is prohibited; TV-style screens may not be in the driver's view unless part of a GPS or showing vehicle systems.
  • Speed limits are the maximum under ideal conditions. Doubling speed makes impact four times as great (30 km/h ≈ falling from one storey; 60 km/h ≈ four storeys).
  • Stopping has two stages: seeing the reason, then reacting. Average reaction time about 3/4 of a second; at 50 km/h the car travels 10 m (about two car lengths) before braking starts.
  • Driving posture: seat adjusted to reach pedals; mirrors to cover blind spots; headrest adjusted; right foot for accelerator and brake, heel resting at the base of the accelerator; left foot for clutch; hands at about 10 and 2 o'clock.
  • Following: two-second interval (count "one thousand and one, one thousand and two" from a fixed point), valid at any speed in good conditions; longer in bad conditions. Alternative: at least one car length per 20 km/h.
  • Defensive driving: anticipate others' mistakes; a bouncing ball may mean a child; exhaust smoke may mean a car about to pull out; flashing brake lights ahead mean be ready to stop.
  • Animals: watch for moose and deer especially at dawn and dusk; scan both sides of the road.

5.7 White cane (p. 62)

  • White canes are restricted by law to people with visual impairment; use extreme caution — they cannot see you.

5.10 Some rules for safe driving (pp. 67–68)

  • Never assume you will be given the right of way. Slow vehicles keep to the extreme right. Never park on the left side of the road facing traffic.
  • Except with two or more marked lanes in the same direction, never pass approaching an intersection, bridge or railway crossing.
  • When passing on a two-lane highway, pass only one car at a time; do not follow another car that is passing; signal and sound the horn for the driver being passed.
  • Stop driving when drowsy; do not drive with animals loose in the car.

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