You have stopped for a school bus with flashing red lights. When may you go?

When the red lights are turned off

When the children reach the sidewalk

When the stop arm starts to fold

You stop for a pedestrian at a crosswalk on a multi-lane road. Why should you stop well back?

So drivers in other lanes can see the pedestrian

So the pedestrian has room to turn back

So you can pull around if needed

NWT Class 7 overview

NWT Class 7: Sharing the road

Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcycles, large and log-haul vehicles, school buses, emergency vehicles, snowplows, railway crossings, LRT and funeral processions.

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Sharing the road · Question 1Score 0/0

How close may you follow a fire truck that has its siren or lights on?

Tip: press 1–4 to answer and Enter for the next question.

Study reference: NWT Driver's Manual (rev. August 2022), Ch. 8 Sharing the Road — Pedestrian safety to Funeral processions, pp. 122–135

All 28 questions in this test

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

How close may you follow a fire truck that has its siren or lights on?
1. No closer than 50 m
2. No closer than 100 m
3. No closer than 150 m
4. No closer than 300 m
You have stopped for a school bus with flashing red lights. When may you go?
1. When the children reach the sidewalk
2. After waiting 30 seconds
3. When the red lights are turned off
4. When the stop arm starts to fold
You stop for a pedestrian at a crosswalk on a multi-lane road. Why should you stop well back?
1. So the pedestrian has room to turn back
2. So you can pull around if needed
3. So drivers in other lanes can see the pedestrian
4. So you avoid a parking ticket
You are behind a large truck and cannot see either of its side mirrors. What does that mean?
1. The truck driver can see you
2. You should pass immediately
3. You are too close
4. You are in a safe position
What following distance should you keep behind a log-haul truck?
1. At least two seconds
2. At least ten seconds
3. At least four seconds
4. At least six seconds
You feel you must use your horn to warn a cyclist ahead. How should you do it?
1. Sound it twice, firmly, just after you pass them
2. Sound it right beside them
3. Hold it down as you pass
4. Tap it lightly while still some distance away
You come up behind a snowplow on the highway. What is the safest choice?
1. Stay well back until it pulls over
2. Flash your lights so it moves over
3. Pass it right away
4. Follow closely to use its cleared path
An ambulance with siren and lights is coming up behind you on a two-way street. What must you do?
1. Pull to the left and keep going
2. Pull close to the right edge and stop
3. Speed up to clear the way
4. Stop right where you are in the lane
You are in a funeral procession, not the lead car, and following right behind the car ahead with headlights on. The light ahead turns red. What may you do?
1. Speed up to close the gap
2. Turn off your headlights and stop
3. Stop and wait for green
4. Follow through if it is safe
A long train has just cleared the crossing and the lights are still flashing. What should you watch for?
1. The train backing up
2. Pedestrians running across
3. A second train on another track
4. The gates closing again
A school bus ahead turns on its alternating flashing amber lights. What should you do?
1. Be ready to stop
2. Speed up to pass it
3. Stop immediately where you are
4. Change lanes and continue
You are stopped behind a large truck on a hill. Why leave extra space in front of you?
1. Trucks must stop at every hill
2. Its exhaust is dangerous
3. It may roll back when it starts
4. It needs room to back up
On a four-lane undivided highway, a school bus coming toward you has its red lights flashing. What must you do?
1. Stop before reaching the bus
2. Continue, since it is in the other direction
3. Slow to 30 km/h and pass
4. Stop only if children are visible
In town, a pedestrian at the curb raises an arm and points to the other side of the street. What does it mean?
1. They want you to sound your horn as you drive by
2. They are waving you through
3. They intend to cross; you must stop and let them
4. They are asking for a ride
You are parked at the curb and want to open your door. Whose responsibility is it to avoid hitting a cyclist?
1. Whoever is moving faster
2. No one's, it is an accident
3. Yours as the driver
4. The cyclist's
About how far may a train need to stop under full emergency braking?
1. About 50 metres
2. About 100 metres
3. A kilometre or more
4. About 300 metres
A pedestrian has stepped into an unmarked crosswalk ahead of you. What must you do?
1. Slow down and steer around them
2. Stop only if the crosswalk is marked
3. Sound your horn and continue
4. Stop before the crosswalk and yield
Why should you never pass a log-haul truck while it is turning?
1. Its tail overhang can swing up to 9 m
2. It always turns without signalling
3. Its brakes may fail on turns
4. It may drop its load
May you drive in the same lane alongside a motorcycle?
1. No, it needs the whole lane
2. Yes, if the rider waves you on
3. Yes, if the lane is wide
4. Yes, on multi-lane highways
You are approaching a crosswalk and the vehicle ahead is moving slowly. What should you not do?
1. Look for pedestrians
2. Keep a safe distance
3. Cover your brake
4. Pass it
A cyclist gets off and walks their bicycle across the street. How does the law treat them?
1. As an obstruction
2. As a cyclist with right-of-way
3. As a vehicle
4. As a pedestrian
You meet a school bus from the front on a highway divided by a median. Its red lights are flashing. What may you do?
1. Stop, then pass at 30 km/h
2. Stop until the lights go off
3. Proceed with care
4. Pull onto the shoulder and stop
Why should you not follow a cyclist too closely?
1. Cyclists must ride in the centre
2. Cyclists cannot hear traffic
3. Bicycles have no brake lights
4. Bicycles cannot stop quickly
Who must yield at a public railway crossing?
1. Whoever arrives first
2. Trains yield on rural roads
3. Drivers must always yield to trains
4. Trains yield to vehicles already crossing
The red lights at a railway crossing start flashing and the bell rings. What must you do?
1. Cross quickly before the train
2. Slow down, look both ways, then go across
3. Stop at least 5 m from the nearest rail
4. Stop on the tracks and wait
A railway crossing has a stop sign. How far from the nearest rail must you stop?
1. Right at the rail
2. Between 2 m and 5 m
3. Between 10 m and 30 m
4. Between 5 m and 15 m
Your vehicle stalls on a railway crossing and a train is coming. What should you do?
1. Get everyone out and move away from the track
2. Stay inside with seat belts on
3. Try to restart the engine
4. Push the vehicle off the tracks as fast as you can
A motorcycle ahead is riding in the left part of its lane. What does that usually mean?
1. The rider wants you to pass on the right
2. The rider is making themselves more visible
3. The rider is about to turn left
4. The rider is about to stop

Sharing the road: 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 ↗

Pedestrians (Ch. 8)

Pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk: stop before the crosswalk and yield; stop far enough back that drivers in other lanes can see the pedestrian.
In urban areas a pedestrian may signal intent to cross by raising an arm at about a right angle and pointing to the opposite curb; drivers must then stop before the crosswalk and let them cross.
Yellow flashing pedestrian-activated light: slow down and yield to pedestrians wanting to cross.
Never pass another vehicle when approaching a crosswalk.
Not all crosswalks are marked; nearly all intersections have them.
Be considerate of visually impaired pedestrians (white cane, guide dog).
Residential areas: watch for children; glance under parked vehicles for feet, toys, wheels.

Cyclists

A cyclist is legally operating a vehicle; a cyclist stopped astride the bike at a signal is treated like a waiting vehicle.
A cyclist who dismounts and walks the bike is a pedestrian.
Pass cyclists as you would a vehicle, leaving lots of room.
Right turns: watch for cyclists pulling up on your right; shoulder check.
Cyclists may make left turns like motorists.
Check for cyclists before pulling from the curb and before opening your door — it is the driver's responsibility not to open a door into traffic.
Don't follow cyclists closely (no brake lights).
Cyclists ride as close to the curb as practicable but may move out to avoid grates, potholes, debris, gravel, wet surfaces, ruts, dogs.
Don't honk unnecessarily; if needed, tap lightly while still some distance away.
Municipal bylaws may require helmets.
Cyclists at night: at least one headlamp (no more than two), one red tail lamp, at least one red rear reflector; effective brakes; bell or horn; single file except when passing.

Motorcycles

Riders often use the left part of the lane for visibility; doesn't mean a left turn.
Watch for shoulder checks as clues. Motorcycles are hard to see when you turn left, especially in heavy traffic, at night or at dusk.
Never share a lane alongside a motorcycle; it needs the whole lane. Follow at a greater distance.

Off-highway and large vehicles

Watch for off-highway vehicles crossing highways.
Large vehicles: increase following distance. On a hill, a large vehicle may roll back when it starts; leave extra space.
"No Zones": if you can't see both of a truck's side mirrors, you're too close; if you can see the driver's face in the mirror, they can see you.
Leave extra room before moving in front after passing; don't cut into the space a truck leaves before a red light.
Large vehicles turning right may squeeze you against the curb; stay back. Turbulence: care passing in a crosswind.

School buses

Greatest danger: drivers passing a bus while it loads/unloads students.
Alternating flashing amber lights = be ready to stop; red lights are about to come on. You may pass a bus with ambers on only with caution.
Alternating flashing red lights (and possibly a stop arm from the left side): on an undivided highway you must stop before reaching the bus from either direction, in any lane. Stay stopped until the reds are off; stay well back.
Highway divided by a median: traffic approaching from the rear must stop; traffic approaching from the front may proceed.
These rules apply on urban and rural roads.

Emergency vehicles

Ambulance, fire or police approaching from any direction with siren and lights: move clear of the intersection; drive as close as possible to the right curb or edge (two-way road); on one-way streets pull to the nearest curb, left or right; stop until it passes and check for others.
Do not follow within 150 m of an emergency vehicle with siren or lights operating.

Snowplows, maintenance, log-haul trucks

Snowplows have flashing amber lights; keep a safe following distance (avoid sander rocks); safer to stay back until the operator pulls over — they do so regularly.
Maintenance vehicles may work anywhere on the road; obey devices and flag persons.
Log-haul trucks: slow down when one turns onto the highway; follow at least four seconds back; need more distance to pass; pull right when one approaches (especially on gravel); never pass one that is turning; tail overhang can be up to nine metres; turning trucks may block all lanes.

Railway crossings

Train–vehicle collisions are the deadliest; never try to beat a train; always yield to trains.
Advisory speed plates under advance warning signs show a safe speed below the posted limit.
X and/or STOP line on the pavement at some crossings.
Crossing sign: yield to all trains; shows number of tracks if more than one; look and listen both ways.
Stop sign at a crossing: stop no closer than 5 m and no farther than 15 m from the nearest rail.
Flashing red lights and bell: stop no closer than 5 m from the nearest rail; wait until lights and bell stop and the train has passed or stopped; check all tracks.
Gates: stop when lights flash before the gates lower; remain until gates rise and lights/bells stop. Never drive around gates.
Expect buses/trucks to stop at crossings. Don't get trapped on a crossing; watch for a second train; don't change gears on the tracks (manual).
Stalled on tracks: get everyone out and away immediately; if a train is coming, move away from the track and the oncoming train (flying debris); if no train is in sight, post lookouts both ways while moving the vehicle.
No U-turns near a crossing. Trains may need a kilometre or more to stop.

LRT; funerals and parades

LRT: whatever the warning device, it means stop, do not cross; may need up to 100 m to stop in an emergency.
Funeral procession: may follow through a stop sign or red light without stopping if headlights are on, you are not the lead vehicle, you follow immediately behind, and it is safe.
Don't break into an authorized parade or military/funeral procession.

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