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Nunavut Class 7 overview

Nunavut Class 7: Gravel roads, dust and winter driving

Dust clouds and the 60 km/h meeting rule, flying stones, loose gravel and washboard, winter equipment, carbon monoxide, blizzards, icy roads, black ice and starting on ice.

  • 19 questions
  • Topic drill
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Gravel roads, dust and winter driving · Question 1Score 0/0

You are parked with the engine running and start to feel dizzy and sick. What should you do?

Study reference: Nunavut Driver's Manual (2022 posting), Ch. 7 Hazardous Driving Conditions — Gravel, Dust, Flying rocks, Loose gravel, Ice, sleet and snow, pp. 48–51

All 19 questions in this test

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

  1. You are parked with the engine running and start to feel dizzy and sick. What should you do?

    1. Turn up the heater
    2. Lie down in the back seat until it passes
    3. Close all the windows
    4. Turn off the engine and get fresh air

  2. You are driving through deep snow. How should you handle the vehicle?

    1. Keep the wheels straight and keep momentum
    2. Spin the wheels to dig through
    3. Turn sharply left and right to find firmer snow
    4. Stop often to check the tires

  3. The manual warns about black ice on bare winter pavement. What is black ice?

    1. Thick ice on frozen lakes used as winter roads
    2. Clear ice you can't see on dark pavement
    3. Ice covered with dirty snow
    4. Ice that forms only on gravel

  4. How can you keep dust out of your car on a gravel road?

    1. Turn off the fan, close all the vents and open a window
    2. Close windows, run the heater fan and open front vents
    3. Use the air recirculation only
    4. Open all windows to clear the air

  5. How long can the dust cloud behind a tractor-trailer on a gravel road be?

    1. Half a kilometre or more
    2. About 20 metres
    3. No longer than the truck
    4. About 100 metres

  6. You see a vehicle coming toward you on a dusty gravel road. When should you have your headlights on?

    1. Only if the other driver flashes theirs
    2. Only after sunset
    3. Well before you meet it
    4. Only once you are in the dust

  7. You want to pass a vehicle on a gravel road, but its driver probably can't hear your horn. How can you signal that you are there?

    1. Turn on your four-way hazard lights
    2. Drive up close to its rear bumper
    3. Switch between high and low beams
    4. Pass without giving any signal

  8. How should you brake to slow down on an icy road?

    1. Use the parking brake
    2. Shift into neutral and coast
    3. Press the brake hard and hold it down until stopped
    4. Apply and release the brakes quickly but gently

  9. Your car is stopped on ice. How should you start moving?

    1. In reverse, then forward
    2. By spinning the wheels quickly
    3. In a high gear, pressing hard on the accelerator
    4. In first or second gear, with gentle power

  10. In which vehicles does the manual suggest adding weight in the trunk for winter traction?

    1. All vehicles
    2. Four-wheel-drive trucks only
    3. Rear-wheel-drive vehicles only
    4. Front-wheel-drive vehicles only

  11. On a snowy road, how far before an intersection should you start slowing down?

    1. The same distance as on dry roads
    2. At least three times the usual distance
    3. Twice the usual distance
    4. Only once you see the stop line

  12. What kind of weight does the manual recommend for winter traction?

    1. Frozen sand
    2. Cement blocks
    3. Bags of salt or dry sand
    4. Iron bars or cut firewood

  13. On a gravel road you meet an oncoming vehicle throwing up a heavy dust cloud. To what speed does the manual say to slow, if needed?

    1. Not more than 30 km/h
    2. Not more than 80 km/h
    3. Not more than 90 km/h
    4. Not more than 60 km/h

  14. Another vehicle wants to pass you on a dusty gravel road. What should you do?

    1. Move right and slow to under 60 km/h
    2. Stop on the road
    3. Keep your speed and lane
    4. Speed up to keep out of its dust

  15. You are following a truck that is raising a heavy dust cloud on a gravel highway. What should you do?

    1. Pass it on the shoulder
    2. Stay back out of the dust until passing is safe
    3. Speed up and pass it quickly
    4. Follow close behind so you can see its taillights

  16. You feel loose gravel pulling at your wheels. What should you do?

    1. Brake hard and steer to firm ground
    2. Speed up to get through
    3. Jerk the wheel back to the centre
    4. Slow down without braking and hold steady

  17. Where should you never run your vehicle's engine?

    1. In a closed garage
    2. At a fuel station after paying
    3. On a quiet gravel road
    4. In an open parking lot

  18. You get a flat tire while driving in heavy dust. How should you stop?

    1. Slow down gradually to a stop
    2. Brake hard right away
    3. Stop in the middle of the road
    4. Swerve onto the shoulder fast

  19. A blizzard is coming but you absolutely must travel. What does the manual advise?

    1. Tell no one, to avoid worry
    2. Drive faster to beat the storm
    3. Start with a full tank and a call-back plan
    4. Leave with half a tank to save weight

Gravel roads, dust and winter driving: 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 ↗

Gravel

  • Main differences from pavement: dust; flying rocks and stones; loose gravel; poor traction.

Dust

  • Any vehicle on gravel at highway speed raises a dust cloud that cuts visibility; as an added safety measure motorists are required to travel with headlights on at all times (stated in the dust/gravel context).
  • A tractor-trailer's dust cloud may be half a kilometre long or more and can hide other vehicles, loose gravel or potholes.
  • Don't try to catch up to and pass a vehicle raising heavy dust; stay back until it stops or the surface changes (less dust), then pass without delay.
  • Don't stop quickly in dust except in an emergency; with a flat or engine trouble, slow to a stop gradually so dust clears and followers can see you.
  • Meeting a vehicle raising heavy dust: headlights on well before meeting; get well over to your side; slow if needed to not more than 60 km/h (35 mph); fix the oncoming vehicle's position and the road edge in your mind; hold steady and be ready for someone passing behind it.
  • Less dust inside: shut all windows, turn on the heater fan, open the forward vents — the pressure keeps dust out.

Flying rocks and stones

  • Tires on gravel throw stones high and wide; overtaking cars get hit (chips, broken headlights, cracked windshields).
  • Rounded plexiglass headlight covers help protect headlights.
  • To let the driver ahead know you want to pass (they likely can't hear the horn): turn on headlights and flick between high and low beam, even in daylight.
  • A courteous driver being passed moves right as far as safe and slows to under 60 km/h; do the same when you are being passed.
  • Mudguards behind the wheels reduce stones you throw; a heavy rubberized skirt in front of the gas tank protects it.

Loose gravel

  • Many crashes come from hitting loose gravel, catching a wheel in a grader ridge, or getting too close to the edge.
  • Rules: don't go too fast in loose gravel; if gravel pulls your wheels, slow down but don't brake; don't overcorrect or jerk the wheel; hold a steady course.
  • Light rear ends (e.g. empty pickups) and washboard surfaces make vehicles bounce; same rules: slow, don't brake, don't overcorrect.

Ice, sleet and snow (winter driving)

  • Nunavut winters are severe. Besides a tune-up, fit snow tires or carry chains; have equipment to keep windows clear.
  • Test steering and braking when you start out. Never spin your tires.
  • Start slowing at least three times the usual distance before an intersection where you will turn or stop. Increase following distance.
  • Extra weight (bags of salt or dry sand) only for rear-wheel-drive vehicles, placed over the rear axle; not cement blocks, frozen sand, logs or iron; not too much or too far back (lifts front wheels, loses steering).
  • Deep snow: wheels straight, no sharp turns, keep momentum.
  • Be extremely careful passing; applying power can cause a skid or spin.
  • Never run a vehicle in a closed garage. Carbon monoxide is odourless; a very small amount can kill. Check exhaust for leaks; ventilate when parked with engine running. Dizziness, nausea or ringing ears: stop the engine, get fresh air.
  • Travel during a Nunavut blizzard is not recommended; heed warnings. If you must go: full tank, a call-back arrangement, traction ramps, antifreeze, good wipers, airtight exhaust, good battery, chains and shovel; watch for ice in shady spots; listen to road reports.

Icy roads, black ice, starting on ice

  • On wet or icy roads you can't stop as quickly. Pump or apply the brakes quickly but gently and release; repeat. Hard pressure locks the wheels and starts a skid.
  • Slippery roads: slower speed; farther back; chains if needed; avoid sudden steering, braking, accelerating or downshifting before speed is well reduced.
  • Black ice: clear ice patches on bare winter pavement that you can't see because of the dark pavement underneath.
  • Starting on ice: first or second gear; gentle power, wheels turning slowly.

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