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Nunavut Class 7 overview

Nunavut Class 7: Highways, following distance and passing

Freeway and controlled access highway driving, the two-second rule and following distances, avoiding rear-end collisions, passing in towns and on highways, meeting other vehicles and changing lanes.

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Highways, following distance and passing · Question 1Score 0/0

You are in a school zone and the car ahead is going only 10 km/h. May you pass it?

Study reference: Nunavut Driver's Manual (2022 posting), Ch. 6 Safe Driving Practices — Freeway driving, Following distances, Passing, Lane changing, pp. 38–43

All 21 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 in a school zone and the car ahead is going only 10 km/h. May you pass it?

    1. Yes, if you sound your horn
    2. Yes, on the left if clear
    3. Yes, on the right if clear
    4. No, not on either side

  2. On a four-lane highway, when may you pass another vehicle on the right?

    1. When it is going well below the posted speed limit
    2. Whenever the left lane is busy
    3. Never on any highway
    4. When it is turning left and the right lane is open

  3. Driving conditions are poor. How should you change the two-second following interval?

    1. Increase it to three seconds or more
    2. Reduce it to one second
    3. Keep it at two seconds
    4. Use one car length per 10 km/h instead

  4. You drive a truck and trailer that is 48 feet long. What following count does the manual's method give you?

    1. 4 seconds
    2. 5 seconds
    3. 2 seconds
    4. 8 seconds

  5. About what share of rear-end collisions happen in ideal driving and road conditions?

    1. About one-quarter
    2. Nearly all of them
    3. Nearly two-thirds
    4. About one in ten

  6. You are entering a freeway from an on-ramp. Where should you build up your speed?

    1. In the acceleration lane
    2. On the shoulder
    3. After merging into traffic
    4. In the right freeway lane

  7. Why should you avoid changing lanes in an intersection?

    1. It damages the pavement markings
    2. It is allowed only on green
    3. Others can't tell if you are turning
    4. Intersections are always one lane

  8. What is the minimum safe following distance rule given in the manual?

    1. Two car lengths at any speed
    2. One car length for every 50 km/h
    3. One car length for every 15 km/h
    4. Ten metres at any speed

  9. The road is slippery. What should you do with your normal following distance?

    1. Add one metre
    2. Keep it the same
    3. Double it
    4. Cut it in half

  10. On a controlled access highway, what may you do on the median?

    1. Nothing; never drive on it
    2. Pass slow vehicles on it
    3. Use it to turn around
    4. Stop there to rest

  11. Within what distance of an intersection, railway crossing, bridge or tunnel must you not pass?

    1. 10 m
    2. 30 m
    3. 60 m
    4. 150 m

  12. Before changing lanes, what must you do besides checking your mirrors?

    1. Sound your horn
    2. Turn on your hazard lights for a few seconds
    3. Look over your shoulder at the blind spot
    4. Flash your headlights

  13. You are leaving a freeway. Where should you slow down?

    1. Before you signal
    2. In the left freeway lane
    3. In the deceleration lane
    4. On the main freeway lanes

  14. Using the time-interval method, when is your following distance too short?

    1. When the car ahead brakes
    2. When you can see the car's tires
    3. When you reach the checkpoint in over two seconds
    4. When you pass the checkpoint in under two seconds

  15. Traffic on the freeway is slow on the left. May you pass on the shoulder?

    1. Yes, at low speed
    2. Yes, if you signal
    3. Only in an emergency lane
    4. No, never pass on the shoulder

  16. You realize you have just missed your freeway exit. What should you do?

    1. Keep going and take the next exit
    2. Stop and back up to the exit
    3. Stop on the shoulder and wait
    4. Make a U-turn across the median

  17. You meet an oncoming vehicle on a road with room for only one lane each way. What should you do?

    1. Flash your lights and keep going
    2. Give it as close to half the road as possible
    3. Drive in the centre of the road until it passes
    4. Stop and wait every time

  18. Another driver is passing you. What should you do?

    1. Speed up to stay ahead
    2. Reduce speed slightly and keep right
    3. Brake hard to let them in
    4. Move toward the centre line so they see you

  19. On a two-lane highway, why should you not pull across the centre line just to see if it is clear to pass?

    1. It is allowed as long as you signal left first
    2. You should be able to see from your own lane
    3. It wastes fuel
    4. It only matters at night

  20. About how much road does it take at 90 km/h to pass a car going 80 km/h?

    1. About half a kilometre
    2. About 2 kilometres
    3. About 150 metres
    4. About 50 metres

  21. You are passing a car on a two-lane highway. When should you move back into the right lane?

    1. When your front bumper passes its front bumper
    2. After one kilometre
    3. As soon as you are beside it
    4. When you can see it in your rear-view mirror

Highways, following distance and passing: 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 ↗

Freeway driving (tips)

  • Enter by speeding up to freeway speed in the acceleration lane, not in the freeway lanes.
  • Leave by slowing in the deceleration lane, not in the freeway lanes.
  • Keep a steady speed matching traffic; obey posted limits.
  • Keep the two-second interval; more space in bad road or weather conditions.
  • Watch for entering drivers and adjust your speed to let them merge.
  • Avoid lane hopping; stay in your lane unless passing; signal lane changes.
  • Pass on the left when possible; you may pass on the right with caution if a right lane is available. Never pass on the shoulder.
  • Plan rest stops against highway fatigue. Breakdown or tire trouble: get as far off the road as possible.
  • Don't drive side by side; speed up or slow down to clear the lane.

Controlled access highways

  • Usually four lanes split into two sets by a median; do not drive on the median.
  • Entering: stay in the acceleration lane and reach freeway speed quickly to merge smoothly; drivers on the freeway should adjust to let you in.
  • Exiting: watch the signs, be in the correct lane, signal, slow in the deceleration lane. Ramps usually show a safe speed.
  • Missed your exit: don't stop, don't back up, don't turn around; take the next exit.

Following distances

  • Nearly two-thirds of rear-end collisions happen in ideal driving and road conditions; responsibility usually falls on the following driver.
  • Minimum: at least one car length (about 6 m / 20 ft) for every 15 km/h (10 mph) of speed; double it when roads are slippery.
  • The time-interval (two-second) method gives about one and a half car lengths per 15 km/h.
  • Poor conditions: increase from two seconds to three or more.
  • Bus or truck: round the vehicle length to the nearest ten feet and divide by ten for the count in seconds (48 ft → 50 → 5 seconds).
  • Counting method: pick a checkpoint; start counting when the rear of the vehicle ahead passes it; under two seconds is too short, two or more is reasonable.

Avoiding rear-end collisions and being struck

  • Stay calm in slow traffic; watch brake lights ahead (they may not work); don't assume the car ahead will go through an amber.
  • Allow time and distance for a stopped car ahead to start moving.
  • Avoid being struck: keep brake lights clean and working, flash them when stopped, slow or about to stop; use mirrors often; keep rear window clear of frost and snow; signal early; slow gradually; keep pace with traffic within limits.

Passing in a municipality: never pass

  • At an intersection on a two-lane street or highway. Exception: you may carefully pass on the left of a car turning right, or on the right of a car turning left, if you stay on the travelled road (not the shoulder) and do not cross a solid line.
  • At any crosswalk or place where a car has stopped to yield to a pedestrian or another vehicle.
  • In a school or playground zone, even if the other car is going 10 km/h, on either side.
  • On the right side of a street except where lanes are marked; on the left if it is not clear far enough ahead.

Passing on highways

  • Passing a car going 80 km/h in a 90 km/h zone takes about half a kilometre at 90 km/h. Judging is harder at night.
  • City drivers should take time before deciding to pass on highways. Little is gained by passing in heavy traffic.
  • When in doubt, don't pass.
  • Do: decide if it's necessary; check ahead, behind and mirrors; stay well back for a better view; signal left; check the blind spot; make sure the road is clear far enough; pass on the left (except on four-lane highways when the other vehicle turns left and the right lane is open); return when you can see the passed car in your rear-view mirror; signal right before moving back.
  • Being passed: reduce speed and keep right.
  • Don't: cross a double solid line on a four-lane highway; pull across the centre line on a two-lane road to look (you should see from your lane); pass where signs prohibit it; exceed the limit; cut in; pass within 30 m (100 ft) of an intersection, railway crossing, bridge, viaduct or tunnel; pass near a hill crest; pass on a curve with a blocked view; pass unless the left side is clear far enough.

Meeting other vehicles

  • Keep right when meeting moving traffic. With only one lane each way, give the other vehicle as close to half the road as possible. If that's impractical, both drivers stop and help each other pass safely.

Lane changing

  • Check mirrors and traffic behind and beside; signal; don't rely on the mirror alone — turn your head and check over your shoulder.
  • Blind spots are at the right and left rear corners; a car whose front bumper is about even with or past your rear bumper may not show in the mirror.
  • Don't leave lane changes to the last minute; don't change lanes in an intersection (others can't tell if you are turning).

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