Nunavut Class 7 study guide: key rules on all 18 topics

Free Nunavut Class 7 study guide: 502 key points from the Nunavut Driver's Manual in plain words, organised by topic, each topic linked to its practice questions.

By the Canada Exam Prep Editorial Team · Updated October 15, 2026

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This study guide collects our notes on every topic of the Nunavut Class 7 Learner's Knowledge Test on one page: 502 short points in our own words, grouped by topic and by handbook section. Read it from top to bottom before your first practice test, or jump to a topic from the list below.

Each topic ends with a link to its practice questions, so you can check what you just read straight away, and a link to the official chapter for the full wording. The notes summarise the Nunavut Driver's Manual from the Government of Nunavut — Economic Development and Transportation, Motor Vehicles; they do not replace it, and where our notes and the official source differ, the official source wins.

Study these notes as flashcards →

Regulatory signs

Sign shapes and the Nunavut colour code, stop and yield, speed signs, no U-turn, do not enter, one-way and two-way, keep right, passing signs, turn-control and overhead lane signs, and parking signs.

Practise Regulatory signs questions Flashcards Official chapter

Signs: sign shapes

Sign shapes carry meaning, so you can still tell a sign's intent when darkness, fading light, fog, rain, snow or dust hides its lettering or symbol.
The manual says traffic signs have six basic shapes (shown as pictures only; shapes are not named in the text).
The manual includes signs you will not see in Nunavut; a licence not restricted to Nunavut lets you drive elsewhere, so you must know them.

Regulatory and warning signs

Regulatory signs tell drivers about laws and regulations; disobeying one is an offence.
They tell you where to stop or yield, about speed zones, parking rules and situations that need special care.

Standard sign colours (Nunavut colour code)

Red: stop or prohibition.
Green: movement permitted, directional guidance.
White: regulation.
Orange: construction and maintenance warning.
Blue: school signs and service information.
Yellow: general warning, danger.
Brown: off-road facilities.

Regulatory signs

Stop: come to a stop; do not go until it is absolutely safe.
Yield: give the right-of-way to traffic not facing the sign and to all pedestrians in the intersection or crosswalk.
Maximum speed sign: highest speed allowed under ideal conditions.
Advance speed sign: warns that a lower maximum speed zone is ahead.
Night speed sign: maximum speed at night under ideal conditions.
No U-turn: you must not turn around on the roadway to go the opposite way.
Do not enter: you must not enter the street.
Two-way traffic: you are no longer on a one-way road; drive in the right-hand lane.
Keep right: placed on traffic islands or obstructions; pass on the right.
Truck route: trucks may use the road. No trucks: heavy trucks not allowed.
Passing permitted sign: pass if the way is clear. No passing sign: passing not permitted.

Turn-control and one-way signs

One-way signs: traffic allowed in one direction only.
Signs for: no turns, turn right only, no right turn, no left turn, turn left only, turn right or left only.
A sign shows where you may park. Another sign prohibits motorized snow vehicles on that road.

Overhead designation signs

Mounted above the road on the approach to an intersection, each centred over the lane it controls.
In a lane under one of these signs you may only make the movement shown.
Example: lane 1 must turn left; lane 2 may turn left or go straight; lane 3 must turn right.
Other lane signs: right or through; all movements; right or left; through only.

Warning signs

Yellow warning signs for curves, merges, narrow roads, divided highways, intersections, signals, hills, slippery roads, railway crossings, deer, lane endings, fallen rock, soft shoulders, and hazard markers.

Practise Warning signs questions Flashcards Official chapter

Warning signs (general)

Warning signs alert you to possible hazards on or near the road that you cannot see yet.
Response: slow down and proceed with caution.
Yellow = general warning, danger (colour code, p. 18).

Examples of warning signs

Sharp right turn ahead.
Sharp right curve with a speed tab: the tab gives the maximum comfortable speed for the curve (example in the manual: 40 km/h).
Right curve ahead; reverse curve ahead.
Winding road ahead: use extra caution, passing is restricted.
Two lanes merge ahead.
Narrow structure ahead (for example a bridge).
Pavement narrows ahead.
Divided highway begins; divided highway ends.
Hidden intersection ahead: watch for vehicles coming from both directions.
T-intersection: use caution.
Stop sign ahead. Traffic lights ahead.
Bump or rough road ahead.

Examples of warning signs (continued)

Steep hill ahead.
Dead end: exit to the right or left.
Road slippery when wet: caution.
Playground or playground crosswalk ahead. Pedestrian activity ahead.
Chevrons: warn of changes in road alignment on curves or sharp turns.
Railway crossing advance warning: the position of the track drawn on the sign shows the angle at which the tracks cross the road.
Deer regularly cross this section of highway.
Road narrows to one lane: right lane ends.
Underpass ahead: shows the overhead clearance.
Pavement ends: road continues with a gravel surface.
Fallen rock or landslides may block the road.
Two-way traffic ahead. Truck entrance.
Soft shoulders: road shoulders right beside the travelled lanes are soft and may be dangerous.

Hazard markers

Mark obstacles on the roadway or shoulder.
Different markers tell you to pass on either side, pass on the right, or pass on the left of the obstacle.

School, construction and service signs

The pedestrian-school advance sign and its speed tab, school and pedestrian crosswalk signs, construction and maintenance signs, the slow moving vehicle sign, and service and information signs.

Practise School, construction and service signs questions Flashcards Official chapter

Pedestrian – School Advance

Shows a high density of school children in the area; marks a slow speed zone.
Drive slowly and carefully; be ready to stop instantly.
School signs use blue in the Nunavut colour code (p. 18). Our drawing is a generic school sign, so no colour question is tied to the picture.

Pedestrian-School Advance Sign

Warns that you are approaching a school zone: slow down, take extra care, watch for children.
With a "Maximum Speed" or "km/h During School Days" tab underneath, you must keep to the speed shown.

School crosswalk sign

Reduce speed and be ready to stop.
Never overtake and pass a moving or stopped vehicle at these crosswalks.

Crosswalks (sign types)

Two crosswalk signs mark busy crosswalks: one for school crosswalks, one for pedestrian crosswalks.
School crosswalks are for everyone; all pedestrians using them have the same crossing rights.

Construction and maintenance signs

Used on road construction and maintenance projects to warn of hazards; slow to a safe speed to protect yourself and the workers.
Flagman ahead.
Barricade sign: a barricade across the highway closes the road or diverts traffic.
Diversion: temporary change in the road's alignment.
Men working ahead.
Orange = construction and maintenance warning (p. 18).

Slow moving vehicle sign

Warns of a slow moving vehicle ahead.
May be attached to the rear of a vehicle travelling much slower than the posted speed.

Service and information signs

Advance community sign with service tabs (shows services in the community).
Symbols: aeroplane points to the airport; hospital; boat launch; café; trailer facilities; service stations; travel information; tenting; picnic facilities; hotel or motel; police; roadside rest area.

Traffic lights and signals

Light colours and order, the fourth red light, red, amber and green lights, right turn on red, flashing red, amber and green, green arrows, lane use signals, pedestrian signals and police or flagman directions.

Practise Traffic lights and signals questions Flashcards Official chapter

Traffic control devices: colours and order

Red = stop. Amber = do not enter the intersection. Green = go when it is safe.
Standard sequence: green, amber, red, then green again.
Vertical signal: red at the top, green at the bottom, amber in between.
Horizontal signal: red on the left, green on the right, amber in between.
Some signals have a fourth light: an extra red that works at the same time as the other red. Vertical: at the very bottom. Horizontal: at the far right.

Purposes and police

Lights alternate the right-of-way, warn of hazards, and guide or show direction.
A police officer directing traffic overrides any signs or lights; follow the officer.

Red signal light

Stop at the marked stop line; if none, at the nearest crosswalk; if none, before entering the intersection.
Wait for green unless signs or signals allow a special movement.

Right turn at red

Allowed in most Canadian jurisdictions (not Quebec) after a complete stop, if no sign prohibits it, yielding to pedestrians and other traffic in or approaching the intersection.
Do not hold up traffic behind you: once stopped and clear, proceed safely.

Flashing red

Same meaning as a stop sign: come to a dead stop, go only when safe.
Can be an overhead light, a standard signal, or a beacon above a stop sign.

Amber light

Warns that red is about to appear; gives traffic already in the intersection time to clear.
Do not enter on amber; racing it risks a crash or a ticket.
If it turns amber as you enter the intersection, you may continue with extreme caution.

Flashing amber

Slow down, proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians in the crosswalks.
Usually paired with flashing red for the cross direction; watch for drivers who may not stop.
Separate flashing amber lights (on their own) mean caution and warn of: start of a divided highway, traffic signals ahead, railway and school crossings, an intersection. Slow down, be ready to stop, yield to pedestrians in the adjacent crosswalk.

Green light, flashing green, arrows

Green: go if the way is clear. When turning on green, pedestrians crossing on the green have the right-of-way.
Approaching a green: expect amber; be ready to stop if it changes before you reach the intersection.
Flashing green: you may turn left, turn right or go straight; opposing traffic faces red.
Green arrow without red: go only in the direction of the arrow.
Green arrow with red: still only the arrow's direction; the red means other movements are given to other traffic.

Lane use signals

Reverse a lane's direction at different times of day; used on expressways, bridges and tunnels.
Never drive in a lane under a red X. You may drive in a lane under a green arrow or green X.

Pedestrian signals; police officers and flagmen

Hand outline = DON'T WALK: do not start crossing; people already crossing may finish.
Walking figure = WALK: cross if safe.
A police officer's or highway maintenance flagman's signal must be obeyed even over signs or lights; signals are given by hand, and at night may be given with a flashlight.

Pavement markings

Yellow and white lines, broken and solid lines, solid-and-broken pairs, double solid lines, stop lines and crosswalks, cross-hatching and directional arrows.

Practise Pavement markings questions Flashcards Official chapter

Pavement markings (purpose and limits)

Markings support signs and signals, and often do a job no other device can.
Limits: snow and ice cover them; hard to see when wet; wear out quickly where traffic is heavy.
Advantage: they give warnings or information without taking your eyes off the road.

Patterns of pavement markings

Yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions; on two-lane roads the yellow line should always be on your left.
White lines separate traffic moving in the same direction.
Broken yellow: passing permitted when traffic allows.
Broken white: lane changing permitted when traffic allows.
Solid yellow: no passing. Solid white: no lane changing.
Solid and broken yellow together: no passing if the solid line is on your side.
Double solid yellow: no passing for traffic in either direction.
White stop line: you must stop before it.

Crosswalks and stop lines

Both are for pedestrian safety and show drivers where to stop.
Stop lines may be painted before the crosswalk at intersections with signs or signals; stop before the line.
No stop line: stop before the crosswalk when a sign or signal requires, or when pedestrians are in or about to enter the crosswalk.

Cross-hatching and directional arrows

Two solid lines enclosing diagonal stripes are painted on the approach to fixed objects (divided underpass, bridge pier, concrete island) to guide traffic away from them.
The fixed objects themselves get yellow and black markings for advance warning.
Directional arrows show which direction you may move.

Licence classes and the driver examination

Nunavut's seven licence classes, what a Class 7 learner may drive, minimum ages, the two-part written test, vision and road tests, test refusals and licence conditions.

Practise Licence classes and the driver examination questions Flashcards Official chapter

Driver licence information

To drive legally you need a valid licence of a class that covers the vehicle you are driving.

Licence classes

Class 1: semi-trailers and tractor-trailers; anything in Classes 2–5; Class 6 while learning.
Class 2: buses of any seating capacity; Classes 3–5; combinations without air brakes towing over 4,500 kg; Class 1 or 6 while learning. Air brakes only if the licence specifically permits.
Class 3: single vehicles with three or more axles; combinations towing up to 4,500 kg; combinations without air brakes towing over 4,500 kg; Classes 4–5; Class 1, 2 or 6 while learning. Air brakes only if permitted on the licence.
Class 4: bus seating up to 24 passengers; taxicab; ambulance; Class 5; Class 1, 2, 3 or 6 while learning.
Class 5: two-axle vehicles other than a motorcycle, bus, taxi or ambulance; two-axle towing vehicle plus towed vehicles up to 4,500 kg combined; recreational vehicles; mopeds; graders, loaders and similar road-building machines (not construction vehicles over two axles other than a grader or three-axle compactor); Classes 1–4 and 6 while learning. Air brakes only if permitted.
Class 6: motorcycles; Class 5 while learning.
Class 7: any Class 5 or 6 vehicle, while learning to operate it.
Classes 5, 6 and 7 need a driver's medical at age 75, at age 80 and every two years after 80.

Minimum requirements for a licence test

Classes 1–4: age 18, a Class 5 licence, driver's medical, written tests, vision standard, pre-trip inspection, road test.
Classes 5 and 6: age 16, a valid learner's licence, written tests, vision standard, road test.
Class 7: age 15, written knowledge test, vision standard, suitable ID (e.g. birth certificate, health care card, passport).
School bus endorsement: apply to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles; licence class for the bus size, age 18, medical, written test, pre-trip, road test.

Components of a driver's test

Manuals tested: Nunavut Driver's Manual (all classes); Professional Driver's Handbook (Classes 1–4); Air Brake Manual (air-brake vehicles).
Exams are by appointment only, made in person at any driver examination office; the fee is paid when you book. Not cancelling in advance may forfeit the fee.
Three areas: knowledge tests, vision test, road test.
Basic written exam has two parts: (1) rules of the road and safe driving practices; (2) sign identification.
Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and school bus endorsement have extra test papers.
Fail one part: rewrite only the part(s) you failed.
Can't read the test: the examiner may give it orally. Can't speak the language: an interpreter may be used at the examiner's discretion.
Number of questions and pass mark are not given in the manual.

Vision test

Basic vision standard for Classes 5, 6, 7; higher standard for Classes 1–4.
If you don't meet it, a vision specialist does an extra test.
If you need corrective lenses to pass, you must wear them at all times when driving, and the licence is endorsed.
Test includes colour perception and field of vision.

Road test

Use a vehicle suitable for the class. Don't drive it to or from the test unless you hold a valid learner's licence and are accompanied by someone authorized under the Motor Vehicles Act.
No pets or passengers other than examination staff (exceptions for language, at examiner's discretion).
Examiner won't ask you to break the law or coach you.
Checked on: starting, stopping, turning, signs and signals, lane driving, intersections, parallel parking and backing, hazards, attitude.
Test may be refused if: late; no licence, registration and liability insurance card; no visible rear plate; unsafe or unclean vehicle; wrong class; vision or medical not up to standard.
Refused or stopped if: drove to the site unaccompanied; signs of alcohol or drug impairment; skills so weak that continuing is dangerous.
A re-test needs an additional fee and a new receipt.

Restrictions or conditions

Conditions on a licence are shown by code letters; their meanings are printed on every licence; driving against them is an offence.
A licence is a privilege, not a right (p. 7).

Your licence, registration and insurance

Licence renewal and expiry, new residents, lost licences, name and address changes, licence offences, vehicle registration, the $200,000 insurance minimum, plate-to-owner plates and transfers.

Practise Your licence, registration and insurance questions Flashcards Official chapter

Renewing your licence

A Nunavut licence is issued for five years and expires on your birthday.
Renew in person at the nearest issuing office.
Renewal is allowed if the licence has not been expired for more than one year; expired over one year = re-examination.

New residents (also gov.nu.ca "Apply for a Driver's Licence" page)

A new resident with a licence from another province, territory or state must get a Nunavut licence within 30 days of becoming a resident.
An out-of-territory licence expired for more than one year (12 months) is not accepted; re-examination needed.
Temporary driver's permits are not accepted. Other licences accepted only on conditions the Registrar sets.
gov.nu.ca: apply at a local Motor Vehicle service provider with a completed application form and two pieces of acceptable ID.

Lost or destroyed licence

Report the loss or destruction to the RCMP, then get a duplicate from any issuing office with proof of identity.

Change of address or name

Notify the nearest issuing office within 15 days of the change.
A name change needs a marriage certificate or other legal document.
No fee for either change.

Driver licence offences

Driving without a licence: both the driver and the vehicle owner are liable; in a crash it may void insurance.
Driving while suspended or revoked: Criminal Code conviction punishable by a severe fine, jail or both; the suspension is also lengthened.
Driving with an unsigned licence: a Nunavut licence is not valid unless signed in ink by the holder.
Driving without the licence on you: you must produce it when a police officer demands, and show it to the other driver after an accident.
Making a false declaration on a licence application; driving after the expiry date.

Registration and insurance

All motor vehicles must be registered and insured before use on Nunavut roads; vehicles and trailers registered for all or part of any year used.
Liability insurance required at all times while registered: at least $200,000, from a company registered with the Insurance Registry of Nunavut.
Proof of insurance is needed before a vehicle can be registered.
Renew registration each year before expiry, with the previous certificate and a valid insurance card.
New vehicle: bill of sale plus the dealer's New Vehicle Identification System (NVIS) form and insurance card.
New resident: 30 days to switch to Nunavut registration.
Address or name change: within 15 days; notices go to your old address otherwise, and the onus is on you.

Transfers and plates

Nunavut uses plate-to-owner registration: plates are registered to you, not the vehicle.
Selling: remove the plates and keep them for your next vehicle. Put them on another vehicle only after getting a certificate of insurance for it; then within 14 days get a new certificate of registration.
Buying a registered vehicle: get the previous registration signed over to you, plus a bill of sale and proof of insurance.
A new polar-bear-shaped plate is issued at first registration; a registration sticker is issued then and each year and must be stuck on the plate.

Your vehicle, equipment and seat belts

Pre-drive checks, seating and steering position, warning lights, attitude and distraction, required equipment and light distances, mirrors, equipment inspection, seat belts and winter preparation.

Practise Your vehicle, equipment and seat belts questions Flashcards Official chapter

You and your vehicle (check routine)

Before driving: tires properly inflated and undamaged; headlights and turn signals working; under the hood check oil, fan belts, radiator and coolant hoses, washer fluid full.

Driving position

Sit up and well back, body firm against the seat; feet reach pedals easily.
Manual shift: you should push the clutch fully down with your foot without stretching. Automatic: right foot flat on the floor under the brake pedal.
Wear comfortable, flat-heeled shoes. Left foot rests on the floor left of the pedals.
Grip the wheel lightly but firmly; if you strain to steer or brake, move closer.
Adjust the seat first, then the mirrors. Inside mirror shows the rear window and reduces blind spots; adjust outside mirrors too.

Instruments and controls

Warning lights should go out once the engine starts; don't drive if they stay on. Brake warning light staying on may mean a serious brake problem.
Learn to use wipers, lights, high/low beam and heater without looking.
Winter: close heater/defroster controls at night so snow and moisture stay out (prevents fogging); open them only after the engine is at normal temperature or the cold warning light is out.

Attitudes

Emotions (anxiety, depression, even feeling very good) can take your mind off the road.
Don't eat, drink, read, use a cell phone or do anything that takes attention from driving.

Steering method

Hands on the top half of the wheel, well apart (ten and two o'clock); not on the inside spokes.
Tight turns: hand over hand; return the wheel by letting it slide through your fingers.
Normal steering and lane changes with both hands on the wheel; don't steer with one finger or a flat palm; avoid turning the wheel when stopped.

Vehicle equipment

Brakes: adequate foot brakes plus an emergency or hand brake.
Headlights: two, lighting objects at least 110 m (350 ft) ahead in normal conditions (except motorcycles, power bicycles, scooters).
Tail lights: two red, visible at least 150 m (500 ft). Brake lights: two red, visible in sunlight at least 30 m (100 ft), working with the foot brake.
Horn: must work; use only when reasonably necessary; unnecessary use can lead to prosecution.
Muffler: must prevent unreasonable noise. Windshield: no stickers or non-transparent material blocking the view. Wipers required.
Mirrors: a mirror giving a clear view to the rear; with a view-blocking load or a trailer, outside mirrors on both sides; clear rear view of at least 60 m (200 ft).
Inspection: an officer may stop you and inspect; if defective, may order immediate repair, order the vehicle off the road, or prohibit its use until safe.

Safety belts

Required by law for all drivers and passengers; child restraints or car seats for small children.
Wearing belts can reduce the chance of being killed by as much as 70%. Use both lap and shoulder belts.
You are 25 times more likely to be killed if ejected.
At 50 km/h into a solid object, you keep moving at 50 km/h until something stops you.
Fire or water submersion happens in only 1 of 200 accidents; belts help you stay conscious to escape.
Most injuries and deaths happen at 65 km/h or less; most accidents happen close to home.
Never hold a child on your lap: collision force tears the child from your arms.

Winter preparation

Check battery, brakes, wipers, heater and defroster, antifreeze and washer fluid; plug-in devices (block heaters, oil-pan heaters, battery blankets) safe and connected.
Carry: window scraper brush, booster cables, shovel, tow chain or strap, traction mat, sand, flashlight.

Right-of-way, emergency vehicles and railway crossings

Uncontrolled intersections, entering from driveways and lanes, left turns, emergency vehicles and the 150 m fire engine rule, funeral processions, traffic circles and railway crossing stopping distances.

Practise Right-of-way, emergency vehicles and railway crossings questions Flashcards Official chapter

Right-of-way (general)

All drivers have a moral and legal duty to avoid collisions. If you have the right-of-way and the other driver won't yield, you must still try to avoid the collision rather than insist on your right.

Uncontrolled intersections

No signs or signals: both drivers slow down; the vehicle on the left must yield to the vehicle on the right.
Entering the intersection first does not automatically give you the right-of-way; the driver with the right-of-way must still take care.

No markings / lanes, driveways and alleys

Entering a street from a private road, alley, building, driveway or lane: yield to all traffic and pedestrians; go only when safe.
Watch carefully and yield to traffic close enough to be a hazard.

Turning left

At intersections without an advance signal, yield to vehicles in or approaching the intersection; don't turn in front of oncoming traffic unless you can finish safely.

Emergency vehicles

Fire engines, police cars and ambulances have the right-of-way at all times while showing flashing red lights and sounding a siren, bell or exhaust whistle.
When one approaches: pull over right away to the right-hand curb or edge, clear of any intersection, and stop. Stay stopped until it has passed.
No driver may follow within 150 m (500 ft) of a fire engine unless driving another emergency vehicle.

Funeral processions

As a courtesy, let a funeral procession proceed without interference; usually cars with lights on, sometimes a police escort.

Traffic circles

In a traffic circle, the vehicle on the right yields to the vehicle on the left; traffic entering yields to traffic already in the circle.
Leave the circle in the same lane you were travelling in within it.

Railroad crossings

A collision with a train is the deadliest kind; always yield to the train.
You must stop when: an electric or mechanical signal warns of a train; a gate is lowered; a flagman signals; a train is close enough to be a hazard and you can see or hear it.
Outside a municipality: stop not less than 5 m (15 ft) from the nearest rail. Inside a municipality: not less than 15 m (50 ft).
After a train passes, check that it is safe; a second train may come from the other direction. At signal-controlled crossings wait until the signal stops.
Buses and trucks carrying flammable or dangerous goods must stop at crossings without gates or lights even with no train in sight; some companies make buses stop at all crossings. Be ready to stop behind them.
Manual transmission: choose a gear that lets you cross without shifting; shifting gears on a crossing is unsafe and illegal.

Pedestrians, school buses and cyclists

Crosswalks, school and playground zones, pedestrian and driver responsibilities, blind pedestrians, stopping for school buses, and sharing the road with cyclists.

Practise Pedestrians, school buses and cyclists questions Flashcards Official chapter

Blind persons

Whenever you see a blind person, drive carefully and be ready to stop.
Blind and partially blind people carry white canes or use guide dogs.
A raised cane often means the person is unsure about crossing: that is your signal to STOP and give them the right-of-way.
A guide dog wears a special harness; don't startle it by revving the engine or honking.

Crosswalks

Watch for pedestrians at crosswalks; if a pedestrian is in the crosswalk you must stop and yield to all pedestrians.
Passing a vehicle that has stopped for pedestrians is highly dangerous and illegal.

School zones and playground zones

Slow zones set up by a municipality; know the zone speeds and locations in your community.
Slow to a reasonable and prudent speed when a child is on or near the road or near a school or playground; be ready to stop suddenly.

Pedestrians

Nearly 20% of all traffic deaths are pedestrians.
Pedestrians are subject to the same traffic laws. Vehicles must yield to them at marked crosswalks or signals; pedestrians crossing elsewhere (not a crosswalk or unmarked walk at an intersection) must yield to vehicles.
Walking where there is no sidewalk: keep to the left, facing oncoming traffic; wear something light-coloured at night.
Drivers: yield to pedestrians under any circumstances, even jaywalkers. Never park in a marked pedestrian crosswalk.
In residential and school areas, slow down below the posted limit so you can stop suddenly.

School buses

Approaching a stopped school bus from the front or rear while it shows flashing lights to load or unload: stop before reaching the bus.
Stay stopped until the bus moves again, the driver turns off the flashing lights, or the driver waves you on.

Cyclists

Cyclists are the most exposed road users.
Visibility: bicycles are small; crashes happen when cyclists pass between stopped vehicles and drivers don't check mirrors and blind spots before turning.
Stability: a young cyclist on a bike that's too big has little control; wind from a passing truck can knock them down.
Difficulties: slippery or leaf-covered surfaces, sewer grates and wet rails can make cyclists swerve or fall.
Weak points: little protection; even a low-speed impact can cause serious injury.
Cyclists must: obey lights, signals and signs and signal intentions; ride single file in a group; ride astride holding the handlebars; never ride between two lines of vehicles; ride on the far right in the same direction as traffic (unless obstructed, using a cycle path/lane, or about to turn left); use cycle paths where they exist; carry a passenger only on a fixed seat (e.g. tandem); never be towed by a motor vehicle.

Signalling, turning and turnabouts

When and how far ahead to signal, hand signals, right and left turns, turns between one-way and two-way streets, U-turns, two-point and three-point turns, prohibited turnabouts and approaching intersections.

Practise Signalling, turning and turnabouts questions Flashcards Official chapter

Signalling

The law requires a signal when you: stop or slow down; turn left or right; change lanes; leave the roadway; pull away from a parked position.
Signal with signal lights, brake lights or hand and arm signals; give them well in advance and plainly visible.
Recommended: 30 m (100 ft) before a turn or stop in town; 150 m (500 ft) on the highway.
Check signal devices often; a road test is refused if they don't work properly.
Make sure the signal cancels after the turn. If signal lights fail, use hand signals until repaired.
Stop a hand signal before turning; keep both hands on the wheel.

Turning (steps and faults)

Decide where to turn before you get there; last-second turns are dangerous.
Look behind and to both sides before changing lanes, then signal.
Get into the proper lane as soon as possible; the faster the traffic, the sooner.
Signal well ahead; hold a hand signal until close enough for others to see, but not during the turn.
Turn at low speed under full control; finish in the proper lane.
Common faults: turning before it's safe; not watching for cars passing from behind; short, late or no signal; cutting the corner; leaving the proper lane; not yielding to pedestrians; turning too fast.

Right turns

Always keep in the right-hand lane; swinging left before a right turn is very dangerous because a driver behind may be passing.
Right on red allowed after a full stop unless a sign says otherwise, yielding to pedestrians and traffic.

Left turns

Get into the proper lane well before the intersection and signal.
Yield to oncoming vehicles close enough to cause a collision and to pedestrians in crosswalks.
Hazards: oncoming cars, pedestrians, cars passing you, right-turning cars swinging wide, cars from your right.
Speed of oncoming vehicles is hard to judge, harder at night.
Two-way to one-way: move close to the centre line; turn from just right of where the centre line meets the cross street; finish in the lane closest to the left curb.
One-way to two-way: move to the left side of the one-way street; turn to the right of and close to the centre line.
One-way to one-way: move to the left side; enter the new street as close as practical to the left curb.

Turnabouts

U-turns, two-point and three-point turns must be made with extreme caution and only where not prohibited.
U-turns are hazardous; in heavy traffic it's safer to go around the block. Move to the left lane (when practicable), signal, stop in the intersecting street, check all ways, and finish in the far right lane (free of parked cars).
Two-point turn: used where there's not enough space for a U-turn; pass the side road, stop about two feet from the road edge, back slowly and turn sharply right into the approach, then signal and turn left.
Three-point turn: start from the far right; turn sharply left moving forward to within a few centimetres of the left curb; reverse turning sharply right; repeat. Avoid turning the wheel while stopped (strains steering, wears tires).
Turnabouts absolutely prohibited: on a curve; on or near the crest of a hill where you can't be seen within 150 m (500 ft) by drivers from either direction; where a sign prohibits U-turns.

Approaching an intersection

Never enter a limited-view intersection faster than you can stop.
Don't assume you have the right-of-way even with lights or signs; expect violators.
When your light turns green, check right, left and ahead for late runners before going.
Don't rely on other drivers to signal or turn correctly.

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.

Practise Highways, following distance and passing questions Flashcards 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).

Stopping distances, parking and speed limits

Reaction and braking distance, where you may not stop or park, parallel, angle and hill parking, opening doors, Nunavut's 90, 80 and 50 km/h limits, safe speed and the slow driver.

Practise Stopping distances, parking and speed limits questions Flashcards Official chapter

Seeing, reacting, braking

You must first see a hazard and recognize it; inattention, poor vision or low visibility add distance before you even react.
Reaction distance: distance travelled while moving your foot to the brake. Average alert driver needs about 3/4 of a second.
At 48 km/h you travel about 10 m (about 2 car lengths) before you even begin braking.
Braking distance depends on speed, brake condition, tire condition, road surface and whether you are on a hill.
At 48 km/h, average braking distance is 14 m in favourable conditions; total stopping distance about 24 m (five car lengths).
Don't use your left foot on the brake.

Stopping and parking: prohibited places (unless directed by an officer or traffic control device)

In or within 6 m (20 ft) of a crosswalk.
In front of a public or private driveway.
Within an intersection.
Within 3 m (10 ft) of a fire hydrant.
Within 15 m (50 ft) of the nearest rail of a railway crossing.
Within 6 m (20 ft) of a fire station driveway, or as signs direct.
Double parking (on the roadway side of a stopped or parked vehicle).
Within 5 m (15 ft) of a stop sign, traffic signal or flashing beacon.
On a bridge.
Anywhere you obstruct traffic or create a hazard.
Where parking is allowed: right front and rear wheels within 30 cm (12 in) of the curb or road edge.

Parallel and angle parking

Parallel: you need at least 1.5 m (about 5 ft) more than your car's length. Signal and flash brake lights; stop even with the car ahead about 45 cm (18 in) away; back slowly turning sharply right to a 45-degree angle; straighten; back until the rear car's left headlight is visible, turn sharply left; then turn right to centre and straighten.
Angle parking: signal and slow; stay at least 1.5 m (5 ft) out from parked cars; steer sharply right when your front is even with the rear of the space; straighten and creep forward until the wheel barely touches the curb. Backing out is the hazardous part: check behind and both sides, don't rely on the mirror.

Parking on a hill

Manual: leave it in reverse or low gear. Automatic: Park. Set the parking brake firmly.
Downhill (curb or no curb): turn wheels toward the curb / to the right.
Uphill with a curb: turn wheels left, away from the curb.
No curb, up or downhill: turn wheels slightly right so the car rolls off the road.

General parking rules

You may not park on a travelled lane.
It is illegal to open a car door without making sure it won't interfere with or endanger another person or vehicle.
Leaving a parked position: check all around, signal, wait until safe; you do not have the right-of-way.

Speeding and speed limits

Safe speed = the speed that gives you complete control and lets you handle emergencies.
Speed limits are maximums for ideal conditions; slow down when road, visibility or traffic is less than ideal.
Nunavut maximums: outside cities and towns 90 km/h day or night; trucks outside cities and towns 80 km/h day or night; cities and towns 50 km/h or as posted; modified speed zones between 50 and 90 km/h (arterial streets, approaches to highway intersections); work zones as posted or reasonable and prudent; school and playground zones as posted or reasonable and prudent.
Rule: never drive so fast that you cannot stop safely in the clear distance ahead.

The slow driver

Driving far below the flow is also hazardous; the law prohibits driving so slowly that you impede normal traffic.
If you must go slowly: move to the right lane to let traffic pass, or pull off and stop. Applies especially when towing a trailer.

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.

Practise Gravel roads, dust and winter driving questions Flashcards 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.

Fog, night driving, fatigue, curves and hills

Fog, headlight reach and dimming distances, glare, night speed, drowsiness, curves and hills, coasting, hydroplaning, the first rain, and snowplows with flashing blue lights.

Practise Fog, night driving, fatigue, curves and hills questions Flashcards Official chapter

Fog

Best rule: avoid driving in fog. If you must: sharply reduce speed; headlights on (fog lamps even better); slow further when you see headlights or tail lights (a car may be in the middle of the road or stopped).
Be ready for emergency stops. If the fog is so dense you can barely see, pull carefully off the pavement and stop; don't creep along at 10 or 15 km/h; wait for visibility to improve.
Dim your headlights to cut glare reflected by dense fog.

Night driving: vision

Fatal accident rate at night is three times the daytime rate.
Seeing distance is shorter at night; objects blend into the background. Slow down; don't overdrive your headlights (never drive so fast you can't stop within the distance your lights show).
At 90 km/h you need about 75 m (246 ft) to stop in ideal conditions. High beams light the road about 106 m (350 ft); low beams about 30 m (100 ft).
The law requires headlights on a highway at night or any time there is not enough light.

Glare and speed

Glare from oncoming lights or mirrors can cause temporary blindness; "glare recovery time" varies, longer for older drivers and those in poor physical condition.
Look toward the right edge of the road and the white edge line; adjust the mirror or use a day-night mirror; slow down until your eyes recover.
In rain, snow, fog, dust or smoke, slow below the posted limit so you can stop within the distance you can see.

Additional night pointers

Check headlight aim twice a year (more often on rough roads). On a level road, low beams should show objects at least 30 m ahead but aim below oncoming drivers' eyes.
Dim headlights within 300 m (about 1000 ft) of an oncoming vehicle; don't wait for the other driver; don't "pay back".
When following, the law requires dimming within 60 m (about 200 ft) of the vehicle ahead.
Clean headlights regularly; keep interior lights off; slow down when meeting vehicles or near curves; watch for pedestrians and stopped vehicles at the road edge.
Never stop on the travelled part of the highway; pull onto the shoulder and use emergency lights, flares, red reflectors or triangles.
Highway signs are harder to see at night; keep the windshield clean inside and out.

Drowsiness or fatigue

Drowsiness can be like a drugged state ("highway hypnosis"), usually from monotonous driving or starting out tired. Be well rested.
Tips: stop as often as needed, e.g. every two hours; walk around; coffee; switch drivers; chat, chew gum, radio, sing; move your eyes near and far; fresh air; vary speed and body position.
Best: rest at a motel or park well off the road; if you must stop beside the road, pull far over and use four-way flashers.

Curves and hills

Slow down before a curve; brake before it, not in it; then accelerate gradually through the rest of the curve. Expect a stopped vehicle or oncoming car on your side.
Centrifugal force can carry you off the road on left-hand curves or into oncoming traffic on right-hand curves. Left-hand curve: steer toward, but not over, the centre. Right-hand curve: steer toward the right side.
Obey maximum safe speed signs on sharp curves. Entering too fast: don't panic and jam the brakes; careful braking and power may get you through.
Hills: slow near the crest; braking distance grows going down. Steep downgrade: shift to a lower gear before starting down so the engine helps brake.
Never coast downhill in neutral or with the clutch disengaged: all the slowing falls on the brakes and you could lose control; it also strains manual gearboxes and can damage automatics.

Hydroplaning and rain

At speed on wet roads tires ride up on a film of water; total hydroplaning leaves no friction to brake, accelerate or steer.
Take your foot off the accelerator and let the car slow; with total hydroplaning, release the gas and ride it out.
Good tires with deep treads help; when water is deeper than the tread, expect complete hydroplaning.
Roads are especially slick just after it starts to rain or drizzle (grease and dirt mix with the first drops).

Snowplows and maintenance machinery

Flashing blue lights are reserved for snowplows; no other vehicle may have them.
Give a snowplow the right-of-way; pass with caution (poor visibility around it).
Road maintenance equipment showing a red flag or flashing amber light while working has the right-of-way; it may be on the wrong side of the road, any time of year. Slow down and obey flagpersons.

Driving emergencies and accidents

Running off the pavement, blowouts, skids, wet brakes, disabled vehicles, head-on threats, fires, sinking vehicles, stuck accelerators, and your legal duties after an accident including the $1,000 reporting rule.

Practise Driving emergencies and accidents questions Flashcards Official chapter

Running off pavement

Don't swerve sharply back onto the pavement (rollover or skid risk).
Steer straight and stay on the shoulder; ease off the gas; brake very gently.
Once slowed, check traffic ahead and behind, then turn the front wheels sharply left to get back on. Jerking back at speed, or easing back nearly parallel to the edge, can ruin tires, cause a skid or roll the car. Slow enough not to overshoot the centre line.

Blowout

Front-tire blowout: car swerves toward the side of the blowout; steering is hard. Rear-tire blowout: rear end fishtails.
Hold the wheel firmly, take your foot off the gas, slow gradually; brake only once speed is low enough to keep control.
Don't turn onto the shoulder until in control; if already swerved onto it, don't try to get back, let the car stop.
Change tires off the roadway in a safe spot. Power steering helps resist front blowout pull.
Warning signs: thumping (bulge) or pulling sideways (losing air). Under-inflation is a common cause.

Skidding

Skids happen when tires lose grip; more people are hurt in dry-surface skids than slippery-surface skids.
Causes include sand, gravel, bumps, mud, oil, wet leaves, frost, wet rails and gratings, wet wooden planks.
In a skid: steer in the direction the rear is sliding; foot off the accelerator; pump the brake (no hard braking); straighten the front wheels as the car straightens to avoid a skid the other way.
Prevent: slow before danger spots; no quick accelerating, braking or steering.

Wet brakes

Brakes may fail after a large puddle. Test lightly after deep water as soon as possible (may pull or not work). Dry them by driving slowly and braking lightly.

Disabled vehicle

Move it clear of traffic: all four wheels off the travelled road if possible; manual shift: use starter and low gear to pull onto the shoulder.
Turn on parking lights or emergency flashers.
Place a reflectorized sign and/or flares about 60 m (200 ft) in front of and behind the car.
Can't move off the road: raise the hood or tie a cloth to the door handle.

Direct collision course

Brake hard to reduce impact. Head for the right-hand shoulder and lean on the horn. Never swerve left into oncoming traffic.
Take to the ditch if needed — better than freezing.
Aim for something that absorbs energy (bush, shrub, snowbank); a glancing blow is better than head-on (e.g. sideswiping a guardrail).

Vehicle on fire

Usually an electrical short: disconnect the battery cables right away, using tools or a jack handle wrapped in cloth, not bare hands or metal.
Smother flames with earth, sand or a large piece of clothing; keep a fire extinguisher in the passenger compartment.

Vehicle plunging into water

With windows closed, a vehicle floats 3 to 10 minutes. A seat belt can keep you from being knocked unconscious.
Doors are hard to open at first; escape through the windows. Roll down power windows immediately before water shorts them.
Front-engine cars sink nose first; air collects at the rear near the roof. Once pressure equalizes, the door opens more easily.

Accelerator jams

Shift to neutral (or de-clutch); stop as soon as safe; turn off the ignition; call for help; don't continue.

Accidents (legal duties)

Stop and give all reasonable help.
Stay at the scene until formalities are done or a police officer lets you leave.
Give your name, address, licence number and the ownership details of the vehicle to the other driver and anyone injured.
If anyone is killed or hurt, or total property damage is over $1,000, report immediately to the nearest RCMP office.
Advisable: get witnesses' names and addresses; exchange insurance details; don't discuss fault; note time, place, weather, sketch the scene; tell your insurer soon.
First at the scene: pull off and stop; four-way flashers; offer help; notify police accurately about injuries and location.

Alcohol, drugs and driving

How alcohol affects driving, the 0.08 limit and impairment at any level, the blood-alcohol chart, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, illicit drugs and sobering-up myths.

Practise Alcohol, drugs and driving questions Flashcards Official chapter

Alcohol

Alcohol is by far the greatest hazard for drivers.
It affects the highest brain functions first: removes inhibitions and impairs judgment; larger amounts affect more basic functions; finally unconsciousness and even death.
A drinking driver may: drive too fast or too slow; fail to dim lights; pass improperly; change lanes often; drift in the lane; overshoot or ignore signals; lose alertness in emergencies; take longer to brake.
Studies: in 50% of fatal accidents at least one driver had been drinking.
Light-to-moderate drinkers feel no physical sign of impairment, may become impatient or angry.

How much can a driver safely drink?

The goal is absolute sobriety at the wheel. You don't have to look or feel drunk for alcohol to slow your reflexes; drinking gives a false sense of confidence.
Legal limit: blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%. You can still be charged with impaired driving at any level if your ability to drive is impaired in any way.
Blood-alcohol chart (p. 60) estimates BAC from body weight and number of drinks.

Prescription drugs

Tranquillizers, antidepressants, sleeping pills and other psychotropic drugs can impair driving; effect on any person is unpredictable.
In a simulator test, diazepam or codeine worsened steering and braking and increased collisions.
Combined with small amounts of alcohol, effects of both are stronger: a driver below 0.08% can still be badly impaired.
Safe course: don't drive while on such a drug until you know you can drive safely on that dose; talk to your doctor. Never drive after drugs plus even small amounts of alcohol.
Insulin: too high a dose or a missed or late meal can cause low blood sugar: weakness, light-headedness, poor judgment, fainting. Diabetic pills can do the same.
Blood pressure pills often cause light-headedness, especially when treatment starts; don't drive until the doctor adjusts it.

Patent medicines

Antihistamines (in allergy, hay fever, cold and cough medicines) often cause drowsiness; none should be used when driving.

Illicit drugs

Appear to affect drivers much like alcohol.
Amphetamines (speed): irritability, feelings of persecution, hallucinations; one study found users had twice the crash rate of non-users.
Marijuana: definitely impairs driving; dulls thinking and slows eye-hand coordination; users felt more confident and less self-critical. LSD and similar drugs are even more dangerous.

Summary

Alcohol is a depressant, not a stimulant: it reduces alertness and slows reflexes.
Coffee, food or a cold shower may wake you up but won't sober you up. Only time works: the liver burns alcohol and it leaves through kidneys and lungs.
Check with your doctor about medications; never mix medication and alcohol.

Motorcycles, trailers and larger vehicles

Motorcycle equipment and learner rules, sharing the road with motorcycles, towing a trailer, and rules for commercial vehicles such as clearance lights, load flags and trailer brakes.

Practise Motorcycles, trailers and larger vehicles questions Flashcards Official chapter

Motorcycles: definition and special provisions

A motorcycle: two or three wheels, designed for highway use, no cab for the driver; any engine size, including mopeds and minibikes.
Must have: a rear-view mirror; at least one headlight lighting the road at least 110 m (350 ft); at least one red tail light visible in sunlight for at least 30 m (about 100 ft), lit by both hand and foot brakes; should have two brakes; horn; muffler.
All riders must wear helmets. Passengers prohibited unless the motorcycle is equipped for two.

Special rules for motorcycles

Obey all general rules plus motorcycle rules.
Don't ride two abreast in a traffic lane.
Stopping: apply the rear brake gradually, then follow with the front brake.
Mopeds need a Class 5 licence; all other motorcycles, including scooters and minibikes, need Class 6.
You may learn to ride if you hold a Class 7, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 licence and are accompanied by a Class 6 holder, on the motorcycle or following in or on another vehicle, keeping you in view at all times.
A learner may not ride after sunset or in speed zones of 70 km/h or more.
Motorcycles of 90 cc or less may not be ridden on a highway outside a municipality or settlement, or in speed zones over 50 km/h.

Motorcycle driving tips

Check for oil, water or gravel under the bike before pulling out.
In traffic, ride left of the centre of the lane (seen by the driver ahead, better view, avoids the oily centre strip).
When being passed, keep your speed and lane position.
Shoulder check before changing lanes or moving within the lane.
Safe following distance; leave a way out. Don't assume others will yield; extra care at intersections; look at least a block ahead.
Pass stopped vehicles carefully (doors may open); never pass between curb-lane traffic and the curb.
Light or bright clothing adds safety.
Use both brakes together; the front brake is most powerful, so apply the rear then ease on the front.
Inspect cables (clutch, brake) often. Put the bike in neutral for long stops.
Turn from a lane position that doesn't let another vehicle share the lane, preferably near the centre.
Don't cut between lanes of traffic; don't ride too close to parked cars; avoid blind spots.

Towing a trailer

Make sure your car can handle the trailer; practise first, test brakes, practise backing.
Backing: turn your wheels right to make the trailer go left, and vice versa.
Double your following distance; allow twice as much time to pass, turn and stop; give more warning; brake slowly.
Freeways and four-lane highways are best; stay in the right lane; pull over to let traffic pass if you are holding it up.
On short curves the trailer may swing into the other lane: stay well right. Sway or fishtail: slow down gradually and steer straight. High winds: pull over if steering is badly affected.
Load the heaviest weight over the axles; hitch and safety chain; brake lights and turn signals connected; equal tire pressure; extension mirrors; watch vertical clearance signs.

Rules for drivers of commercial or emergency vehicles

Vehicles over 2.03 m (80 in) wide need clearance lights: front yellow or amber, rear red.
Load extending more than 1.5 m (about 5 ft) beyond the rear: by day, a red flag or red sign at least 30 cm (12 in) square at the end; at night, a red light.
Breakdown on the highway: lights or flares at least 60 m (200 ft) in front of and behind the truck.
Don't change gears on a railway crossing.
Carry registration and the insurance liability certificate in the vehicle at all times.
Don't travel in convoy; keep at least 60 m (200 ft) between trucks so traffic can pass.
Maximum width 3.05 m (10 ft) without an escort vehicle and an over-dimension permit from the Registrar.
Shift down before a steep hill. If the inside mirror view is blocked, outside mirrors on each side.
Trailers other than semi-trailers need two separate hitches. Trailers with a maximum gross weight over 680 kg (1,500 lb) need brakes.
Clearance lights, headlights and tail lights must be used from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise, or in poor visibility.
Driving an emergency vehicle with siren or flasher on does not relieve you of responsibility.

Written in our own words from: Nunavut Driver's Manual

FAQ

Nunavut Class 7 study guide: common questions

What is the best way to use this Nunavut Class 7 study guide?

Read one topic, then answer that topic's practice questions while the rules are fresh. Note the questions you miss, re-read those notes, and finish with a full practice test across all 18 topics.

Is this the official Nunavut Class 7 handbook?

No. It is our own summary of the Nunavut Driver's Manual. Use it to review, and use the official handbook when you need the exact wording of a rule.

Can I print the study guide?

Yes, with your browser's print command. For practice questions on paper with an answer key, use our printable questions and answers page instead.