ICBC Sharing the Road 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When passing a cyclist on a road with a speed limit over 50 km/h, what is the minimum distance you must leave between your vehicle and the cyclist?
- 0.5 metres
- 1 metre (Correct answer)
- 1.5 metres
- 2 metres
Correct answer: 1 metre
BC law requires drivers to leave at least 1 metre of space when passing cyclists on roads with speed limits over 50 km/h.
Question 2: When approaching a marked crosswalk where a pedestrian is waiting to cross, what must you do?
- Slow down and proceed if no pedestrians are in your lane
- Yield and stop to allow the pedestrian to cross (Correct answer)
- Sound your horn to signal it is safe for the pedestrian to cross
- Flash your headlights and proceed through
Correct answer: Yield and stop to allow the pedestrian to cross
BC law requires drivers to yield and stop for pedestrians at marked crosswalks, regardless of which lane the pedestrian is in.
Question 3: A school bus ahead of you has its red lights flashing and the stop arm extended. What must you do?
- Pass carefully at a reduced speed
- Stop and wait until the red lights stop flashing and the arm retracts (Correct answer)
- Slow to 30 km/h and proceed
- Change lanes and pass quickly if no children are visible
Correct answer: Stop and wait until the red lights stop flashing and the arm retracts
When a school bus activates red flashing lights and extends its stop arm, all vehicles must stop completely and wait until the lights stop flashing and the arm is retracted.
Question 4: Why should you increase your following distance when driving behind a large truck?
- Large trucks travel at lower speed limits
- Large trucks have larger blind spots and require longer stopping distances (Correct answer)
- Large trucks are exempt from traffic signal rules
- Large trucks always make wide U-turns
Correct answer: Large trucks have larger blind spots and require longer stopping distances
Large trucks have significant blind spots and require considerably more stopping distance than passenger vehicles, making extra following distance essential.
Question 5: When sharing the road with motorcycles, where should you be especially careful to check before changing lanes?
- Directly in front of your vehicle
- In your rearview mirror only
- In your blind spots (Correct answer)
- In the oncoming traffic lane
Correct answer: In your blind spots
Motorcycles are smaller and can easily disappear in a vehicle's blind spots; always perform a blind spot check before changing lanes.
Question 6: A pedestrian using a white cane is standing at the curb and about to cross the street. What should you do?
- Proceed through the intersection quickly before they step out
- Yield and wait for the pedestrian to cross safely (Correct answer)
- Sound your horn to alert them to your presence
- Flash your headlights and continue at a reduced speed
Correct answer: Yield and wait for the pedestrian to cross safely
Pedestrians using a white cane are visually impaired; drivers must yield and give them sufficient time and space to cross safely.
Question 7: What do amber (yellow) flashing lights on a school bus indicate?
- The bus has already stopped and students are boarding or exiting
- Prepare to stop — the bus is about to stop and activate red lights (Correct answer)
- You may pass the bus carefully at reduced speed
- The bus driver is warning drivers of a school zone ahead
Correct answer: Prepare to stop — the bus is about to stop and activate red lights
Amber flashing lights warn drivers that the school bus is preparing to stop and will soon activate red lights; slow down and be ready to stop.
ICBC Sharing the Road 1
When passing a cyclist on a road with a speed limit over 50 km/h, what is the minimum distance you must leave between your vehicle and the cyclist?