The official MTO Driver's Handbook (Ontario Learners License)

What is courteous driving?

-Giving other drivers space to change lanes

-Not cutting them off

-Signaling your turns and lane changes properly

What is defensive driving?

VISIBILITY- Seeing and being seen. Be aware of traffic all around, keep your eyes constantly moving and scanning the road.

SPACE- Manage the space around your vehicle, leave a cushion of space ahead, behind and to both sides.

COMMUNICATION- Communicate with other road users. Make eye contact. Signal whenever you slow, stop, turn or change lanes. If you need, use your horn to get others' attention.

How do you get ready to drive?

-Be physically and mentally alert.

-Know your vehicle

-Get in position

-Find your blind spots

-Fasten your seatbelt

How do you adjust your interior mirror?

So the centre of the mirror shows the centre of the rear window.

How do you position the left/right outside mirrors?

Lean to the centre of the vehicle and move the mirror so you can see the rear of your car. (Avoid overlaps in what you can see)

What is the fine for not wearing a seatbelt?

Up to $1,000 and two demerits. (You will also be fined/get demerits if you don't make sure all passengers under 16 are buckled up.)

What happens to drivers who don't make sure there is a working seatbelt for every passenger?

They could lose their license for up to 30 days.

Where is the safest place for a passenger to travel?

Inside a vehicle, properly buckled in.

Correctly using a child car seat can reduce the likelihood of death and injury by what percentage?

75%

What is the fine for not using a child car seat/booster seat?

Up to $1,000 and two demerit points on conviction.

Infants who weigh ____________ kilograms (________ lbs) must be buckled into a _________ _________ child car seat.

1. 9

2. 20

3. rear facing

Toddlers ________ to _______ kilograms (____ to _____ lbs) must be buckled into a child car seat.

1. 9 to 18

2. 20 to 40

Booster seats provide what percentage more protection than seatbelts alone?

60% more protection than seatbelts alone.

Booster seats must be used by....

Pre-school and primary-grade-aged children who have...

-Outgrown their forward facing child car seat

-Are under the age of 8

-Weigh 18 kilograms (40 lbs) or more but less than 36 kilograms (80 lbs)

-Who are less than 145cm (4ft 9in) tall

When may children start using a seatbelt?

-When they are eight yrs old

-When they weigh 36 kilograms (80 lbs) or more

-When they are 145cm (4ft 9in) tall or taller.

Where is the safest place for a child under 13 yrs to be?

In the back seat of the vehicle.

Your vehicles headlights must shine a white light that can be seen how many metres in front?

150 metres

Your headlights must be strong enough to light up objects how many metres away?

110 metres

You must have red rear lights that can be seen how many metres away?

150 metres

When using high-beam headlights make sure to switch to low beams within how many metres of an oncoming vehicle?

Within 150 metres of an oncoming vehicle.

Use your low beams when you are less than how many metres behind another vehicle?

60 metres (unless you are passing it.)

When driving your vehicle, it is required to have your headlights on between/at what times?

-One half hr before sunset

-One half hr after sunrise

-Any other time of poor light conditions (ex. fog, snow or rain) that keeps you from seeing people or vehicles less than 150 metres away.

How often should you check your mirrors and blind spots?

Every five seconds or so (check blind spots by turning your head to look over your shoulder)

How do you keep other drivers out of your blind spots?

By changing your speed (don't drive in other vehicles' blind spots. Be extra cautious at dusk and dawn).

Driving Along

-Steer smoothly -Use turn signals -Keep right -Obey speed limits -Obey police

-Maintain space

When do you use your turn signals and brake lights?

Before stopping, slowing down, turning, changing lanes, leaving the road or moving out of a parked position.

What do you do if your turn signals and brake lights aren't working?

Use hand and arm signals (pg. 36)

Which lane do you always drive in?

The right-hand lane on multi lane roads. (Unless you want to turn left or pass another vehicle.)

When there is no posted speed limits how fast do you drive?

50 km/h in cities, towns and villages. 80 km/h elsewhere.

When should you avoid using Cruise Control?

Adverse driving conditions (wet, slippery or icy roads), in heavy traffic, or when you are fatigued.

What do you do when a police officer signals you to pull over?

Pull over as far to the right as you safely can, and come to a complete stop. Stay in your vehicle and wait for the officer.

What happens if you do not obey a police officer's direction to pull over?

You could be fined up to $25,000, have your license suspended or even serve time in prison.

Upon the police officer's request, you should surrender which documents?

Driver's license, vehicle permit (or copy) and insurance. (You don't have 24 hrs to present these documents, contrary to popular belief.)

What are the steps to giving yourself a two-second space?

1. Pick a marker on the road ahead, such as a road sign or telephone pole.

2. When the rear of the vehicle ahead passes the marker, count "one thousand and one, one thousand and two."

3. When the front of your vehicle reaches the marker stop counting. If you reached the marker before you count "one thousand and two," you are following too closely.

What is the two second rule?

It is the minimum following distance (it applies only to ideal driving conditions. You need extra space in certain situations, like bad weather, following motorcycles or big trucks, or when carrying a heavy load.)

Cyclists and mopeds travelling at a lower speed than other traffic are expected to ride how far from the curb/parked cars (or as close to the right-hand edge of the road when there is no curb)?

About 1 metre (they can use any part of the lane for safety purposes.)

What is the best method for passing a cyclist?

Allow at least one metre between you and the cyclist, don't follow too closely behind (they have no brake lights to warn you when they're stopping/slowing), whenever possible, you change lanes to pass them.

To avoid collisions with cyclists at intersections, what should you remember?

-When turning right, signal, check your mirrors and blind spots to make sure you aren't cutting anyone off.

-When turning left, stop and wait for oncoming cyclists to pass before turning.

-When driving through an intersection, be careful to scan for cyclists waiting to turn left.

-Don't sound your horn unnecessarily.

How should you sound your horn in regards to cyclists?

If you must sound your horn, tap it quickly and lightly while you are still some distance away from the cyclist.

What is a bike lane?

They are reserved for cyclists. They're typically marked with a white line. Sometimes you might have to enter/cross one to turn right at a corner or driveway.

What is a bike box?

They help prevent collisions between motorists and cyclists at intersections. Usually it's a painted box on the road with a white bicycle symbol inside. As a driver you must stop for a traffic signal behind the box. No stopping in the box!

What is a sharrow?

It is two chevrons painted above a bicycle symbol on the road. It indicates that the lane is shared. Vehicle or cyclist traffic may be in the lane. You should always keep watch for cyclists, but these are an additional warning.

What should you remember when it comes to large commercial trucks and blind spots?

They have large blind spots on both sides. Avoid tailgating. The driver can not see you if you're right behind them. If you can't see the driver's face in the mirror, they can't see you.

What are the three different types of bus bays?

-Mid-block indented bays

-Indentations immediately before and after intersections

-Bus stop areas between two designated parking areas

What do you do when a bus in a bus bay begins to flash it's left-turn signal indicating that it wants to leave the bay?

You must allow it to re-enter the traffic.

Most tractors and combines have a max speed of how many km/h?

40 kilometers per hour (farm machinery is often oversized and moves slower than 40 km/h when towing implements.)

Where do horse drawn vehicles usually travel?

On the shoulder of roadways, but may straddle or enter the paved lane where no shoulder exists.

Where is it common to see horse-drawn vehicles?

Throughout southwestern Ontario and increasingly in eastern and northern Ontario.

What do you do when you see a horse-drawn vehicle?

-Slow down/be cautious

-Keep a safe following distance

-Only pass when it's safe to do so

What do you do when approaching a horse-drawn vehicle travelling in the opposite direction?

Move to the far right of your lane.

What do you do when passing a horse-drawn vehicle?

Give them as much space as possible. Passing too closely can scare or startle the horse.

What are the two different types of intersections?

Controlled and uncontrolled

What's the difference between controlled intersections and uncontrolled intersections?

Controlled intersections - have traffic lights, yield signs or stop signs to controlled traffic.

Uncontrolled intersections - Have no signs or traffic lights.

What does it mean to "yield the right-of-way"?

To let another driver go first

When at an intersection without signs or lights, you must yield to who?

To a vehicle approaching the intersection before you. If you arrive at the same time, the vehicle on the right has right-of-way.

At an intersection with stop signs at all corners, who must you yield to?

You must yield right-of-way to the first vehicle to come to a complete stop. If two vehicles stop at the same time, the vehicle on the left must yield to the one on the right.

At any intersection where you want to turn left or right, who must you yield to?

If you're turning left, you must wait for oncoming traffic to pass or turn and for pedestrians in or approaching your path to cross.

If you're turning right, you need to wait for pedestrians to cross, and check your blind spots for cyclists.

When entering a road from a private road/driveway, who must you yield to?

Pedestrians on the sidewalk. Remember signaling does not give you right-of-way. You must make sure the way is clear.

Which foot do you use for your gas pedal and brake pedal?

Your right foot is used for both (so you don't end up pushing both at the same time or active your brake lights unnecessarily).

How long can it take a train to stop under full emergency brake?

Up to two kilometers

What do you do when first coming to a railway crossing?

Slow down, listen, and look both ways to make sure the way is clear before crossing the tracks.

When a train is coming and you are approaching a railway crossing what do you do?

Stop at least five metres from the nearest rail or gate, do not cross the track until you are sure the train or trains have passed.

When do you race trains to the crossing?

Never

What do you do if there are railway crossing signal lights that are flashing?

Wait until they stop flashing and if the crossing has a gate or barrier wait until it rises before you cross the tracks.

When do you drive around, under, or through a railway gate or barrier while it is down, being lowered or being raised?

Never. It is illegal and dangerous.

If there is heavy traffic, what do you do before crossing the tracks?

Make sure you have enough room to cross the tracks completely when you begin so that you can avoid stopping in the middle of railway tracks.

Should you shift gears while crossing railway tracks?

Nope.

What should you do if you get trapped on a railway crossing?

Immediately get everyone out and away from the vehicle. Move to a safe place and then contact authorities.

What should you do when you are approaching a railway crossing with a stop sign?

You must stop unless otherwise directed by a flagman?

In regards to railway crossings, why should you watch for buses/public transportation vehicles?

They are required to stop at railway crossings that are not protected by gates, signal lights, or a stop sign. Watch for these buguards ses and prepare to stop behind them.

What should you do when a school-crossing guard displays a red and white stop sign?

You must stop before reaching the crossing and stay stopped until all people, including the school crossing-guard, have cleared your half of the roadway and it's safe to proceed.

What happens to drivers who don't follow the stopping requirements?

They might get fined between $150 and $500 and get three demerits points.

How far should you stop from a school bus if you are coming from behind?

You should stop at least 20 metres away. (You must always stop if you are approaching a a stopped school bus with its lights flashing. Do not go until the bus moves or the lights stop flashing. If you're on a road with a median strip, only vehicles coming from behind must stop.)

What is a median?

A physical barrier such as a raised, lowered, earth or paved strip constructed to separate traffic travelling in different directions. Vehicles cannot cross over a median strip.

Stop sign

You have to come to a complete stop.

A school zone sign

It warns you that you are coming to a school zone. Slow down, drive with extra caution and watch for children.

A yield sign

A triangle with a white background and a red border. It means you must let traffic in the intersection or close to it go first.

A railway crossing sign

X-shaped with a white background and red outline. It warns that railway tracks cross the road.

Do not enter this road sign

Do not stop in the area between the signs.

You can't stop your vehicle in this area even for a moment. (used in groups)