Safe driving practices
Safe-driving items test judgment rather than memorized rules: how much space to leave, what to do when traction disappears, and which impairments New Brunswick treats as offences. Most errors come from choosing a decisive manoeuvre - swerving or hard braking - over a controlled one.
Space and visibility
Keep at least a two-second following distance in good conditions; double it in rain and add more on ice or gravel. Use headlights in rain, snow, fog and at dusk, and low beams in fog because high beams reflect back at you. Clear snow and ice from all windows, mirrors and lights before moving.
When traction goes
If the car skids, ease off the accelerator, look and steer where you want to go, and avoid hard braking. With anti-lock brakes, press firmly and hold - do not pump. If you hydroplane, ease off the gas and keep the wheel straight until the tires regain contact.
Impairment and distraction
Novice drivers must have a zero blood-alcohol level. Hand-held phones and other devices are prohibited while driving, and a Level 1 or Level 2 driver may not use any electronic device, including hands-free. Fatigue and cannabis impair driving much as alcohol does.
Sharing the road
Give cyclists at least a metre where practical and shoulder-check before right turns. Large trucks have wide blind spots on both sides and need extra room to turn right; never pass a turning truck on the right. Scan roadsides for deer and moose at dawn and dusk.
Worked example
On a wet 80 km/h highway you count two seconds to the signpost the car ahead just passed - the dry-pavement minimum. Reasoning: wet pavement lengthens stopping distance, so four seconds is the correct gap. Drop back until you count four, rather than relying on the car ahead's brake lights.
Traps that cost marks
- Pumping anti-lock brakes instead of holding firm pressure.
- Swerving into the oncoming lane to avoid wildlife rather than braking in a straight line.
- Using high beams in fog.
- Believing hands-free calling is allowed on a learner licence.