TEST - The DriveSmart Refresher

What if the wildlife on the road isn't displaying any flashing lights?

Do you think it would still be wise to not only move into another lane, but maybe to slow down a bit (or quite a lot) too?

I know what I would do ... 

Forgive me for being somewhat facetious with the flashing lights comment. Actually, I think you and I are on the same page pretty much.

The problem with those multiple-choice questions is that they don't actually determine whether the applicant understands rationally (or legally) what's being asked so much as whether they have read, and memorized, the relevant section of the driving guide.

I came across a question about following another vehicle on a gravel road, and chose a 6-second gap as being the best answer, only to be told I was 'wrong' because the answer in the guide is a 4-second gap. As far as I'm concerned, the fool that created that question hasn't driven much on gravel roads, and dealt with the flying rocks and/or dust clouds that can come from the vehicle ahead. But dammit, my answer wasn't wrong so far as I'm concerned.

I came across another question about how you should behave at uncontrolled intersections, and there was a depiction of a four-way intersection with both roads having yellow centre-lines on them. Probably the same fool came up with that one, because standard practice in Canada and the US is only to have controlled intersections when there's a yellow centre-line. I could go on ... apparently, if two vehicles are facing each other at a 4-way Stop with one of them going straight and the other one intending a left turn, the left-turner should wait for the oncoming vehicle to proceed - but there's no law to support that! 4-way Stops don't exist in the MVA. Fact is, the first driver to enter the intersection after stopping should be given the right-of-way per Section 186. And so on ...

Meanwhile, going back to the question of which lane to use? I've done a lot of long distance highway driving around and between BC and Alberta over the years, oftentimes at night when traffic is minimal. When there are no other vehicles on the road, my choice is to drive where there's the most space, even if it means straddling the dotted white line separating the lanes. Illegal? Absolutely! Safe and wise? Damn right! I know that the greatest hazard is encountering a wild animal, and so far I've managed to avoid them furry critters and only once had to use an evasive action to avoid conflict. Sometimes, common sense has to rule over what it says in the mighty Motor Vehicle Act.

I'll have to disagree with you on this. Much of the content for these questions/answers is based on real life experience of observing new BC drivers, by both Driver Examiners and Driving Instructors.

One about merging onto a highway where I picked shoulder check left and merge into the flow of traffic where the answer they wanted was speed up to match the speed of traffic.

These days, on Road Tests for Class 1 thru 6 license applicants, there will always (when practicable) be a segment that includes joining a freeway and then exiting it some time later. The expectation is that the Applicant will deliberately use the merging ramp to accelerate to the speed of freeway traffic, so that the maneuver is basically a lane change, with minimal affect on the other traffic. Failure to do this will result in demerit points. Meanwhile, when the Applicant is subsequently asked to take the next exit, if they immediately lift off the gas pedal (or, even worse, go for the brake) too soon (i.e. they're still on the freeway, not the exit ramp) this will also result in demerit points. 

I know only too well from my experience as a Driving Instructor that far too many drivers will want to twist their head around to look for conflicting traffic way too early in the merging process; oftentimes without looking well ahead to see how long the merging ramp is, whether it's a 'Merge' or a 'Yield' sign that's posted, how closely they're following any vehicle ahead up the ramp - or (by checking the rearview mirror) how closely they're being followed. This is all essential information for a smooth entry. The fact is, about 90% of collisions involving vehicles using merging ramps are rear-end crashes that don't involve the vehicles on the freeway; they're caused by drivers whose eyes are in the wrong place, resulting in them piling into the car ahead. That's not how you do a shoulder-check, which should only be a brief glance at the left blind spot.

An aside, if I may, that legal afficianados may appreciate. We have various speed limits in effect in the province, but would anyone care to guess where there isn't any speed limit? Yup, it's freeway ramps; there is no law to govern this, and if they post a big black and yellow sign on an Exit ramp, it's completely unenforceable; but if you end up on your roof then probably you were going a bit too quickly.

And the other a yellow school zone sign directly after a white school zone sign question I'd answered correctly as to reducing speed when children are present but apperently did not like my interpretation of the yellow being a warning of school zone approaching instead its supposed to mean School Zone- reduce speed when children are present. I still disagree.

A yellow sign is a warning indicator of a change road condition approaching and to prepare for it. If the white sign is telling me that a certain road condition is present, why does the yellow sign have the same interpretation.

I'll answer that last question first. Indeed, those yellow warning signs are usually placed ahead of the pending hazard, whether it's a sharp curve in the road or a hidden intersection ahead, etc. But there are exceptions, such as those rectangular signs stuck on overpasses indicating a height restriction - or the yellow and black diagonal stripy signs indicating an obstruction (and it will be stuck on the obstruction, not prior). So for instance, if there's a traffic island in the middle of the road, then on the same post you'll see both a black-and-white sign (that means it's a law) clearly directing drivers they must pass on the right hand side of the island. But there will also be a yellow and black sign, with the stripes angled from top left to bottom right, warning drivers to go to the right of that obstruction. Black and white signs (and/or painted lines) are usually placed at the point where the law goes into affect. Such as a marked pedestrian crosswalk, or a reduction in the speed limit, or a turn control sign, etc. But again, there will be exceptions, such as the 'No Dangerous Goods' sign; there's no point in sticking that overhead before entering somewhere like the Cassiar tunnel (you really don't want explosives-laden trucks reversing on the freeway) so that sign must be placed prior to where it applies.

And of course, this brings us to school zones and playground zones. School areas will be indicated by a flourescent yellow/green pentagon sign with two kids on it, while playground areas will be indicated by a black and yellow diamond sign depicting a kid chasing a ball. Then again, these signs are oftentimes placed prior to a school or playground crosswalk, just as a warning. If pedestrians aren't present or pending, and there's no black and white speed tab underneath, then there's no legal requirement to suddenly adjust your speed. But believe me, every instructor and examiner out there has witnessed drivers going for the brake pedal, when there's absolutely no need for it (which can trigger getting hit from behind). But they gotta put a black and white speed tab below that school or playground warning sign, in order to legally change the maximum speed allowed; and typically, this will be a separate sign from one that warns of a school or playground crosswalk ahead.

I question the merits of the 20 question test for assessment of driving knowledge as it contains questions and answers that are informatively and technically flawed.

That's because you're looking for 'absolutes' in the answers; but this isn't how multiple-question tests are designed. The Applicant isn't expected to pick the one correct answer from the four; they're expected to choose the best answer. And for that, I think we have some of the best testing systems in the world, actually.