Before You Drive

Question 1

What is the Highway Transportation System?

Answer 1

The driver, the vehicle, and the roadway environment.

Question 2

What are the top three factors that are present in fatal crashes?

Answer 2

Driver impairment, running off the roadway, and speeding.

Question 3

How can you minimize risk?

Answer 3

Ensuring the vehicle is in good working order. Wearing seatbelts. Safe driving habits.

Question 4

What are the requirements for insurance?

Answer 4

you must have liability insurance and carry proof that you have such insurance.
- $25,000 or more payable for the bodily injury or death of one person in a collision.
- $50,000 or more payable for the bodily injury or death of two or more persons in a collision.
- $10,000 or more payable over injury or destruction of property of others in a collision.

Question 5

What are the recommendations for the routine maintenance required to minimize risk?

Answer 5

• Braking system: Red flags include not working properly, making a lot of noise, smelling weird, or break pedal going to the floor.
• Lights: Ensure turn signals, brake lights, tail lights, and headlights are operating.
• Windshield & Wipers: Damaged windshields should be replaced or repaired. Replace windshield wipers if they are not clearing water properly.
• Tires: Bald tires can increase your stopping distance, make turning difficult on wet roads, cause hydroplaning, and increase the chance of a flat tire. Red flags include if the vehicle bounces, the steering wheel shakes, or the vehicle pulls to one side.
• Steering system: Red flags include difficulty to turn vehicle, or vehicle not turning when the steering wheel is first turned.
• Suspension system: Red flags include the vehicle continuing to bounce after a bump or stop, or is hard to control.
• Exhaust system: Ensure the exhaust system is checked periodically.
• Engine: Follow procedures recommended in the owners manual.
• Horn.
• Litter: Fines for littering are severe.
• Loose objects: Secure your load.

Question 6

When is the load considered secure?

Answer 6

A lot is considered secure when nothing can slide, shift, fall, or sift onto the roadway, or become airborne.

Question 7

What is Maria’s Law?

Answer 7

A person who causes an injury or death by failing to secure a load properly can be charged with gross misdemeanour and can face a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $5000 fine.
Person who causes property damage by failing to secure a load can be charged with a misdemeanour.