Try pumping the brake pedal to temporarily restore hydraulic brake pressure. If this does not work, apply the parking brake gently but firmly while holding the release button. It is a good idea for new drivers to practice a parking brake emergency stop under controlled conditions with a qualified driving instructor. Total brake failure is very rare on modern vehicles. If your brakes do fail and you manage to stop, do not drive away. Call for help.

Glare

Glare is dazzling light that makes it hard for you to see and be aware what others around you are doing. It can be a problem on both sunny and overcast days, depending on the angle of the sun’s rays and your surroundings. Glare can also be a problem at night when you face bright headlights or see them reflected in your rear view mirror.

When meeting oncoming vehicles with bright headlights at night, look up and beyond and slightly to the right of the oncoming lights. In daytime glare, use your sun visor or keep a pair of good quality sunglasses in your vehicle. When you enter a tunnel on a bright day, slow down to let your eyes adjust to the reduced light. Remove your sunglasses and turn on your headlights.

Cut down glare at night by following the rules of the road for vehicle lights. Use your low beam headlights within 150 meters of an oncoming vehicle or when following a vehicle within 60 meters. On country roads, switch to low beams when you come to a curve or hilltop so you can see oncoming headlights and won’t blind oncoming drivers. If you can’t see any headlights, switch back to high beams.

There are usually three parts to a freeway exit: a deceleration lane for slowing down that leads drivers out of the main flow of traffic, an exit ramp and an intersection with a stop sign, yield sign or traffic light.

When leaving the freeway, signal that you want to move into the deceleration lane, but do not slow down. When you are in the lane, reduce your speed gradually to the speed shown for the exit ramp. Check your speedometer to make sure you are going slowly enough. You may not realize how fast you are going because you are used to the high speed of the freeway. Losing your ability to judge your speed accurately is sometimes called speed adaptation or velocitization. It is a special danger when leaving a freeway. Be prepared to stop at the end of the exit ramp.

Signs telling you that there are freeway exits ahead are far enough in advance for you to make any lane changes safely. If you miss an exit, do not stop or reverse on the freeway. Take the next exit.

Changing lanes is a movement from one lane to another on roads with two or more lanes in the same direction. You may have to change lanes to overtake another vehicle, to avoid a parked vehicle or when the vehicle ahead slows to turn at an intersection.

Never change lanes without giving the proper signal and looking to make sure the move can be made safely.

Here are the steps for making a lane change:

1. Check your mirrors for a space in traffic where you can enter safely.

2. Check your blind spot by looking over your shoulder in the direction of the lane change. Signal that you want to move left or right.

3. Check again to make sure the way is clear and that no one is coming too fast from behind or from two lanes over on a multi-lane road.

4. Steer gradually into the new lane. Do not slow down — maintain the same speed or gently increase it.

Never make sudden lane changes by cutting in front of another vehicle, including bicycles. Other drivers expect you to stay in the lane you are already in. Even if you signal, they expect you to yield the right-of-way.

Avoid unnecessary lane changes or weaving from lane to lane. You are more likely to cause a collision, especially in heavy traffic or bad weather. Don’t change lanes in or near an intersection. Remember that spending a few seconds behind another vehicle is often safer than going around it.

Where a school crossing guard displays a red and white stop sign you must stop before reaching the crossing and remain stopped until all persons, including the school crossing guard, have cleared your half of the roadway and it is safe to proceed. If you have any doubts on when it is safe to drive forward, wait until all the children and the guard have cleared the crossing. Drivers who don’t follow the stopping requirements may be fined between $150 and $500 and get 3 demerit points.

Obey the maximum speed limit posted on signs along the road, but always drive at a speed that will let you stop safely. This means driving below the maximum speed in bad weather, in heavy traffic or in construction zones. School zones and construction zones often have lower speed limits to protect children and those who work on or near the road.

Where there are no posted speed limits, the maximum speed is 50 km/h in cities, towns, villages and built-up areas and 80 km/h elsewhere.

Cruise control is a driver aid that can improve fuel economy and prevent you from inadvertently exceeding the speed limit. However, there are some circumstances in which cruise control should not be used, such as adverse driving conditions (wet, icy or slippery roads), in heavy traffic, or when you are feeling fatigued.

Speed measuring warning devices is illegal. If you get caught driving with such a device, you will be fined and accumulate demerit points.

The rest of this handbook gives you information you need to pass your tests and to keep your driving privileges once you get your licence. The written test may ask you about:

* Seatbelts

* Traffic signs and lights

* Emergency vehicles

* How to use headlights

* Speed limits

* getting on or off a freeway

* What drivers must do when they meet streetcars and school buses

* Driver licence suspensions

* The demerit point system

* passing other vehicles

* Collision reporting

* sharing the road with other road users

* Rules of the road

The road tests will test how well you use your knowledge while driving. You will be tested on:

* starting, stopping and turning

* Traffic signs and lights

* passing vehicles, including bicycles, and driving in passing lanes

* travelling through controlled and uncontrolled intersections

* Parallel parking and reversing

* foreseeing hazardous conditions and being ready for them

* Other safe driving practices

Make sure you know the information in this handbook before you take these tests. To see sample test questions that could appear on the knowledge test click here.

New drivers applying for their first car or motorcycle licence enter Ontario’s graduated licensing system. Graduated licensing lets new drivers get driving experience and skills gradually. The two-step licensing process takes at least 20 months to complete.

To apply for a licence, you must be at least 16 years old, pass a vision test and pass a test of your knowledge of the rules of the road and traffic signs. After you pass these tests, you will enter Level One and get a Class G1 licence.

You must pass two road tests to become fully licensed. Passing the first road test lets you move to Level Two (Class G2) and the second one gives you full Class G driving privileges.

The fees charged for towing, floating, storage of vehicles and goods, and the transfer of loads are established in contracts between the Ministries and impound facilities.

Although a reasonable fee schedule has been established, fees may be higher where towing distances are longer or in urban areas where commercial property costs may be higher.

This is a user pay system whereby the impound facility is paid directly by the owner/operator responsible for the vehicle and load.

Ontario's Vehicle Impoundment Program is aimed at making Ontario's roads safer. Vehicles driven in Ontario by persons apprehended for driving while their licence is suspended for a Criminal Code conviction will be impounded for a minimum of 45 days.

Drivers who continue to drive while their licence has been suspended for a Criminal Code conviction show no regard for the law and put others at risk. In 2002, almost 17,000 drivers were convicted in Ontario of motor vehicle-related Criminal Code offences. Most of those convictions were related to drinking and driving. Other convictions included driving while disqualified and fail to remain at the scene of a collision.

* Don't drink any alcohol if you are going to drive.

* Ask your doctor about side effects if you use prescription medicines or get allergy shots.

* Read the information on the package of any over-the-counter medicine including allergy and cold remedies.

* Drugs and alcohol together can have dangerous effects; ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Remember, fatigue and stress will also affect your driving.

Drivers who are convicted of driving while their licence is suspended for a Criminal Code conviction face high fines under the Highway Traffic Act:

* $5,000 - $25,000 for a first conviction

* $10,000 - $50,000 for subsequent convictions

Symbol for excellent snow traction Tires marked with this symbol meet the requirements for excellent snow traction performance. They are designed for driving in snowy conditions.

* Check the condition of your tires and check air pressures regularly. A tire can lose one pound of air pressure for every five-degree drop in temperature.

* Avoid mixing tires of different tread patterns, construction and size. Replace any that are damaged or have worn treads.

* It's recommended you install four winter tires, even on front-wheel drive vehicles, for best control in slippery and snowy conditions.

Could you stop in time to avoid a collision?

As you head out on the roads and highways during the summer, here are a few tips to keep in mind to keep you and your family safe.

Summer brings increased traffic to our roads and highways.

During the summer, tourists and vacationers add to the usual amount of traffic we face on our everyday routes. The weekends are also busier than usual, with people travelling to cottages, golf courses or one of Ontario's great tourist attractions.

Enforcing the law and providing emergency assistance often require emergency vehicles to park in a lane or on the shoulder of a road or highway.

To increase safety, Ontario's Highway Traffic Act requires motorists when approaching a police, fire or ambulance vehicle stopped with its red lights* flashing in the same direction of travel, either in aane or on the shoulder of the road to slow down and pass with caution. If the road has two or more lanes, the motorist must move over into another lane, if it can be done safely.

* Fire vehicles and ambulances use flashing red lights. Police vehicles may use flashing red lights or a combination of flashing blue and red lights.

* Always be on time with your school things tucked safely away.

* Never run to or from the bus.

* Wait for the bus at a safe place away from the road.

* Wait for the bus to stop before approaching to get on.

* Remember if you can touch the bus, YOU ARE TOO CLOSE!

* Your driver will tell you when to get on.

* Walk up the steps, one at a time, using the hand rail.

* Never push or shove.

* IF YOU DROP ANYTHING IN THE DANGER ZONE LEAVE IT. NEVER STOP TO PICK IT UP!

* Sit facing the driver, feet in front of you.

* Keep the aisle clear at all times.

* ALWAYS LISTEN TO AND OBEY YOUR SCHOOL BUS DRIVER!

A number of elements contribute to school bus safety. One of these factors involves the school bus route. The following material provides some background information on school bus route planning.

Route Planning Factors:

* The locations of the homes of the children, who need to be picked up and dropped off,

* The ages and physical condition of the students being bused.

* The distance from the school, the transportation guidelines set by the district school board(s), and the school hours

* cost factors and the opportunity to share resources among schools, school boards and school bus operators

* The number of passengers being served and the area being serviced

* ease of loading and unloading at the designated school bus stops

* The safety of walking routes between homes and school bus routes

* The amount of traffic, the type of roads to be travelled and their condition,

* Sightlines and stopping distances at proposed school bus stops

* Other conflicting traffic factors such stop signs, traffic signals, etc.

* Seasonal considerations (i.e. snow banks);

* Safe turn-around points for buses.

When route layouts are being considered, the school bus operators and drivers can provide some valuable insight due to their hands-on experience and they should be involved in the process. The district school board transportation officer should be familiar with the physical characteristics of the route and should conduct periodic checks of the routes to ensure that safety factors are met.

Novice and experienced school bus drivers can benefit from the opportunity to get together to review procedures and exchange ideas. The following provides some suggestions for organizing such a forum.

What ... is a School Bus Driver Orientation Day?

The School Bus Driver Orientation Day is an education and awareness event for new drivers as well as a refresher for experienced drivers designed to provide information to assist them in carrying out their duties more effectively.

Some of the information which can be covered includes:

* Passenger management techniques

* Safe procedures for loading and unloading

* Safe driving techniques

* School bus safety inspection: circle check

* Legal requirements for school bus stops

* Passenger health concerns

* Proper placement and adjustment of mirrors for optimum field of view

* Winter and inclement driving

Who ... is it for?

The School Bus Driver Orientation Day provides information for school bus drivers. It is an orientation for new drivers and a refresher for experienced drivers.

How ... Does it Work?

The School Bus Driver Orientation Day can be organized in a number of ways. Larger operators may provide the information for their drivers on a rotational basis, or operators may choose one day that is convenient for as many drivers as possible. A "Welcome Back" session in late August is one option. District School Board Transportation officials may determine an appropriate schedule. The event can also be organized by the drivers themselves, by parent advisory council members with the assistance of qualified volunteers, police, etc.

When ... Does it happen?

The program can be scheduled for any time. It might be most useful prior to the beginning of the school year when bus drivers are looking forward to resuming their duties, but may have time available to benefit from an orientation day without the pressures associated with daily school bus driving.

Where ... does it take place?

The program can take place at a school, bus bay or other location which can accommodate school buses and has seating and possible audio-visual facilities available.

Why?

The benefits of a School Bus Driver Orientation Day are that it provides drivers with the opportunity to share and exchange information in an informal way. It can provide new drivers with some effective tools to assist them in carrying out their duties, and is a refresher course for experienced drivers. It provides a forum for drivers to exchange information, tips and best practices in a "support group" environment. It provides opportunities to review procedures and to provide information on the reasons and benefits of these procedures.

For assistance in organizing a School Bus Driver Orientation ...contact local school bus operators, the District School Board, or the Regional Planners of the Ministry of Transportation's Road Safety Marketing Office:

Central Region 416-235-5486

Southwest Region John Warkentin (519) 873-4420

Eastern Region Paul Allore (613) 545-4608

Northern Region Jeff Griffith (705) 497-5453

Northwest Region Tom Marinis (807) 473-2198