Glossary for the BDE course
A
Acceleration lane
Lane that permits drivers entering an expressway to accelerate to the speed of expressway traffic.
Advanced Left Turn
When a traffic signal indicates, you may make a left hand turn through the intersection as oncoming traffic is halted.
Adverse Conditions
Conditions that present a negative effect on the driving task.
Advisory Speed Limit
Speed limit set for special conditions such as sharp curves.
Aggressive Driving
The behaviour of driving in a combative, forceful, or competitive manner, usually caused by frustration of other drivers.
Air Gauge (Tire Gauge)
A tire gauge measures the air pressure in any pneumatic (air-filled) wheel or tire.
Alcohol (ethanol)
A mental and physically altering substance that impacts your ability to drive. The presence of alcohol in your body is severely restricted, and presence of impairment will result in stiff fines or charges.
Alignment
All of the elements that make your car go straight are called “alignment.” The inclusive term “wheel alignment” involves three main measurements: caster, camber, and toe. These measurements have standards that a technician uses as targets of adjustment.
Alternator
Is an electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy in the form of alternating current.
Anti-Lock Braking System
Helps maintain control by preventing any of the wheels from locking while applying a hard brake. The pedal vibrates when pushed, but steering control can be maintained with the rolling traction. Computer-controlled braking system that keeps the wheels from locking when the driver brakes hard. It allows for steering and braking actions to occur at the same time.
B
Balancing
Properly balanced tires are important for driving comfort and long tire life. Unbalanced tires can cause vibration, resulting in driver fatigue, premature tire wear and unnecessary wear to your vehicle’s suspension. Tires should be balanced when they are mounted on wheels for the first time or when they are remounted after repair. Tires should be rebalanced at the first sign of vibration or “shimmy.”
Battery
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy.
Beginner Driver Education (BDE) Course
The course that you are currently taking. Completion of this course is required to lower the wait period from 12 months to 8 months for your G2. This course is legislated by the Government of Ontario and monitored by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.
Blind Spot
Area that rear view mirrors cannot show.
Blood-Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
Amount of alcohol in the blood expressed as a percentage of ethyl alcohol related to the volume of fluids in the bloodstream. The ratio between the alcohol consumed and the blood in the body.
Braking distance
Distance your vehicle travels from the time you apply the brake until your vehicle stops.
C
Carbon Monoxide
Colourless, odorless, tasteless gas contained in the exhaust fumes of gasoline engines.
Centre of Gravity
The point at which the entire weight of a body is considered concentrated so that if supported at this point, the body would remain in equilibrium in any position. A point around which the vehicle’s weight is evenly distributed.
Central Vision
The field of vision around your focal vision in which you can see clearly while looking straight ahead which aids in determining vehicle position to the roadway.
Collision
Contact between two or more objects, as when two vehicles collide into each other.
Collision Insurance (Insurance)
Provides coverage to pay the costs of repair or replacement of your vehicle from a collision.
Common Speed
Speed used by 80% of drivers on an expressway or highway.
Comprehensive Insurance
Provides coverage for replacement or repair of your vehicle from damage other than from a collision.
Controlled Intersection
Intersection at which signals or signs determine the right of way.
Covering the Brake
Take your foot off the accelerator and hold it over the brake pedal to reduce response time for brake application and maintain speed of vehicle.
D
Deceleration Lane
Area on the highway where speed can be reduced to exit safely. Expressway lane used to slow your vehicle without blocking vehicles behind you.
Defensive Driving
Protecting yourself and others from dangerous and unexpected driving situations by using a space management system.
Demerit Points
Demerit points are added to your driver’s licence, if you are convicted of breaking certain driving laws. The rules are different depending on if you are a new driver or have a full licence.
Depth Perception
Ability to judge the distance between yourself and other objects.
Digital Instructor
A licensed Classroom Driving Instructor by the MTO who has also received a Digital Instructor certification. This instructor will guide you through any questions you may have about the content of this course.
Dipstick
A graduated rod for measuring the depth or amount of liquid in a container, as of oil in a crankcase.
Driver Inattention
The driver is distracted, asleep, or fatigued, or otherwise “lost in thought”.
Driver Responsibility
A driver’s moral, legal, and mental accountability to the driving task.
Driving as a Privilege
An opportunity granted to a person to drive within Ontario.
Driving Conditions
When making the decision whether to drive at the appropriate speed is safe/reasonable, the driver must take into consideration the condition of the weather, visibility, traffic, roadway, and vehicle.
Driving tasks
All social, physical, legal, and mental skills required to drive.
Drugs
Any substance that alters your physical or mental state.
E
Engine Failure
Vehicle failure that occurs when the engine quits running completely because the engine becomes flooded, overheats, etc.
Emergency
An unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action.
Emergency Vehicles
Any vehicle that is designated and authorized to respond to an emergency in a life-threatening situation. These include but are not limited to police cars, ambulances, fire trucks etc.
Emotion
A natural instinctive state of mind deriving from one's circumstances, mood, or relationships with others. Can trigger strong feelings such as anger, fear, and joy.
Engine Starting Procedures
Check parking brake; foot on brake; key in ignition; gear in “Park or Neutral”; check for fuel injection or automatic choke; turn key to “on” position; check alert lights and gauges; turn key to start engine; adjust Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC); set accessories (headlights or daylight running lights are recommended); check warning lights and gauges.
Entrance Ramp
The ramp to enter the expressway. This area gives the driver time to evaluate traffic conditions. It can be level with the expressway or on an uphill or downhill grade.
Evasive action steering
Emergency steering technique used to quickly steer around an object in your path. Without removing hands from the steering wheel, turn the wheel so that the forearms touch each other, then turn the wheel in the opposite direction until the forearms touch again. Return the wheel to center position. This is the maximum steer input for lane change and activated ABS. Less input may be used to perform manoeuvres for emergency lane adjustment to the left or right.
F
Fatigue
Physical or mental weariness resulting from exertion or other effects.
Field of Vision
All of the area a person can see while looking straight ahead.
Flash Flood
Sudden flooding caused by slow-moving thunderstorms, thunderstorms repeatedly moving over the same area, or heavy rains from hurricanes and tropical storms.
Flashing Yellow Light
Slow down and proceed with caution.
Flashing Red Light
Stop completely before entering the crosswalk or intersection, and then proceed when you can do so safely.
Flashing Signal
Traffic signal that alerts drivers to dangerous conditions or tells them to stop.
Following Distance (Interval)
Time recommended to follow another vehicle in the intended path of travel. Select an object near the road surface. When the vehicle ahead passes that object, start counting “one thousand-one,” “one thousand-two,” etc., until the front of your car reaches that point. Maintain 4 seconds (more for adverse conditions) of following time.
Force of Impact
Force with which one moving object hits another object; varies according to speed, weight, and distance between impact and stop and is based on forces of inertia and momentum.
Freeway
A divided, controlled access highway for through traffic
Friction
Force that creates heat and helps each tire to maintain traction on the road, unless too much heat is generated which may cause traction loss due to melting of tire rubber on the roadway.
G
G license
The final step in Ontario’s Graduated Licensing system. You may drive G class vehicles with no conditions.
G1 license
The first step in Ontario’s Graduated Licensing system. With a G1 you may drive only with an accompanying fully licensed (G) driver in the front seat.
G2 license
The second step in Ontario’s Graduated Licensing system. With a G2 you can drive alone in a vehicle under certain conditions.
Gap
Time or distance interval between vehicles on roadway.
Glare
A brightness that reflects and reduces a driver’s ability to see.
Glare Recovery Time
Time your eyes need to regain clear vision after being affected by glare.
Glare Resistance
Ability to continue seeing when looking at bright lights.
Good Driving
Loosely defined term that many drivers assume includes themselves when each reaches the point of skilled vehicle operation.
Graduated Licensing
Requires young drivers to progress through a series of licensing stages with various restrictions as to accompanying drivers, times permitted to drive and allowable passengers.
Green Light
Check traffic, and proceed if safe to do so.
Guide Sign
Sign that gives directions, distance, services, point of interest, and other information.
Gravity
Force that pulls all things to earth.
H
Hand-to-Hand Steering
Pulling the steering wheel down with one hand while the other hand moves to it. The hands do not ever cross over and simply move up and down the sides of the steering wheel.
Hand Position
Placement of the hand at 9 and 3 o’clock for best control on the vehicle steering wheel.
Highway Hypnosis
A drowsy or trance-like condition caused by concentration on the roadway ahead and monotony of driving.
Highway Transportation System
The highway transportation system (HTS) is a complex system including a consortium of federal, provincial, local, and individual systems functioning together. The HTS provides a reduced-risk and lawful driving environment made up of people, vehicles, and roadways.
Hydroplaning
Occurs when a tire patch loses roadway contact by rising up on top of the water.
I
Impaired Driving
The driver’s ability to drive was impacted due to the consumption of alcohol or drugs.
Implied Consent
States that anyone who receives a driver’s license automatically consents to be tested for blood-alcohol content and other drugs if stopped for suspicion of drug use while driving.
Information Sign
Inform of local regulations and practices.
Insurance
Pays other people’s expenses for accidents caused by drivers covered under the owner’s policy.
J
Jack
Hand-operated device used to lift and hold one corner or side of the vehicle.
Joining traffic
Turning right or left into lanes of other vehicles.
Judgment/Reasoning
These psychological functions are the first ones affected by alcohol. A person’s ability to judge right from wrong, good from bad or their ability to reason is affected.
L
Lane Change
Lateral movement of the vehicle from one lane to another using proper space management procedures.
Lateral Manoeuvre
Vehicle movements to the side (swerve, pulling to and from the curb, lane change, merging, exiting).
Liability Insurance
Provides compensation for damages which the insured is legally obligated to pay; covers others when you are at fault.
Line of Sight (LOS)
Distance from the driver’s eyes to the target at the end of the intended path of travel you can see ahead.
Litter
Defines a vast range of materials such as grease or leftover food from restaurants, building materials abandoned at construction sites, and packaging materials from stores.
Loading Considerations
Distributing the weight evenly throughout the vehicle. Do Not Overload.
Low Water Crossing
Roadways that may have been covered with water or even washed away during flooding, creating unsafe driving conditions. Drivers who repeatedly drive through flooded low-water crossings often do not recognize the dangers of a small increase in the water level.
M
Maintenance Checks
Checks and routine maintenance performed to ensure that a vehicle operates properly.
Median
Area of ground separating traffic moving in opposite directions.
Merging Area
This is the area to move onto the expressway. Stretch of roadway at the end of acceleration lane on an expressway where vehicles join the flow of traffic.
Minimize a Hazard
Reduce the possibility of conflict by putting more space between your vehicle and the hazard.
Minimum Speed Limit
Speed limit to keep traffic moving safely by not allowing drivers to drive slower than a certain speed.
Mirrors
Detection devices and should be checked prior to and after any speed or position change.
Moving Vehicle
A vehicle that is self-propelled.
Moving Forward
Vehicle movement moving the vehicle to the front.
N
Night Driving
Operating a vehicle during the hours of darkness.
Night Time
The period beginning one-half hour after sunset and ending one-half hour before sunrise.
O
Obligations of a Driver
If a driver encounters conflict with other roadway users or the roadway and consequences occur, the driver has the obligation of driving to accept the consequences and be morally and financially responsible.
Ontario Licensing System
The system where new drivers begin with a G1 license, then upgrade to a G2 and finally a G license. Because each step is in addition to the last, this is where the term graduated comes from.
Orderly Visual Search Pattern
Process of searching critical areas in a regular sequence from the intended path of travel.
Other Drugs
Legal and illegal drugs other than alcohol.
Other Roadway Users
People who use the HTS by walking, driving, or riding (including other cars, vans, pick-up trucks, motorcycles, commercial vehicles, semi-trucks, pedestrians, animals, etc.).
Overdriving headlights
Driving at a speed that makes your stopping distance longer than the distance lighted by your headlights
Oversteer
When the rear tire patches lose varying degrees of traction and the front tire patches have more traction causing a spinning effect (yaw) around the vehicle’s center of gravity. The vehicle has a tendency to spin to the left or right even though the driver is not turning the steering wheel.
Overtaking
To pass the vehicle ahead.
Owner’s Manual
Owner’s manual is an instructional book or booklet that is supplied with almost all technologically advanced consumer products such as vehicles, home appliances and computer peripherals. Information about everything in the car can be found in the owner’s manual.
P
Parallel parking
Parking where the vehicle lines up parallel or going the same direction as the curb.
Path of Travel
(POT) Space to the target ahead that your vehicle will occupy as you travel on the roadway.
Pavement Marking
A marking on the pavement to warn or direct drivers and to regulate traffic.
Pedestrian
Road user who is on foot. Usually on sidewalks/crosswalks.
Peer pressure
Mental and social influence of others of a similar age on decision making skills.
Peripheral Vision
The area a person can see that is around the central field of vision. It is conical in shape around the other vision fields. It functions to notice changes in color and object movement.
Point of No Return
Point beyond which a driver can no longer stop safely without entering the intersection.
Possession
Dominion over, and exclusive control and use of, a material object or property resulting from the fact of holding it (whether rightly or wrongly) in one’s power.
Protected Left Turn (advanced left turn)
Left turn made on a left-turn light, green arrow, or delayed green light while oncoming traffic is stopped.
R
Radiator
The automotive radiator is defined as a device that gives off heat very fast. It also cools the engine coolant as it flows from one end to the next. The automotive radiator consists of a tank on either end, a pressure cap, core and a petcock drain. The radiator allows the heat, which the coolant absorbed while circulating through the engine, to escape in the atmosphere when the coolant returns to it.
Reaction distance
The distance a vehicle travels from the point the driver perceives the need to act and the point where the driver takes that action through braking, steering, or acceleration. Distance your vehicle travels until the driver perceives the need to change speed or position.
Reaction Time
The time the vehicle travels from the point where the driver perceives the need to act and the point where the driver takes the action through braking, steering, or acceleration to change speed or position.
Reckless Driving
A person commits an offense if the person drives a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.
Red Traffic Light
Stop before the stop line, entering the crosswalk or intersection. Wait for a green light to proceed.
Regulatory Sign
Regulates the speed and movement of traffic.
Responsibility of a Driver
A driver’s moral, legal, and mental accountability to driving practices that utilize the knowledge, understanding, skills, and experiences.
Right-of-way
The privilege of having immediate use of a certain part of a roadway. The right of one vehicle or pedestrian to proceed in a lawful manner in preference to another vehicle or pedestrian that is approaching from a direction, at a speed, and within a proximity that could cause a collision unless one grants precedence to the other.
Right-turn-on-red
Turning right when the red signal is on, after stopping behind the intersection guides, unless specifically prohibited to turn.
Risk
Chance of injury, damage, or loss. In driving, risk-taking (potential or immediate) means introducing the possibility of having a conflict that results in a crash or collision with another vehicle.
Risk Reduction
Applying knowledge and understanding of Ontario traffic laws; utilizing driver preparation procedures; utilizing occupant protection and having passengers utilize occupant protection; utilizing vehicle operation and control techniques; utilizing attention techniques; targeting line of sight and path of travel; utilizing vehicle movements procedures; utilizing reference points; maintaining vehicle balance; utilizing driver readiness techniques; timing divided attention tasks; managing distraction; and utilizing a space management system that includes information processing.
Risk Reduction Techniques
Reducing the possibility of having a conflict (potential or immediate) that results in a non-incident, crash or collision.
Risk-Taking
Taking a chance of injury, damage, or loss. In driving, risk-taking (potential or immediate) means introducing the possibility of having a conflict that results in a crash or collision.
Road Rage
Popular term for aggressive driving. (See Aggressive Driving)
Roadway
The portion of a highway, other than the berm or shoulder that is improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicle travel. If a highway includes at least two separate roadways, the term applies to each roadway separately.
Roadway Marking
Markings and lane delineators (reflectors) that give warning or direction.
Road Users
People who use the HTS by walking, driving, or riding (including automobiles, vans, pick-up trucks, motorcycles, commercial vehicles, semi-trucks, pedestrians, animals, horse drawn vehicles, bicycles, etc.).
S
Searching
Eyes moving every 12-15 seconds during the path of travel, looking either side to side, at the rearview and side-view mirrors, checking vehicle reference to lane position, as well as the instrument panel, and toward the target area.
Seating Position
In order to establish vehicle balance and improve ability to see, drivers should sit in a comfortable, upright position squarely behind the steering wheel.
Separate
Avoiding having to deal with many problems at once.
Shoulder Check
After signaling and discouraging other motorists from driving into the lane next to you it is important to check over the appropriate shoulder for approaching speeding vehicles and to ensure that the driver in the next lane is not about to drift over without a shoulder-check.
Signaling
Letting others know when you are going to stop or turn. Give signal by either lights or hand/arm extended out of the car window.
Skid
A mark on the road surface from a tire that is sliding due to a loss of traction from braking or abrupt steering. When tire patches lose part or all of their traction on the roadway surface due to abrupt suspension balance changes or roadway surface conditions.
Slow Moving Vehicle
Vehicle unable to travel at highway speed.
Space Cushion
Reducing conflicts for space and avoiding “pressure” in traffic situations. Open area around a vehicle that consists of an adequate following interval between it and the vehicles ahead and behind that allow the driver to stop, plus swerve paths to left and right.
Space Cushion Driving
Open area around a vehicle that consists of an adequate following interval between it and the vehicles ahead and behind that allow the driver to stop, plus swerve paths to left and right.
Speed
The act or state of moving.
Speed Limits
The safe and reasonable speed declared by the Ontario Government for that part of the highway system.
Stale Green Light
A traffic light that has been green for a long time.
Stopping Distance (Position)
Stopping behind a vehicle in a position that allows the driver enough space to steer around the vehicle to avoid a stalled, turning, or backing vehicle.
Stop Sign
Stop before entering a clearly marked stop line, the crosswalk or the point where the intersections meet. Stop means bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
Surface Street
A Street that is paved as a public thoroughfare in a built environment.
Synergistic Effect
Chemical reaction between two or more drugs, which may produce a reaction greater than either drug alone.
T
Tailgate
To follow another vehicle too closely.
Target
An object that appears in the center and the end of the visible intended path of travel.
Threshold braking
Maximum controlled braking efforts that provide for maximum deceleration without loss of tire traction.
Tire Footprint
Your tires are the only thing keeping your car on the road and driving safely. A tire’s footprint, or the area that is actually in contact with the road, is quite small. This tiny tire footprint is what creates the traction that allows your car to accelerate, decelerate, and turn. If these contact points are hampered by poor tread or under inflation, your ability to steer, start, and stop can be adversely affected.
Tire Rotation
Tire rotation is the practice of swapping the front tires of a car with the back tires at regular intervals. The basic idea of tire rotation is to extend the life of the tires by allowing more even tread wear. Some specialty tire manufacturers do not recommend the practice for their customers, but most car owner’s benefit from a regular tire rotation. Some tire stores even include a basic tire rotation as part of their service contract.
Total stopping distance
Distance your vehicle travels while you make a stop.
Traction
Friction or gripping power between the tire patch and the roadway surface. The grip between the tires and the road surface that allows a vehicle to start, stop, and/or change direction.
Traffic
Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, and conveyances, including vehicles and streetcars, single or together while using the highway for purposes of travel.
Traffic Control Devices
Devices used to control the movement of traffic, such as, traffic signals, signs, and roadway markings.
Traffic Flow
Number and types of vehicles that occupy a roadway (may differ during times of day or with other conditions).
Traffic Laws
A traffic rule of conduct or action prescribed or formally recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling authority.
Traffic Sign Shapes
Octagon, exclusively for Stop Signs; Horizontal rectangle, generally for guide signs; Equilateral triangle, exclusively for Yield signs; Pennant, advanced warning of No Passing Zones; Diamond, exclusively to warn of existing or possible hazards on roadway or adjacent areas; Vertical rectangle, generally for regulatory signs; Pentagon, school advance and school crossing signs; and Round, railroad advance warning signs.
Traffic Signal
Any signal used to control the movement of traffic.
Transmission
A transmission allows power to be sent from a power source, most often an engine or motor, to a drive mechanism. Transmissions use gears and a clutch to convert the speed of the power source into torque. A simpler transmission is often referred to as a gearbox since it is basically a box containing a configuration of gears.
Tunnel Vision
Being able to see in a narrow field of vision of 140° or less, with little effective peripheral vision.
U
Uncontrolled Intersection
Intersection that has no signs or signals to regulate traffic including railroad crossings that do not have flashing red lights or crossing gates.
Understeer
When the front tire patches lose varying degrees of traction and the rear tire patches have more traction causing a pushing effect on the vehicle due to momentum and inertia forces. The vehicle has a tendency to go straight even if the steering wheel is turned more dramatically.
Unleaded Gas
Gasoline that has not been treated with a lead compound.
Unpaved Road
A road that is un-surfaced, such as dirt or gravel.
Unprotected Left Turn
Left turn made at a signal-controlled intersection without a special left turn light.
Urban District
The territory adjacent to and including a highway, if the territory: is not in a municipality; and is improved with structures that are used for business, industry, or dwelling.
V
Vehicle
Means every device, in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, excepting devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.
Vehicle maintenance
Scheduled or unscheduled upkeep or repair of a vehicle.
Visual Lead Distance
12 – 15 Seconds Ahead (Searching) – Identify objects that require a change in speed or direction.
Visual Search
Process can be described as an organized pattern of focused eye movement scanning the path of travel.
W
Warning Sign
Sign that alerts you to possible hazards and road conditions.
Weather Conditions
Atmospheric conditions including fog, heavy rain, snow, wind, etc.
Y
Yaw
The spinning effect of a vehicle around its center of gravity. When a vehicle loses traction to the rear, the vehicle tends to move to the left or right around its center of gravity.
Yellow Light
Slow down to stop, as a red light is next. Wait for the green light to proceed.
Yield
To allow another vehicle or roadway user to proceed first.
Yield Sign
The road you are on joins with another road ahead. You should slow down or stop, if necessary, so that you can yield the right-of-way to vehicles on the other road.
Z
Zero-tolerance law
Law stating it is illegal for persons under the age of 19 to drive with any measurable amount of alcohol in the blood.