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Study guide

Concise chapters that cover everything on the ICBC knowledge test. Read them in order or jump to the topic you need.

  1. 1Getting your B.C. licenceBritish Columbia's Graduated Licensing Program takes new drivers from a learner's licence (L) to a novice licence (N) and then to a full Class 5 licence in about 3 years. This chapter covers who can apply, the 50-question knowledge test, what to bring, the learner and novice restrictions, road tests, driver training, new residents and keeping your licence up to date.7 sections47 key facts
  2. 2Road signsAlmost 1 knowledge-test question in 5 is about road signs. This chapter follows the guide's own order: how to read a sign by its shape, colour and message, then regulatory, school and playground, lane use and turn control, parking and reserved lane, warning, construction, information and railway signs, each with the signs you need to recognize.8 sections51 key facts
  3. 3Traffic lights, signals and road markingsLighted signals control the flow of traffic at intersections and over lanes, and painted lines tell you where you may drive, pass and stop. This chapter explains every light, arrow and marking the ICBC guide describes, including the flashing green light that B.C. uses for pedestrian-controlled intersections.8 sections50 key facts
  4. 4Right-of-way, intersections and turningMost of the rules about who goes first are decided at intersections. Learn where to stop, who yields at stop signs, yield signs and uncontrolled corners, how to give way to pedestrians and emergency vehicles, how to drive traffic circles and roundabouts, which lane to turn from and into, how to signal, and when a U-turn or backing up is not allowed.8 sections54 key facts
  5. 5Speed, passing, lanes and freewaysKnow the speed limits that apply when no sign is posted, how school, playground and construction zones change them, what speeding costs in fines, penalty points and impoundment, how speed stretches your stopping distance, when you may pass and on which side, how to choose a lane, change lanes and use HOV and bus lanes, and how to enter and leave a freeway.8 sections55 key facts
  6. 6Parking and stoppingWhere you leave your vehicle matters as much as how you drive it. This chapter covers the places where parking is illegal and the distances the guide sets from hydrants, crosswalks, intersections, stop signs, traffic lights and railway tracks, how to read parking signs and painted curbs, which way to turn the wheels on a hill and how to secure the vehicle, parking at the curb and in a stall, pulling out safely, and checking for cyclists before you open a door.6 sections37 key facts
  7. 7Sharing the roadYou share B.C.'s roads with pedestrians, cyclists, motorcycle riders, large trucks and buses, school and transit buses, emergency vehicles, road crews, trains and even horses. Each one moves differently and needs a different kind of space, and the guide states firm rules for several of them — when to stop for a school bus, how much to slow for a stopped vehicle with flashing lights, how far to stay behind a fire truck and where to stop at a railway crossing.8 sections53 key facts
  8. 8Safe driving and emergenciesICBC's whole approach to safe driving is see–think–do: scan for hazards, decide which ones matter most and what to do about them, then act with speed control, steering, space margins and communication. This chapter covers scanning, mirrors and blind spots, the following-distance rules, why speed stretches your stopping distance, driving at night and in rain, fog, snow and ice, staying fit and focused behind the wheel, and what to do when a skid, a breakdown or a crash turns a trip into an emergency.8 sections55 key facts
  9. 9Penalty points, prohibitions, alcohol and drugsBritish Columbia records penalty points on your driving record for traffic offences, bills you a Driver Penalty Point premium once you pass 3 points in a year, and lets RoadSafetyBC prohibit you from driving. This chapter covers how points and premiums work, driving prohibitions, the stricter penalties for L and N drivers, alcohol and drugs, electronic devices, vehicle impoundment for excessive speeding and street racing, and what unpaid fines and a bad record do to your licence and insurance.7 sections47 key facts
  10. 10Seatbelts, child seats and your vehicleYour vehicle only protects you if you set it up and look after it. This chapter covers seatbelts and the law behind them, the 4 stages of child restraints, airbags and head restraints, adjusting your seat and mirrors, the pre-trip and periodic checks, tires and winter preparation, your lights and signals, driving with the environment in mind, and the licence, plate and insurance you must have to drive.8 sections55 key facts

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