Attitude: car theory test questions

1. Staying in the middle lane when the left lane is clear
2. Overtaking another vehicle on its left-hand side
3. Driving with your boot or tailgate left open on the road
4. Following too closely to stop safely if the vehicle ahead brakes ✓

Answer: Following too closely to stop safely if the vehicle ahead brakes. Tailgating is when the gap in front is too small to stop safely. It is dangerous, intimidating and a common cause of collisions.

Highway Code rule 126

1. Brake sharply to warn them to back off
2. Gradually increase the gap in front of you ✓
3. Speed up to get away from them quickly
4. Switch on your hazard lights and keep going

Answer: Gradually increase the gap in front of you. A bigger gap in front gives you time to slow down gradually if needed, so the driver behind is less likely to hit you. Reacting aggressively only adds risk.

Highway Code rules 126 and 147

1. Keep a steady course and speed, slowing if needed ✓
2. Move out towards the centre of the road to block them
3. Speed up a little so they can't get past
4. Brake firmly to show them you're annoyed

Answer: Keep a steady course and speed, slowing if needed. Never obstruct someone who wants to pass. Speeding up or driving unpredictably while being overtaken is dangerous.

Highway Code rule 168

1. Close up behind it to stop anyone else doing it
2. Drop back to restore a safe two-second gap ✓
3. Overtake it again as soon as you can
4. Flash your headlights to show your annoyance

Answer: Drop back to restore a safe two-second gap. Whatever the other driver did, your priority is a safe gap. Ease off and drop back to at least two seconds.

Highway Code rule 168

1. To tell a slow driver to hurry up
2. To show another driver they can go first
3. Only to let other road users know you're there ✓
4. To thank a driver who has let you out

Answer: Only to let other road users know you're there. Flashing headlights can easily be misunderstood. Use them only to warn others that you're there, never to send any other message.

Highway Code rule 110

1. 10.00 pm and 6.00 am
2. 11.00 pm and 8.00 am
3. 11.30 pm and 7.00 am ✓
4. Midnight and 6.00 am

Answer: 11.30 pm and 7.00 am. You must not sound your horn in a built-up area between 11.30 pm and 7.00 am, except when another road user poses a danger.

Highway Code rule 112

1. While your vehicle is stationary on the road ✓
2. While moving on a quiet country road in daylight
3. While moving, as you approach a blind bend
4. While moving, to warn a pedestrian who hasn't seen you

Answer: While your vehicle is stationary on the road. The horn is only for warning others of your presence while you are moving. You must not use it while stationary on the road unless someone poses a danger.

Highway Code rule 112

1. Sound your horn to let them know you're there
2. Edge forward to encourage them to hurry
3. Rev your engine gently so they know you're waiting
4. Wait patiently and let them cross in their own time ✓

Answer: Wait patiently and let them cross in their own time. Older pedestrians may need more time. Revving, edging forward or sounding your horn can intimidate them.

Highway Code rules 194 and 207

1. No, you should flash your headlights instead
2. Yes, but only after dark when they can't see you
3. No, because another vehicle may not have stopped for them ✓
4. Yes, because it's polite and saves time

Answer: No, because another vehicle may not have stopped for them. Waving, flashing your lights or sounding your horn to invite people across could lead them into danger from other traffic. Let them decide when to cross.

Highway Code rule 195

1. Sound your horn to hurry them along
2. Flash your headlights to tell them to go
3. Overtake them as quickly as you can
4. Be patient and give them time to move off ✓

Answer: Be patient and give them time to move off. Learners may not be as skilful at dealing with situations. Be patient; putting pressure on them makes mistakes more likely.

Highway Code rule 217

1. Brake suddenly in front of them later on
2. Stay calm and don't react or get involved ✓
3. Follow them so you can talk it through
4. Make a gesture back so they know how you feel

Answer: Stay calm and don't react or get involved. Getting involved with someone who is behaving badly only makes things worse. Stay calm and carry on safely.

Highway Code rule 147

1. Pull over, calm down and carry on when you feel relaxed ✓
2. Turn the music up to take your mind off it
3. Drive a little faster so that you get home sooner
4. Open the windows and keep going

Answer: Pull over, calm down and carry on when you feel relaxed. Driving while agitated affects your judgement. Stop somewhere safe and only continue once you're calm.

Highway Code rule 147

1. Drive close behind them so they know they were wrong
2. Hold back and allow them to get clear ✓
3. Overtake them straight away
4. Sound your horn until they move over

Answer: Hold back and allow them to get clear. Everyone makes mistakes. Slow down and give the other driver room rather than over-reacting or trying to intimidate them.

Highway Code rule 147

1. It can endanger others, especially motorcyclists and cyclists ✓
2. It might scratch the paintwork of your own car
3. It could set off speed cameras at the roadside
4. It's only an offence if you do it while on a motorway

Answer: It can endanger others, especially motorcyclists and cyclists. Throwing things such as food packaging or cans from a vehicle is an offence and can put other road users, particularly those on two wheels, at risk.

Highway Code rule 147

1. As a guide you can go over briefly while you're overtaking
2. As a minimum speed on dual carriageways
3. As a maximum, not a target; it's often safer to drive slower ✓
4. As the speed you should aim to drive at

Answer: As a maximum, not a target; it's often safer to drive slower. The speed limit is the absolute maximum. It doesn't mean it's safe to drive at that speed in every situation.

Highway Code rules 125 and 146

1. Wave the drivers past you on the next bend
2. Speed up beyond the limit to keep the queue moving
3. Carry on, as it's up to them to overtake
4. Pull in where it's safe and let the traffic pass ✓

Answer: Pull in where it's safe and let the traffic pass. Don't hold up a long queue. Check your mirrors and pull in somewhere safe to let others pass.

Highway Code rule 169

1. Stop across the side road if the traffic halts
2. Close up to the car in front so nobody cuts in
3. Sound your horn to warn vehicles waiting to emerge
4. Leave the junction clear so vehicles can get in and out ✓

Answer: Leave the junction clear so vehicles can get in and out. Blocking side roads adds to congestion. Leave access clear so others can join or leave the main road.

Highway Code rule 151

1. The space is needed for emergency vehicles
2. Blue Badge vehicles always have to reverse out
3. The occupant may need extra room to get in or out ✓
4. It's illegal to park within 10 metres of one

Answer: The occupant may need extra room to get in or out. Blue Badge holders often need more space, for example for a wheelchair. Leave them room to get in and out.

Highway Code rule 239

1. Racing ahead in the closing lane to get in front
2. Merging in turn, if it's safe to do so ✓
3. Refusing to let anyone from the other lane in
4. Using the hard shoulder to pass the queue

Answer: Merging in turn, if it's safe to do so. At very low speeds, merging in turn keeps traffic flowing fairly and safely. It isn't recommended at high speed.

Highway Code rules 134 and 288

1. Those driving vehicles that can cause the most harm ✓
2. Whoever arrived at the junction or crossing first
3. Cyclists, because they're the hardest to see
4. Pedestrians, because they're the most at risk of injury

Answer: Those driving vehicles that can cause the most harm. The hierarchy places those most at risk at the top. Drivers of vehicles that can cause the most harm carry the most responsibility to take care.

Highway Code rule H1

1. Revving your engine while pedestrians are crossing ✓
2. Leaving a two-second gap to the car in front
3. Letting a bus pull out from a bus stop
4. Driving very close behind another vehicle ✓
5. Giving a cyclist plenty of room when overtaking

Answer: Revving your engine while pedestrians are crossing; Driving very close behind another vehicle. Revving at pedestrians and tailgating are both intimidating and can cause people to make mistakes. Space and patience help everyone stay safe.

Highway Code rules 126 and 194

1. Flash your headlights to get them moving
2. Be patient, as they may not know the area ✓
3. Drive round them on the roundabout
4. Sound your horn to hurry them up

Answer: Be patient, as they may not know the area. Try to be understanding when others cause problems; they may be inexperienced or unfamiliar with the area.

Highway Code rule 147

1. Flash your headlights to show your disapproval
2. Stay calm and avoid getting involved ✓
3. Keep well back and let them go on ahead ✓
4. Block them in to slow them down
5. Follow them to note down their number plate

Answer: Stay calm and avoid getting involved; Keep well back and let them go on ahead. Getting involved only makes the situation worse and more dangerous. Give them space and let them go.

Highway Code rule 147

1. Accelerate hard as soon as the lights change
2. Stay still on green to annoy them
3. Rev your own engine to accept the challenge
4. Ignore it and move off normally when it's safe ✓

Answer: Ignore it and move off normally when it's safe. Never show off or try to compete with other drivers. Drive at a safe speed as you normally would.

Highway Code: Annex 8 (Safety code for new drivers)

1. Giving a signal doesn't give you priority ✓
2. Once you signal, other traffic must let you go
3. Signals give you priority on roundabouts
4. Arm signals give you priority but indicators don't

Answer: Giving a signal doesn't give you priority. Signals warn and inform others of what you intend to do. They don't give you the right of way, so always check it's safe.

Highway Code rule 103