Safety margins: car theory test questions

1. At least one second
2. At least two seconds ✓
3. At least five seconds
4. At least ten seconds

Answer: At least two seconds. Allow at least a two-second gap on high-speed roads, and more in poor conditions.

Highway Code rule 126

1. Keep it the same as on a dry road
2. Reduce it slightly, because traffic is slower
3. At least double it ✓
4. Make it ten times longer

Answer: At least double it. Tyres have less grip on wet roads, so the gap should be at least doubled.

Highway Code rules 126 and 227

1. Up to two times
2. Up to four times
3. Up to six times
4. Up to ten times ✓

Answer: Up to ten times. On icy or snowy roads, stopping distances can be ten times greater than on dry roads, so keep well back.

Highway Code rules 126 and 230

1. 12 metres
2. 23 metres ✓
3. 36 metres
4. 53 metres

Answer: 23 metres. At 30 mph the typical stopping distance is 23 metres: 9 metres thinking distance plus 14 metres braking distance.

Highway Code rule 126 (Typical stopping distances)

1. 53 metres
2. 73 metres
3. 96 metres ✓
4. 115 metres

Answer: 96 metres. At 70 mph the typical stopping distance is 96 metres, about 24 car lengths. That's why a safe gap on fast roads matters so much.

Highway Code rule 126 (Typical stopping distances)

1. 36 metres
2. 53 metres ✓
3. 73 metres
4. 96 metres

Answer: 53 metres. At 50 mph the typical stopping distance is 53 metres: 15 metres thinking distance plus 38 metres braking distance.

Highway Code rule 126 (Typical stopping distances)

1. 6 metres
2. 9 metres ✓
3. 14 metres
4. 23 metres

Answer: 9 metres. Thinking distance at 30 mph is about 9 metres. The car travels this far before you even start to brake.

Highway Code rule 126 (Typical stopping distances)

1. Count the seconds from when it passes a fixed point to when you do ✓
2. Make sure you can still read the number plate of the car in front
3. Check that your rev counter stays below 2,000 rpm
4. Count how many car lengths you can see in front of you

Answer: Count the seconds from when it passes a fixed point to when you do. Pick a fixed point such as a sign or bridge. If you reach it before you've counted two seconds, you're too close.

Highway Code rule 126

1. At least 1 metre
2. At least 2 metres
3. At least 5 metres ✓
4. At least 10 metres

Answer: At least 5 metres. If you have to stop in a tunnel, leave at least a 5-metre gap between you and the vehicle in front.

Highway Code rule 126

1. Steer sharply towards the kerb
2. Accelerate to push through the water
3. Brake hard to stop as quickly as possible
4. Ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually ✓

Answer: Ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually. Light steering in the wet probably means water is stopping the tyres gripping the road. Ease off and slow down gently.

Highway Code rule 227

1. To the right ✓
2. To the left while braking hard
3. To the left
4. Straight ahead while accelerating hard

Answer: To the right. Remove the cause of the skid and steer in the same direction as the skid. If the rear slides right, steer right.

Highway Code rule 119

1. Harsh use of the controls or driving too fast for the conditions ✓
2. Using cruise control on a dry, straight stretch of road
3. Having all four tyres inflated to the correct pressure
4. Driving in a higher gear than you would normally choose

Answer: Harsh use of the controls or driving too fast for the conditions. Skids are usually caused by the driver. Smooth control and a suitable speed for the conditions are the best prevention.

Highway Code rule 119

1. Release the pedal as soon as you feel it start to vibrate
2. Pump the brake pedal on and off as fast as you can
3. Use the parking brake as well as the footbrake
4. Brake firmly and keep pressing until you've slowed down ✓

Answer: Brake firmly and keep pressing until you've slowed down. With ABS, apply the footbrake firmly and don't release it until you've slowed to the speed you want. Follow your vehicle handbook too.

Highway Code rule 120

1. They help you steer but may not shorten your stopping distance ✓
2. They make it safe to drive closer to the car in front
3. They only work properly on dry road surfaces
4. They halve your stopping distance in all road conditions

Answer: They help you steer but may not shorten your stopping distance. ABS should help you keep steering control when braking hard, but don't assume it will stop you in a shorter distance.

Highway Code rule 120

1. Brake as hard as you can to clear the water
2. Stop and wait an hour before you carry on
3. Drive fast for a few miles to dry the brakes out
4. Test your brakes gently at the first safe opportunity ✓

Answer: Test your brakes gently at the first safe opportunity. Water can make your brakes less effective. Test them gently and, if needed, apply light pressure while driving slowly to dry them out.

Highway Code rule 121

1. At your normal speed, as long as the road has been gritted
2. Braking firmly whenever you approach a bend or junction
3. Slowly, in a high gear, braking and accelerating gently ✓
4. In a low gear with high engine revs for extra grip

Answer: Slowly, in a high gear, braking and accelerating gently. Avoid sudden actions on ice. A high gear and gentle use of the controls help stop the wheels from spinning or locking.

Highway Code rule 231

1. After the bend, once the road has straightened out
2. Progressively on the straight, before you reach the bend ✓
3. Firmly while you're steering round the bend itself
4. Only if you see another vehicle coming towards you

Answer: Progressively on the straight, before you reach the bend. Braking and steering together on ice can cause a loss of control. Slow down on the straight, then steer smoothly round the bend.

Highway Code rule 231

1. The road has just been resurfaced
2. The power steering has failed
3. Your tyres are over-inflated
4. You may be driving on ice ✓

Answer: You may be driving on ice. On ice, tyres make virtually no noise and the steering can feel unresponsive. Slow down gently and avoid sudden actions.

Highway Code rule 231

1. When visibility improves ✓
2. After 30 minutes of use
3. Only when you park the car
4. Whenever you join a motorway

Answer: When visibility improves. Fog lights can dazzle others and hide your brake lights. You must switch them off as soon as visibility improves.

Highway Code rules 226 and 236

1. When you can't see for more than 10 metres
2. When you can't see for more than 50 metres
3. When you can't see for more than 100 metres ✓
4. When you can't see for more than 200 metres

Answer: When you can't see for more than 100 metres. You must use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, generally when you can't see for more than 100 metres.

Highway Code rule 226

1. See at least 200 metres ahead on main beam
2. Drive at the speed limit for that road
3. Stop well within the distance you can see to be clear ✓
4. Keep the rear lights of the car ahead in view

Answer: Stop well within the distance you can see to be clear. Following another car's rear lights can give a false sense of security. Drive slowly enough to stop within the distance you can see.

Highway Code rule 235

1. Only once the lane you'll use has been cleared ✓
2. Never, on any type of road
3. On its left when it slows down
4. As soon as you reach a straight stretch

Answer: Only once the lane you'll use has been cleared. Snowploughs can throw snow out to either side. Don't overtake unless the lane you want to use has been cleared.

Highway Code rule 230

1. In a long tunnel
2. On an open stretch of road ✓
3. In a narrow street lined with tall buildings
4. When passing a gap in a hedge ✓
5. On the ground floor of a car park

Answer: On an open stretch of road; When passing a gap in a hedge. Strong gusts can blow vehicles and riders off course on exposed open roads and when passing bridges or gaps in hedges.

Highway Code rule 232

1. Your tyres will grip better than usual
2. The rain will wash the road and improve grip
3. The road surface may become slippery ✓
4. Your brakes are more likely to overheat

Answer: The road surface may become slippery. After a dry spell, rain can make the road surface slippery, which could affect your steering and braking.

Highway Code rule 237

1. It saves fuel in wet weather
2. Your tyres have less grip, so it takes longer to stop ✓
3. It stops your windscreen from misting up
4. Rain and spray make it harder to see and plan ahead ✓
5. Your brakes work better when they're wet

Answer: Your tyres have less grip, so it takes longer to stop; Rain and spray make it harder to see and plan ahead. Stopping distances are at least doubled in the wet, and keeping back also improves your view through spray.

Highway Code rule 227