Alertness practice questions

1. You are parked at the kerb and want to pull away. Your mirrors look clear. What else should you do before moving off?

Answer: Look over your shoulder to check your blind spot

Mirrors do not show every area around the car. Before moving off you should look round to check your blind spots and only go when it is safe.

2. Which routine does the Highway Code tell you to use before you change speed or direction?

Answer: Mirrors, then Signal, then Manoeuvre

Check your mirrors first so you know what is behind you, then signal if needed, then make the move.

3. Which of these is a time when you may hold and use your phone while driving?

Answer: To call 999 or 112 in an emergency when it's unsafe to stop

You must not use a hand-held phone while driving, even in slow traffic. The exceptions are very narrow: a genuine 999 or 112 call when it is unsafe or impractical to stop, paying contactless while stationary (for example at a drive-through), or parking with a legal remote-control app.

4. You are planning a long drive to a festival. How often does the Highway Code recommend taking a break?

Answer: At least 15 minutes after every two hours of driving

Tiredness greatly increases the risk of a crash. A break of at least 15 minutes every two hours is recommended.

5. You are stuck in a traffic jam and the cars have not moved for a minute. Can you pick up your phone to check a message?

Answer: No, the ban still applies when you're stopped in traffic

You must not pick up and use a hand-held phone while stationary in traffic. Wait until you are safely parked.

6. Your mum is sitting next to you supervising your practice drive. Her phone rings. Can she answer it using her hand-held phone?

Answer: No, the ban also covers people supervising a learner

The hand-held phone rule applies to drivers and to people supervising a learner driver. A supervisor needs to watch the road too.

7. You feel very sleepy while driving on the motorway. What should you do?

Answer: Leave at the next safe place, like a services, and rest

If you feel sleepy you should stop in a safe place. The Highway Code says not to stop on a hard shoulder or in an emergency area to rest.

8. Is using a hands-free phone while driving a safe choice?

Answer: No, it can still distract you, so it's safest to use no phone

Hands-free use is not banned, but it is still likely to distract you. The Highway Code says it is far safer not to use any phone while driving.

9. Your friends want the music turned up really loud on the drive home. What does the Highway Code advise?

Answer: Avoid distractions such as loud music while driving

Loud music is listed as a distraction. It can stop you hearing sirens, horns or other warnings and takes your focus away.

10. You are driving and your passenger starts a heated argument with you. What is the safest thing to do?

Answer: Keep focused on driving and pull over somewhere safe to talk

Arguing is a distraction. Keep your attention on the road and stop somewhere safe if you need to sort things out.

11. Your car has a lane-keeping system that helps steer on the motorway. What does the Highway Code say about systems like this?

Answer: Don't rely on them; you must stay in full control

Driver assistance systems are only there to help. You must stay alert and in full control of the vehicle at all times.

12. You are in a drive-through and want to pay by tapping your phone. When is this allowed?

Answer: When stopped, and you get the food as or after you pay

There is an exception for contactless payment, but only when the vehicle is stationary and the goods are received at or after the time you pay.

13. You need glasses to read a number plate from 20 metres away. When must you wear them while driving?

Answer: Every time you drive

If you need glasses or contact lenses to meet the eyesight standard, you must wear them at all times while driving.

14. What is the minimum eyesight standard (sharpness of vision) for driving a car, measured on the Snellen scale?

Answer: At least decimal 0.5 (6/12)

You need a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) on the Snellen scale, using glasses or contact lenses if needed. You also need an adequate field of vision.

15. At the start of your practical test you fail the number plate eyesight check, even with your glasses on. What happens?

Answer: You fail, the test stops and your licence is revoked

If you can't read a number plate at the start of the practical test, you fail, the test does not continue, DVLA is told and your licence is revoked.

16. On the way to college the low winter sun suddenly dazzles you. What should you do?

Answer: Slow down, and stop if you need to

If you are dazzled by bright sunlight, slow down and, if necessary, stop.

17. You're driving home at night. Should you wear your tinted sunglasses?

Answer: No, not if they restrict your vision

At night or in poor visibility, don't use tinted glasses, lenses or visors if they restrict your vision.

18. You fit a holder so you can see your phone's sat nav directions. Where must it NOT go?

Answer: Where it blocks your view of the road ahead

Phones and sat navs used hands-free must not block your view of the road and traffic ahead.

19. There's no signal, so your phone is offline. Can you hold it to change the song while you drive?

Answer: No, holding it is banned online or offline

You must not use a hand-held phone or similar device for any reason while driving, whether it's online or offline.

20. You want to study the map on your sat nav screen to find a new route. What does the Highway Code advise?

Answer: Stop safely before you study it

If you need to look at maps or screen-based navigation, stop in a safe place first.

21. You see an amazing sunset as you drive. Can you take a photo with your hand-held phone?

Answer: No, taking photos while driving is illegal

You must not hold and use a phone to text, call, take photos or videos, or browse while driving.

22. You want to move into the right lane of a dual carriageway. After checking your mirrors, what else should you do?

Answer: Glance sideways to check your blind spot

Before changing lanes, use your mirrors and, if necessary, take a quick sideways glance to check the blind spot area.

23. Your mum's car has no reversing camera. You're backing slowly into a space at the gym car park. After checking all around, where should you mainly look?

Answer: Through the rear window

Rule 202: check all around before you start, then reverse slowly while looking mainly through the rear window. Get someone to guide you if you can't see clearly.

24. You only slept four hours after a late shift and feel tired before a long drive. What should you do?

Answer: Don't set off until you've slept

Do not begin a journey if you are tired, and get enough sleep before a long journey.

25. You start to feel sleepy on the motorway. Which of these is NOT a place to stop and rest?

Answer: The hard shoulder or an emergency area

If you feel sleepy, stop in a safe place, but not in an emergency area or on the hard shoulder of a motorway.

26. You're using a hands-free phone, but police see you're distracted and not in full control. What can happen?

Answer: You can be stopped and prosecuted

Police can stop you if they think you're distracted and not in control, even if you're hands-free. You can get 3 penalty points for not having proper control or a full view of the road.

27. You're running late and want to eat breakfast while driving to college. What does the Highway Code say?

Answer: Avoid eating and drinking while driving

Safe driving needs concentration, so avoid distractions such as eating and drinking while driving.

28. You're giving your 16-year-old cousin a lift in England. You want to smoke with all the windows down. What is the law?

Answer: It's illegal with an under-18 in the car

It's against the law to smoke in a private vehicle carrying anyone under 18 in England, Wales and Scotland, even with the windows or sunroof open. In England and Wales the driver can be fined for allowing it, too.

29. In thick fog you stop at a junction where you can hardly see. What does the Highway Code suggest?

Answer: Listen for traffic before you pull out

At a junction with limited visibility in fog, stop in the correct position, listen for traffic, and only emerge when you're sure it's safe.

30. You're in slow traffic and about to turn left into a side road. Why should you check your left mirror and blind spot first?

Answer: A cyclist may be coming up on your left

Cyclists and motorcyclists may be hidden on your left. Check mirrors and blind spots before turning, and don't cut across them.

31. You're taking your dog to the vet. How should it travel in the car?

Answer: Suitably restrained so it can't distract you

Rule 57 says that in a vehicle you should make sure dogs and other animals are suitably restrained so they can't distract you or injure you if you stop quickly.

32. How often should you check your mirrors while driving?

Answer: Often, so you always know what's behind and beside you

Rule 161 says use your mirrors frequently so you always know what is behind and to each side of you, and check them in good time before signalling or changing direction or speed.

33. Why might you miss a motorcyclist when you're about to pull out of a junction?

Answer: Motorcyclists are smaller and can be hard to see

Rule 211 says it's often difficult to see motorcyclists and cyclists, especially when coming out of a junction, so look out for them carefully.

34. You've woken up with a heavy cold and feel unwell, but you're meant to drive to work. What should you do?

Answer: Don't drive if you feel unfit to

Rule 90 says make sure you are fit to drive. Being unwell can slow your reactions.

35. You're crawling along in a traffic jam. Which road users should you watch for coming past between the lanes?

Answer: Motorcyclists and cyclists filtering

Rule 160 says be aware of other road users, especially cycles and motorcycles that may be filtering through traffic.

36. You're reversing out of a parking space at the supermarket. Where should you mainly look?

Answer: Mainly through the rear window, checking all around

Rule 202 says look carefully before you start reversing, check for pedestrians, especially children, and look mainly through the rear window.

37. You want to turn round and the only place is a busy main road. What does the Highway Code suggest?

Answer: Find a quiet side road or go round the block

Rule 200 says try not to reverse or turn round in a busy road; find a quiet side road or drive round a block of side streets.

38. You've reversed into a side road and want to keep going backwards along it to reach a parking space. What does the law say?

Answer: You must not reverse further than necessary

Rule 203 says you MUST NOT reverse your vehicle further than necessary.

39. Your view to the right is blocked by a parked van at a junction. What must you be sure of before you pull out?

Answer: That there's a gap big enough to join safely

Rule 170 says do not cross or join a road until there's a gap large enough for you to do so safely. Look all around before you emerge.

40. When should you use the routine Mirrors - Signal - Manoeuvre at a roundabout?

Answer: Throughout your approach and on the roundabout

Rule 184 says use Mirrors - Signal - Manoeuvre at all stages of approaching and going round a roundabout.

41. Two mini-roundabouts are very close together. How should you treat them?

Answer: Treat each one separately and give way to traffic from the right

Rule 189 says at double mini-roundabouts, treat each roundabout separately and give way to traffic from the right.

42. Your sat nav says 'turn left now', but a 'No entry' sign is on that road. What should you do?

Answer: Obey the sign and find another route

Signs and road markings must be obeyed. A sat nav can be out of date. Rule 150 warns that in-vehicle systems can distract you; you must stay in full control and keep watching the road.