Other types of vehicle practice questions

1. An ambulance with blue flashing lights and a siren comes up behind you. What should you do?

Answer: Stay calm and let it pass when safe, without mounting the kerb

Don't panic. Let the emergency vehicle pass when you can do so safely, without putting yourself, other road users or pedestrians at risk.

2. A bus ahead is signalling to pull out from a bus stop. What should you do?

Answer: Give way to it if you can do so safely

Give priority to buses, especially when they signal to pull away from stops, if it is safe to do so.

3. You are driving in a city with trams. Why must you take extra care around them?

Answer: They can be quiet and can't steer round you

Trams move quickly but quietly and cannot steer round anything in their way. Never stop on tram tracks, and give way to trams when it is safe to do so.

4. You are following a large lorry. Why should you drop back?

Answer: To see further ahead and be seen in their mirrors

Large vehicles block your view. Dropping back helps you see the road ahead and makes it more likely the driver can see you.

5. A long lorry ahead is slowing to turn at a junction and moves out to the right a little first. What should you do?

Answer: Be ready to stop and wait while it turns

Large vehicles may need extra road space to turn. Be prepared to stop and wait while they do so.

6. On a dual carriageway you see a vehicle ahead with a flashing amber beacon. What does it usually mean?

Answer: It's a slow-moving vehicle; approach with caution

Flashing amber beacons warn of slow-moving or stationary vehicles, such as tractors or road maintenance vehicles. Approach with caution.

7. What is the maximum speed of a powered wheelchair or mobility scooter on the road?

Answer: 8 mph

These small vehicles travel at a maximum of 8 mph, so you will catch up with them quickly.

8. Many lorries are fitted with speed limiters. What does this mean for you?

Answer: They may be limited to 56 mph, even on a motorway

Many large vehicles are limited to 56 mph even on motorways. Be patient and only overtake when it is safe.

9. You hear a siren and an emergency vehicle is behind you as you approach a roundabout. What should you avoid?

Answer: Braking harshly as you approach the roundabout

Do not brake harshly on the approach to a junction or roundabout, as a vehicle behind may not have the same view as you.

10. Which colours of flashing light can emergency vehicles use?

Answer: Blue, red or green

Emergency vehicles may use flashing blue, red or green lights. Traffic officer and incident support vehicles use flashing amber lights.

11. A tram has stopped at a tram stop with no platform, where passengers are getting on and off from the road. What must you not do?

Answer: Drive between the tram and the left-hand kerb

Where there is no platform, do not drive between a tram and the left-hand kerb while it is stopped to pick up passengers.

12. You're behind a long lorry approaching a roundabout. It's in the left lane but signalling right. What should you do?

Answer: Stay well back, as it may need room across lanes

Long vehicles may have to take a different course or straddle lanes on a roundabout. Hold back and give them plenty of room.

13. What is the national speed limit for a coach (up to 12 metres long) on a single carriageway road?

Answer: 50mph

Buses, coaches and minibuses up to 12 metres long have a 50mph limit on single carriageways, 60mph on dual carriageways and 70mph on motorways.

14. On a three-lane motorway, you notice the big articulated lorries never use the right-hand lane. Why?

Answer: Goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes must not use it

On motorways with three or more lanes, goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes must not use the right-hand lane except in special cases, such as lane closures.

15. You're in a slow-moving queue on a dual carriageway and want to change lanes. What should you look out for especially?

Answer: Motorcyclists filtering between the lanes

In slow traffic motorcyclists may filter between lanes. Check your mirrors and blind spot carefully before changing lanes.

16. On a bright sunny afternoon, a delivery rider on a scooter has their headlight switched on. What is the most likely reason?

Answer: So other road users notice them sooner

Motorcyclists are advised to make themselves visible, for example with dipped headlights, bright clothing or a light-coloured helmet, even in daylight.

17. On a narrow, quiet street, a cyclist ahead is riding in the middle of the lane, not near the kerb. What should you do?

Answer: Let them, and wait until it's safe to overtake

Cyclists may ride in the centre of the lane on narrow or quiet roads, at junctions and in slow traffic so they can see and be seen. Allow them to do so.

18. On a street with trams, you see a white light signal showing a bar and a diamond-shaped sign beside the tracks. Who are these for?

Answer: Tram drivers only

Diamond-shaped signs and white light signals give instructions to tram drivers only. Follow the normal traffic lights and signs for your own lane.

19. You're picking up a friend on a street where tram tracks run along the road. Where must you NOT stop?

Answer: On any part of the tram track, even briefly

You must not park where you would get in the way of trams. Don't stop on any part of a tram track, except in a designated bay alongside and clear of it. A tram cannot steer round an obstruction.

20. You're behind a horse-drawn carriage on a narrow country lane. Which of these should you NOT do?

Answer: Rev your engine or sound your horn

Do not sound your horn or rev your engine near horses. Horses can be easily scared and may move suddenly.

21. You're driving on a country road near farms in autumn. What should you be ready for?

Answer: Slow farm vehicles and mud on the road

On country roads, expect slow-moving farm vehicles and mud on the road surface, as well as walkers, horse riders and cyclists.

22. Traffic is queuing into town. On your left is an empty cycle lane marked with a solid white line, and it's within its hours of operation. What does the law say?

Answer: You must not drive or park in it

You must not drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a solid white line during its times of operation. Don't drive or park in one marked by a broken white line unless it is unavoidable.

23. On a straight road, the lorry you're following suddenly moves out towards the middle of the road. What is the most likely reason?

Answer: It's avoiding a hazard you can't see yet

Large vehicles may need extra road space to turn or to deal with a hazard that you are not able to see. Hold back and be ready to stop.

24. On a dual carriageway with a 70mph limit, you see a mobility scooter. If it uses this road, what MUST it have?

Answer: A flashing amber beacon

Mobility scooters should not use unrestricted dual carriageways (limit over 50mph). If they do, they must have a flashing amber beacon.

25. You're waiting at a red traffic light when an ambulance with blue lights comes up behind you. What should you do?

Answer: Keep obeying the red light, and let it pass when you can

Let emergency vehicles pass while complying with all traffic signs. Do not put yourself, other road users or pedestrians at risk, and avoid mounting the kerb.

26. Your gran uses a mobility scooter on the pavement to get to the shops. What is the top speed allowed on the pavement?

Answer: 4 mph

Powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters must not go faster than 4 mph (6 km/h) on pavements or in pedestrian areas. Road-going (class 3) ones may do up to 8 mph on the road.

27. Your friend has bought her own electric scooter and wants to ride it on the road to college. Is this legal?

Answer: No, a private one can't go on public roads

It is against the law to use a privately owned e-scooter on public land, such as roads, cycle lanes and pavements. She could get a fine and penalty points, and the scooter could be taken away.

28. You're driving next to tram tracks in a city, and a tram is moving alongside you. What does the Highway Code say?

Answer: Don't race it or overtake it on the inside

Always give way to trams. Do not try to race or overtake them or pass them on the inside, unless at tram stops or signals with a designated lane.

29. A tram is waiting at a stop across the street. What should you look out for?

Answer: People, especially children, running to catch it

Look out for pedestrians, especially children, running to catch a tram approaching or at a stop.

30. You're thinking about overtaking a long lorry on a single carriageway road. What should you keep in mind?

Answer: It takes longer to pass, so you need a bigger gap

Overtaking a large vehicle takes longer than overtaking a car. Drop back to see ahead, and if in doubt, don't overtake.

31. A police car behind you flashes its blue lights and the officer points to the side of the road. What must you do?

Answer: Pull over when it's safe, stop and switch off your engine

Rule 106 says police will try to attract your attention with blue lights, headlights, siren or horn, usually from behind, and may point or indicate left. You MUST pull over and stop as soon as it is safe, then switch off your engine.

32. You're driving close behind a lorry and can't see its door mirrors. What does that tell you?

Answer: The driver probably can't see you either

Rule 222 says drivers of large vehicles may find it difficult to see you. Staying back where you can see their mirrors helps them see you.

33. A motorcyclist ahead is riding towards potholes and drain covers. What should you expect?

Answer: They may need to move suddenly to avoid them

Rule 213 says motorcyclists and cyclists may need to avoid uneven road surfaces and obstacles. Give them plenty of room.

34. At a roundabout, a horse rider is keeping to the left lane but signalling right. What should you do?

Answer: Expect them to go all the way round and give them plenty of room

Rule 187 says horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles may stay in the left-hand lane and signal right if they intend to continue round the roundabout.

35. Where do you need to take extra care with trams in a city?

Answer: Where the tracks cross from one side of the road to the other

Rule 224 says take extra care where the track crosses from one side of the road to the other and where the road narrows and the tracks come close to the kerb.

36. On a dual carriageway you come up behind a gritting lorry with an amber flashing light. What should you do?

Answer: Keep well back and approach with caution

Rule 225 says flashing amber beacons warn of slow-moving or stationary vehicles, such as salt spreaders and snowploughs. Approach with caution.

37. At night, which lights must a cyclist have on their bike?

Answer: A white front light and a red rear light, plus a red rear reflector

Rule 60 says at night your cycle MUST have white front and red rear lights lit, and be fitted with a red rear reflector.

38. A learner motorcyclist with L plates is riding ahead of you. What should you do?

Answer: Give them extra room and be patient

Rule 204 says learners and inexperienced riders may not be as skilful at anticipating and responding to events. Be patient.

39. A large lorry is reversing into a delivery yard across your road. What should you do?

Answer: Stop and wait until it has finished

Rules 221 and 222 say large vehicles need space to manoeuvre and drivers may find it hard to see you. Be patient and wait.

40. You see a car with flashing blue lights coming towards you on your side of the road to get round traffic. What should you do?

Answer: Stay calm and make room safely

Rule 219 says look and listen for emergency vehicles, consider their route and take appropriate action to let them pass, without endangering others.