Safety and your vehicle practice questions

1. You're buying your first car, a cheap hatchback from a local seller. You check the tyres with a tread gauge. What is the legal minimum tread depth?

Answer: 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters

Car tyres must have at least 1.6 mm of tread across the central three-quarters of the tread, all the way round. Less tread means less grip, especially in the wet.

2. You've offered to drop your 11-year-old neighbour at their swimming lesson. Their mum waves you off from the doorstep. If the child isn't using a seat belt or the right child seat, who is breaking the law?

Answer: You, because you're the driver of the car

The driver is legally responsible for making sure children under 14 wear a seat belt or use the correct child restraint.

3. You are popping into a shop for two minutes. What should you do with your car?

Answer: Lock it and take the key, even for a few minutes

Remove the key and lock the car, even if you only leave it for a few minutes. You must also not leave a parked car unattended with the engine running.

4. When is the best time to check your tyre pressures?

Answer: When the tyres are cold, before a journey

Check tyre pressures when the tyres are cold. Warm tyres can give a misleading reading.

5. A warning light comes on and stays on while you are driving. What should you do?

Answer: Stop when it is safe and find out what is wrong

Warning lights can show a dangerous fault developing. Don't ignore them; stop safely and investigate.

6. Your sister asks you to collect your baby nephew from nursery. Your car's front passenger airbag is switched on. Where must his rear-facing baby seat NOT go?

Answer: In the front passenger seat

You must not fit a rear-facing baby seat in a seat protected by an active frontal airbag. If the airbag goes off, it can seriously injure or kill the baby.

7. Your 17-year-old friend is sitting in the back of your car. Who is legally responsible for them wearing a seat belt?

Answer: Your friend, as anyone 14 or over is responsible

Passengers aged 14 and over are responsible for wearing their own seat belt. The driver is responsible for children under 14.

8. When are you allowed to use your front or rear fog lights?

Answer: Only when visibility is seriously reduced

Fog lights must not be used unless visibility is seriously reduced, because they can dazzle others and hide your brake lights.

9. Smoke is coming from under the bonnet and you think there is an engine fire. What should you do?

Answer: Get everyone out, call 999 and keep the bonnet shut

Get people out quickly to safety and call the fire service. Don't open the bonnet, as fresh air can make the fire flare up.

10. The 1.6 mm minimum tread depth for car tyres must be met where on the tyre?

Answer: Across the central three-quarters of the tread, all the way round

The law says the tread must be at least 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread and around the whole circumference.

11. Until when must a child normally use a child restraint (such as a booster seat) in a car?

Answer: Until 12 years old or 135 cm tall, whichever is first

Children must use the correct child restraint until their 12th birthday or until they reach 1.35 metres tall, whichever comes first.

12. You're driving home from a late shift. Between which times MUST your sidelights and rear number plate lamp be on?

Answer: Between sunset and sunrise

Rule 113 says you must use sidelights and rear registration plate lamps between sunset and sunrise.

13. It's dark and you're driving through your town centre, which has street lights. Which lights should you normally use?

Answer: Dipped headlights

Rule 115 says to use dipped headlights, or dim-dip if fitted, at night in built-up areas and in dull daytime weather.

14. Your old car starts puffing thick black smoke from the exhaust. What does the Highway Code say about exhaust emissions?

Answer: They must not go over the set legal levels

Annex 6 says exhaust emissions must not exceed prescribed levels. Thick smoke is a sign something needs fixing.

15. You're on an unrestricted dual carriageway and see stopped traffic ahead. When may you use hazard warning lights while moving?

Answer: Briefly, to warn drivers behind of a hazard ahead

Rule 116: while moving, hazard lights may only be used on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway, to warn drivers behind of a hazard or obstruction ahead, and only long enough for the warning to be seen.

16. At night you're stuck in a queue and the cars behind have stopped. How can you reduce the glare from your brake lights?

Answer: Use the parking brake and take your foot off the footbrake

Rule 114 says that in stationary queues, once traffic behind has stopped, apply the parking brake and take your foot off the footbrake to stop dazzling drivers behind.

17. You start the engine. Which warning light is it normal to still see on after the engine is running?

Answer: The parking brake (handbrake) light

Annex 6 says warning lights should go out once the engine starts, except the handbrake light. If others stay on, find out why.

18. On the way to college the battery charge warning light comes on. What could this mean?

Answer: The battery may not be charging

Annex 6 says the charge warning light may show the battery isn't being charged. Get it checked as soon as possible.

19. When you brake, your car keeps pulling to one side. What is the most likely cause?

Answer: A fault with the brakes or tyres

Annex 6 says if the vehicle pulls to one side when braking, it's most likely a brake fault or incorrectly inflated tyres.

20. After going over a speed hump, your car keeps bouncing up and down. What does this suggest?

Answer: Worn shock absorbers

Annex 6 says continuous bouncing after going over a bump suggests the shock absorbers are worn.

21. Your engine has overheated and you want to top up the coolant. What should you do first?

Answer: Let the engine cool before taking the cap off

Annex 6 says if the engine overheats, let it cool naturally before removing the coolant filler cap and adding coolant.

22. How often does the Highway Code say you should check fluid levels such as brake fluid?

Answer: At least once a week

Annex 6 says check fluid levels at least weekly. Low brake fluid may result in brake failure and a crash.

23. Winter is coming. What should you add to your radiator and windscreen washer bottle?

Answer: Anti-freeze of the right type

Annex 6 says before winter, make sure the battery is in good condition and there is the right anti-freeze in the radiator and windscreen bottle.

24. You borrow your dad's car. Why should you adjust the head restraint before driving?

Answer: To reduce neck and spine injury in a crash

Rule 97 says head restraints should be properly adjusted to reduce the risk of neck and spine injuries in a collision.

25. You're driving along a dual carriageway when a tyre bursts. What should you do?

Answer: Hold the wheel firmly and slow down gradually

Annex 6 says if a tyre bursts, keep a firm grip on the steering wheel and allow the vehicle to roll to a stop at the side of the road.

26. You stop for fuel on the way to a festival. What must you never do on the petrol station forecourt?

Answer: Smoke or use a mobile phone

Annex 6 says never smoke or use a mobile phone on the forecourt of a petrol station. Fuel vapour can catch fire.

27. You're parking on a quiet street overnight. Besides removing the key and locking up, what else does the Highway Code advise?

Answer: Engage the steering lock and close the windows

Annex 6 says when leaving your vehicle, engage the steering lock, lock the car, close the windows completely and never leave vehicle documents inside.

28. Your passenger, aged 19, refuses to put a seat belt on. What is the most they could be fined?

Answer: Up to £500

GOV.UK says you can be fined up to £500 if you don't wear a seat belt when you're supposed to.

29. Your car fails its MOT with a 'dangerous' defect. What does this mean for driving it?

Answer: Don't drive it on the road until it's repaired

A dangerous defect is an MOT fail. GOV.UK says driving a dangerous vehicle is illegal, so it must not be driven on the road until fixed, even if an old MOT certificate is still valid.

30. You want darker windows on your first car. Where does the Highway Code say dark tinting is NOT allowed?

Answer: On the windscreen and front side windows

Annex 6 says you must not have dark tinting on the windscreen or on the front windows either side of the driver. There is no limit for rear windows.

31. You're giving your 12-year-old cousin a lift. Who is legally responsible for making sure they wear a seat belt?

Answer: You, the driver

Rule 100 says the driver must make sure children under 14 wear a seat belt or use the correct child restraint.

32. Checking your car, you notice a bulge on the side wall of a tyre. What should you do?

Answer: Get it replaced before you drive on it

Annex 6 says tyres should be free of certain cuts and other defects. A bulge is a sign of damage and the tyre could fail.

33. Which of these MUST you keep clean so other road users can see them?

Answer: Lights, indicators, reflectors and number plates

Annex 6 says lights, indicators, reflectors and number plates MUST be kept clean and clear.

34. Your windscreen washers have run dry on a dirty winter road. Why is this a problem?

Answer: You may not be able to see clearly, and washers should work

Annex 6 says windscreens and windows must be kept clean, and you should check that washers and wipers work.

35. You're leaving your car parked at the kerb. What does the Highway Code say you MUST do?

Answer: Switch off the engine and headlights, and apply the parking brake

Rule 239 says when parking you MUST switch off the engine, headlights and fog lights, and apply the parking brake firmly.

36. Your electric car is charging at a street charge point. What does the Highway Code advise about the cable?

Answer: Keep it tidy so it isn't a trip hazard

Rule 239 says when charging an electric vehicle, park close to the charge point and avoid creating a trip hazard for pedestrians from trailing cables. Return cables neatly after use.

37. A friend offers to fit 'cool' number plates with the letters spaced differently. What could happen?

Answer: A fine of up to £1,000 and an MOT fail

GOV.UK says you could be fined up to £1,000 and your vehicle will fail its MOT if you drive with incorrectly displayed number plates.

38. You borrow your aunt's car, which you've never driven. What should you do before you set off?

Answer: Find all the controls and adjust the seat, mirrors and head restraint

Rule 97 says before setting off, make sure you know how to use the controls and adjust your seat, seat belt, head restraint and mirrors.

39. You smell burning rubber while driving. What does the Highway Code say?

Answer: Investigate straight away, without taking a risk of fire

Annex 6 says unusual smells such as burning rubber, petrol or electrical faults should be investigated immediately, without risking a fire.

40. One of your tyres keeps wearing unevenly on the inside edge. What could it point to?

Answer: A brake, suspension or wheel alignment fault

Annex 6 says uneven tyre wear may be caused by brake, suspension or wheel alignment faults, which should be put right promptly.

41. Your passenger is 12 and 140cm tall. What must they use in a car with seat belts?

Answer: An adult seat belt

Children over 12 years old or more than 135cm tall must wear a seat belt. Children under those thresholds normally need a child car seat.

42. You're leaving your car for a few minutes. Where should you keep a laptop bag?

Answer: Take it with you or lock it in the boot

Annex 6 says when leaving your vehicle, take all valuables with you or lock them in the boot.