Theory test practice: Test 13

Motorway rules

1. You are on a slip road joining a motorway. What should you do?

Answer: Give way to motorway traffic and match the speed of the left lane

Traffic on the motorway has priority. Use the slip road to build up speed and find a safe gap in the left lane.

Safety and your vehicle

2. 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.

Safety margins

3. Using the Highway Code's typical stopping distances, what happens to the overall stopping distance if you double your speed from 30 mph to 60 mph?

Answer: It more than triples, from about 23 m to 73 m

Braking distance grows much faster than speed. The typical figures go from 23 metres at 30 mph to 73 metres at 60 mph.

Other types of vehicle

4. 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.

Attitude

5. When may you use your horn while driving?

Answer: To tell others you're there if you think they haven't seen you

Rule 112 says use the horn only while moving and only to warn others of your presence. Never use it aggressively.

Rules of the road

6. What is the national speed limit for a car on a dual carriageway?

Answer: 70mph

Cars may drive at up to 70mph on a dual carriageway where the national limit applies.

Road and traffic signs

7. What does a blue circle sign with no red border usually tell you?

Answer: Something you must do, such as turn left or keep left

Blue circles with no red border mostly give a positive instruction, for example ahead only, turn left or mini-roundabout.

Other types of vehicle

8. 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.

Rules of the road

9. Which of these may mark out a lane that is reserved for trams?

Answer: White lines, yellow dots or a different road surface

Never drive in a road, lane or route reserved for trams. Tram lanes are marked by white line markings, yellow dots or a different type of road surface.

Road and traffic signs

10. You're helping a friend move house in a tall hired van. You see this sign with a number on it before a railway bridge. What does it tell you?

Answer: Vehicles taller than the height shown must not pass

A red circle with a height between two pointers means no vehicles over the height shown.

Hazard awareness

11. A pedestrian ahead is using a white cane with a red band. What does this tell you?

Answer: They are deaf and blind

Rule 207 says deafblind people may carry a white cane with a red band, or use a dog with a red and white harness. They may not see or hear you.

Safety and your vehicle

12. 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.

Road and traffic signs

13. A sign shows a wheelchair symbol next to a toilet symbol and an arrow. What does it show?

Answer: Direction to toilets with access for the disabled

This sign shows the direction to toilets with access for the disabled.

Road and traffic signs

14. What does this warning sign mean?

Answer: Light signals ahead at a level crossing, airfield or bridge

This sign warns of light signals ahead at a level crossing, airfield or bridge.

Hazard awareness

15. You are approaching a sharp blind bend on a narrow country lane. What should you be ready for?

Answer: Something slow round the bend, like walkers or a horse

Take extra care on country roads. Slow down for bends and be ready for hazards you can't see yet, such as people, animals or farm vehicles.

Motorway rules

16. Your friend asks you to drop her on the motorway hard shoulder because her house is just over the fence. What should you do?

Answer: Refuse, as dropping anyone off there is illegal

You must not pick up or set down anyone, or walk on a motorway, except in an emergency.

Road and traffic signs

17. You want to park outside a shop for ten minutes and see this sign. What does it mean?

Answer: No waiting

A blue circle with a red border and one red diagonal line means no waiting. Times may be shown on a plate below or nearby.

Vehicle handling

18. You're in a hire car on a narrow single-track lane on Skye. A delivery van appears ahead. The nearest passing place is just ahead, on the right-hand side of the lane. What should you do?

Answer: Stop opposite it so the van can pull in

Rule 155 says if the passing place is on your left, pull into it; if it is on the right, wait opposite it.

Vulnerable road users

19. The lights turn amber just as you reach the first white line at an advanced stop line. A cyclist box is ahead. What may you do?

Answer: Stop in the box area, but not beyond the second line

Rule 178 says if you have crossed the first white line when the signal changes to red, you must stop at the second white line, even if you're in the marked area.

Documents

20. Which person can legally supervise a learner driver in a car?

Answer: A 25-year-old who has held a full car licence for 4 years

A supervisor must be at least 21 and have held a full licence for that type of car (manual or automatic) for at least 3 years. The supervision must be unpaid unless they are an approved driving instructor.

Alertness

21. 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.

Road and traffic signs

22. Above a lane you see a green downward-pointing arrow. What does it mean?

Answer: The lane is open to traffic facing the sign

A green arrow lane control signal means the lane is available to traffic facing the sign.

Road and traffic signs

23. What does this sign mean?

Answer: Cyclists must push their bikes; other vehicles may not enter

This sign means no vehicles except bicycles being pushed.

Safety margins

24. What usually causes a car to skid?

Answer: Harsh braking, steering or speeding up, or going too fast

Rule 119 says skidding is usually caused by the driver braking, accelerating or steering too harshly or driving too fast for the road conditions.

Road and traffic signs

25. Which road marking goes with a STOP sign?

Answer: A thick solid white line with the word STOP painted before it

At a STOP sign the stop line is a thick solid white line, usually with STOP painted on the road before it.

Vulnerable road users

26. You're waiting at a T-junction on your way to work and see what looks like a gap in the traffic from the right. Why should you take an extra careful look before you go?

Answer: A motorbike could be hidden and coming faster than you think

Motorcyclists and cyclists can be hard to see. Look carefully before you emerge, because they may be closer and faster than you expect.

Road and traffic signs

27. A sign shows a speed limit and a camera symbol. What does it tell you?

Answer: A variable speed limit enforced by cameras

This is a variable speed limit with camera enforcement sign. Limits may change and cameras enforce them.

Attitude

28. You are in slow-moving traffic on a road with two lanes going your way. The left lane is moving a bit faster. What should you do?

Answer: Stay in your lane; don't move left to overtake

In queuing traffic you should not change lanes to the left to overtake. Keep a safe gap and stay in lane.

Alertness

29. 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.

Vehicle handling

30. On a very windy day, a motorcyclist ahead of you starts to overtake a high-sided lorry. What should you do?

Answer: Keep well back, as they may be blown about

In very windy weather, large vehicles create turbulence. Motorcyclists are particularly affected, so keep well back when they overtake a high-sided vehicle.