Theory test practice: Test 18

Road and traffic signs

1. On a cold morning you see this sign. What does it warn of?

Answer: Risk of ice

A red triangle with a snowflake warns of a risk of ice.

Hazard awareness

2. You're turning left into a side road. A pedestrian is about to cross it. Who has priority?

Answer: The pedestrian

Rule H2 and Rule 170 say you should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road you're turning into.

Motorway rules

3. Your family is towing a small trailer of camping kit up a three-lane motorway. Traffic is light. Which lane must you NOT use (unless signs or lane closures tell you to)?

Answer: The right-hand lane

On motorways with three or more lanes, vehicles towing trailers, most goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and some large passenger vehicles must not use the right-hand lane, except in special situations such as lane closures.

Road and traffic signs

4. What does this warning sign mean?

Answer: Staggered junction

This sign warns of a staggered junction: side roads join from left and right but not directly opposite each other.

Safety margins

5. Using the Highway Code's typical figures, what is the thinking distance at 30 mph?

Answer: 9 metres

At 30 mph the typical thinking distance is 9 metres. Braking adds 14 metres, giving 23 metres overall.

Road and traffic signs

6. This sign shows a lorry and '7.5T'. What does it mean?

Answer: No goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes, except for loading

This sign means no goods vehicles over the maximum gross weight shown, except for loading and unloading.

Attitude

7. You see a driver waiting to come out of a side road into slow-moving traffic. What could you do to help?

Answer: Leave a gap so they can pull out, if it's safe

Rule 151 says in slow-moving traffic you should allow access into and from side roads, as blocking these will add to congestion.

Documents

8. You're learning to drive in Wales. Which plates can you display?

Answer: L plates or D plates

GOV.UK says learners in Wales can use D plates instead of L plates. Like L plates, they're red letters on a white background, shown front and back.

Vulnerable road users

9. You see an older pedestrian taking a long time to cross. What should you do?

Answer: Wait patiently

Rule 207 says older pedestrians may need more time to cross. Be patient and allow them to cross in their own time.

Safety and your vehicle

10. 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.

Other types of vehicle

11. 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.

Road and traffic signs

12. A police officer facing away from you holds up one arm towards you behind them. What does the signal mean?

Answer: Traffic approaching from behind must stop

This police signal means stop for traffic approaching from behind.

Road and traffic signs

13. You turn into a street and see this sign. What does it mean?

Answer: You're entering a Home Zone

This sign marks a Home Zone entry. People may use the whole street, so drive very slowly and be ready to stop.

Safety and your vehicle

14. 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.

Alertness

15. 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.

Documents

16. What is the penalty for holding and using a phone while driving?

Answer: 6 penalty points and a £200 fine

You can get 6 points and a £200 fine for holding and using a phone while driving. It can go to court, with a fine of up to £1,000 and a ban.

Alertness

17. 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.

Vehicle handling

18. Where should you do most of your braking for a sharp bend?

Answer: Before the bend, while travelling straight

The car syllabus says adjust your speed before a bend. Braking hard in a bend can unsettle the car and cause a skid.

Road and traffic signs

19. What does this sign mean?

Answer: Start of motorway; motorway rules apply

This blue sign marks the start of a motorway and the point from which motorway regulations apply. Learners must not go past it unless with an approved instructor in a dual-control car.

Vulnerable road users

20. You're turning right into a side road across a queue of stopped traffic. A driver leaves a gap for you. What should you watch out for?

Answer: A cyclist or motorbike passing the queue

When turning right across a line of slow-moving or stationary traffic, look out for cyclists or motorcyclists on the inside of the traffic you are crossing, and give way to them.

Other types of vehicle

21. 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.

Rules of the road

22. You've stopped at a pelican crossing outside the shops. Your amber light starts flashing, but a teenager is still halfway across. What should you do?

Answer: Let them finish crossing, then go if it's clear

When the amber light flashes at a pelican crossing, you must give way to anyone still on the crossing. If it is clear, you may go on with care.

Attitude

23. Under the hierarchy of road users, what should you remember about people you meet on the road?

Answer: They may have sight, hearing or mobility problems you can't see

The Highway Code reminds you that people may have impaired sight, hearing or mobility, and this may not be obvious.

Vehicle handling

24. You're driving home on an unlit road at night. An oncoming car's headlights dazzle you so you can hardly see. What should you do?

Answer: Slow down, and stop if you need to

If you are dazzled by oncoming headlights, slow down and, if necessary, stop. Don't retaliate with your own lights.

Hazard awareness

25. You're passing a primary school. A person in a hi-vis coat walks into the road and holds up a round 'Stop children' sign. No children are in the road yet. What must you do?

Answer: Stop and wait for them to clear the road

You MUST stop when a school crossing patrol shows a 'Stop for children' sign, whether or not children have started to cross.

Road and traffic signs

26. The white centre line becomes longer with shorter gaps. What does this tell you?

Answer: There is a hazard ahead

This is a hazard warning line. Do not cross it unless you can see the road is clear well ahead.

Motorway rules

27. You've just joined a motorway. What should you do before thinking about overtaking?

Answer: Stay in the left lane long enough to get used to the speed of the traffic

Rule 259 says stay in the left-hand lane long enough to adjust to the speed of traffic before considering overtaking.

Road and traffic signs

28. On a hill you see double white lines in the middle of the road. The line nearer to you is broken. What may you do?

Answer: Cross them to overtake if safe, getting back before a solid line

Where the line nearer to you is broken, you may cross the lines to overtake if it's safe, provided you can complete the move before reaching a solid line on your side.

Safety margins

29. Traffic is moving normally through a long road tunnel. What is the minimum gap you should keep to the vehicle in front?

Answer: At least a two-second gap

Rule 126 says allow at least a two-second gap on high-speed roads and in tunnels where visibility is reduced.

Rules of the road

30. Why shouldn't you park on a bend or near the top of a hill?

Answer: Other drivers won't see your car until they're very close

Rule 243 says do not stop or park on a bend, or near the brow of a hill or a hump bridge.