Theory test practice: Test 23

Incidents, accidents and emergencies

1. You're giving two friends a lift when your old car cuts out on the tracks of a level crossing. What should you do first?

Answer: Get everyone out and well clear of the crossing

Get everyone out of the vehicle and clear of the crossing straight away. Then use the railway telephone, if there is one, to tell the signal operator. Only move the car if there is time before a train comes.

Vehicle handling

2. The car ahead is signalling right, but you think they've forgotten to cancel it. Should you overtake?

Answer: No, don't overtake while they're signalling right

Rule 167 says do not overtake when a road user is indicating right, even if you believe the signal should have been cancelled.

Rules of the road

3. You come to a mini-roundabout marked by a painted white circle. What must you do with the circle?

Answer: Drive round it, not over it, unless you're too big to

All vehicles must pass round the central markings of a mini-roundabout, except large vehicles that physically cannot.

Vulnerable road users

4. It's wet, and a motorcyclist ahead is approaching drain covers and oily patches. What should you expect?

Answer: They may suddenly change direction

Cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders may swerve to avoid drain covers or wet, oily or icy patches. Give them plenty of room and expect sudden moves.

Safety and your vehicle

5. 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.

Vehicle loading and eco

6. Which of these helps save fuel on longer journeys?

Answer: Planning your route to avoid congestion

The car syllabus says planning your route, including avoiding congestion, helps you drive efficiently.

Documents

7. In the independent driving part of the practical test, how will you be directed?

Answer: By a sat nav, by traffic signs, or both

GOV.UK says during independent driving you'll follow directions from a sat nav, traffic signs, or both.

Motorway rules

8. You're towing a trailer on a motorway. What is your speed limit?

Answer: 60mph

Cars towing caravans or trailers have a limit of 60mph on motorways and dual carriageways.

Road and traffic signs

9. You're on a one-way street and see this sign. What does it warn you about?

Answer: Two-way traffic crosses the one-way road

This sign warns that two-way traffic crosses a one-way road ahead.

Incidents, accidents and emergencies

10. You arrive at a crash. What does the D in 'DR ABC' remind you to check first?

Answer: Danger: make sure it's safe to approach

Annex 7 says first check for Danger: make sure it's safe to approach before helping.

Safety and your vehicle

11. 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.

Road and traffic signs

12. What does this sign mean?

Answer: Roundabout ahead

This warning triangle shows arrows going round in a circle. It tells you a roundabout is coming up.

Attitude

13. You're driving in fog and a car behind is following far too close. What should you do?

Answer: Don't speed up; keep a safe speed

In fog, don't accelerate to get away from a vehicle that is too close behind you. Keep to a speed that lets you stop within the distance you can see.

Vulnerable road users

14. A motorcyclist ahead looks over their shoulder. What might they be about to do?

Answer: Change lanes or turn right

Rule 212 says watch for motorcyclists and cyclists looking over their shoulder: it often means they're about to pull out or turn right.

Vehicle handling

15. You need to stop quickly in an emergency in a car without ABS. What should you try to avoid?

Answer: Locking the wheels

Rule 118 says in an emergency brake immediately, but try to avoid braking so harshly that you lock your wheels. Locked wheels can lead to loss of control.

Road and traffic signs

16. You're driving and want to show others you're turning right. Your indicators have stopped working. What arm signal can you give?

Answer: Hold your right arm straight out of the window

An arm held straight out to the right means 'I intend to move out to the right or turn right'.

Road and traffic signs

17. What does this blue circular sign mean?

Answer: Turn left ahead

A blue circle with a white arrow bending left means turn left ahead.

Alertness

18. 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.

Safety and your vehicle

19. 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.

Road and traffic signs

20. What does this sign tell you?

Answer: There are road works 1 mile ahead

This sign warns of road works 1 mile ahead.

Vehicle loading and eco

21. The trailer you are towing starts to swerve or snake. What should you do?

Answer: Ease off the accelerator and slow down gently

If a trailer swerves or snakes, ease off the accelerator and reduce speed gently. Harsh braking can make it worse.

Road and traffic signs

22. You see this triangle with a 'STOP' plate and a distance below. What does it tell you?

Answer: There is a STOP sign and line ahead at that distance

This sign gives the distance to a 'STOP' line ahead.

Motorway rules

23. On the way to a concert, your sat nav says 'exit now', but you've just driven past the slip road. Your mate says, 'Quick, back up along the hard shoulder.' What should you do?

Answer: Drive on to the next junction and come back

You must not reverse, cross the central reservation or drive against the traffic on a motorway. If you miss your exit, carry on to the next one.

Road and traffic signs

24. This signal is shown above your lane. What does it mean?

Answer: Change lanes in the direction shown

On lane control signals, a white diagonal arrow means change lanes in the direction shown. A green arrow means the lane is available and red crosses mean it is closed.

Rules of the road

25. Traffic is queuing. If you move forward, you'll stop on a pedestrian crossing. What should you do?

Answer: Wait until you can clear the crossing completely

Rule 192 says you should not enter a pedestrian crossing if you are unable to clear it completely.

Safety margins

26. Your cousin drives a lorry. In a tunnel, what gap does the Highway Code say a large vehicle should keep to the vehicle in front?

Answer: A four-second gap

Rule 126 says large vehicles need more distance to stop, and a large vehicle should keep a four-second gap in a tunnel.

Road and traffic signs

27. What do double yellow lines along the edge of the road mean?

Answer: No waiting at any time

Double yellow lines mean no waiting at any time, unless a sign shows seasonal restrictions.

Other types of vehicle

28. 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.

Documents

29. You passed your car test this year. With a category B licence, how many passenger seats can the vehicle you drive have?

Answer: Up to 8

If you passed on or after 1 January 1997, category B lets you drive vehicles up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass (petrol or diesel) with up to 8 passenger seats.

Hazard awareness

30. Heavy rain on the dual carriageway. A lorry ahead is throwing up so much spray you can barely see past it. What's the best move?

Answer: Drop further back so you can see ahead

In wet weather, keep well back from the vehicle in front. This increases your ability to see and plan ahead, and your stopping distance will be at least double.