Theory test practice: Test 8

Safety and your vehicle

1. 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.

Road and traffic signs

2. What does a brown sign with a picnic table symbol show?

Answer: A picnic site

This sign shows a picnic site.

Road and traffic signs

3. What colour are primary route direction signs?

Answer: Green with white text and yellow route numbers

Primary route direction signs have a green background, with white writing and yellow route numbers.

Safety margins

4. On a wet road you notice a rainbow-coloured film on the surface near a lorry park. Why should you take care?

Answer: Spilt diesel can make the road very slippery

Rule 227 says take extra care where spilt diesel may be on the road, as it makes the surface very slippery.

Attitude

5. A learner driver ahead stalls at the traffic lights. What should you do?

Answer: Be patient and give them time

Rule 204 says learners and inexperienced drivers may take longer to react. Be patient with them.

Other types of vehicle

6. 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.

Vehicle loading and eco

7. Some prescription medicines are on the drug-driving list, with legal limits. Which of these is on that list?

Answer: Diazepam

GOV.UK lists medicines covered by drug-driving law, including diazepam, lorazepam, temazepam, methadone and opiate painkillers such as codeine and morphine. You can drive on them if they were prescribed, you follow the advice and they don't make you unfit to drive.

Alertness

8. How often should you check your mirrors while driving?

Answer: Often, so you always know what's behind and beside you

Rule 161 says use your mirrors frequently so you always know what is behind and to each side of you, and check them in good time before signalling or changing direction or speed.

Safety margins

9. According to the typical stopping distances in the Highway Code, what is the overall stopping distance for a car at 70 mph on a dry road?

Answer: 96 metres

At 70 mph the typical overall stopping distance is 96 metres. That is about the length of a football pitch.

Vulnerable road users

10. You are turning left into a side road. A pedestrian is waiting to cross that side road. What should you do?

Answer: Give way to the pedestrian

At a junction, you should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross the road you are turning into or out of.

Road and traffic signs

11. What does this sign mean?

Answer: The road turns sharply to the left

Black and white chevrons show a sharp deviation of route. Here they point left, so the road bends sharply left. Slow down before the bend.

Vulnerable road users

12. There's a cycle lane on the road, but a cyclist is riding in the main traffic lane. What does the Highway Code say?

Answer: Cyclists don't have to use cycle lanes

Cyclists are not obliged to use cycle lanes or cycle tracks. Drivers should give way to cyclists in cycle lanes and give room to those on the road.

Other types of vehicle

13. 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.

Other types of vehicle

14. 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.

Vehicle handling

15. It's very windy and you're driving over an exposed bridge on the way to see friends. Which road users can be blown off course?

Answer: High-sided vehicles most, but also cars and bikes

High-sided vehicles are most affected by strong winds, but gusts can also blow cars, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders off course, especially on open roads, bridges and gaps in hedges.

Vehicle handling

16. You're driving through a 20 mph zone with speed humps and road narrowings. What does the Highway Code say about overtaking here?

Answer: Don't overtake in these areas

Rule 153 says in traffic-calmed areas, keep a reduced speed, allow room for cyclists and motorcyclists, and do not overtake other moving road users.

Alertness

17. Is using a hands-free phone while driving a safe choice?

Answer: No, it can still distract you, so it's safest to use no phone

Hands-free use is not banned, but it is still likely to distract you. The Highway Code says it is far safer not to use any phone while driving.

Rules of the road

18. You want to park near the corner of your friend's street. There are no parking bays. How close to the junction must you NOT park?

Answer: Within 10 metres of it

Do not stop or park opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space.

Documents

19. You're looking at a used car to buy, and the seller shows you its V5C. What is this document?

Answer: The vehicle log book (registration certificate)

The V5C is the vehicle registration certificate, often called the log book. It shows who the registered keeper is, and you tell DVLA when you buy or sell the vehicle.

Attitude

20. What does the Highway Code say about tailgating (driving too close to the vehicle in front)?

Answer: It's dangerous and can count as careless or dangerous driving

Tailgating means the gap is too small for you to stop safely. It is dangerous, intimidating and can lead to collisions.

Road and traffic signs

21. What does a steady red traffic light mean?

Answer: Stop and wait behind the stop line

Red means 'Stop'. Wait behind the stop line on the carriageway.

Safety and your vehicle

22. 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.

Road and traffic signs

23. What does this warning sign mean?

Answer: Level crossing with a barrier or gate ahead

This sign, showing a gate, warns of a level crossing with a barrier or gate ahead.

Road and traffic signs

24. You drive past this sign as you enter a housing estate. What does it tell you?

Answer: You're entering an area where 20mph is the limit

This sign marks the entry to a 20mph zone. The limit applies until you see an 'End of 20 mph zone' sign.

Hazard awareness

25. You are going to a party and will drive home afterwards. What is the safest choice about alcohol?

Answer: Don't drink any alcohol at all

Alcohol affects judgement and reactions. The Highway Code advises new drivers not to drive if they have had any alcohol.

Road and traffic signs

26. You see this sign above a lane on a busy road into a city. What lane is it?

Answer: A lane for high occupancy vehicles (HOV)

This sign shows a lane designated for high occupancy vehicles (HOV). Only vehicles carrying at least the number of people shown may use it during its hours.

Road and traffic signs

27. You see this blue rectangular sign. What does it mean?

Answer: Buses drive the opposite way in that lane

This sign shows a contra-flow bus lane: buses in that lane travel against the flow of other traffic.

Motorway rules

28. A warning light made you stop in a motorway emergency area. It's now fixed and you want to drive off. What must you do first?

Answer: Use the emergency phone and follow the operator's advice

Before rejoining the carriageway from an emergency area you must use the emergency telephone and follow the operator's advice. They may need to close a lane for you.

Incidents, accidents and emergencies

29. A rider has come off their motorbike on a quiet road. They're awake and talking, and there's no fire or traffic danger. Their friend wants to pull off the helmet. What should you say?

Answer: Leave it on unless removing it is essential

Do not remove a motorcyclist's helmet unless it is essential. Removing it could make neck or spine injuries worse.

Hazard awareness

30. Traffic is queuing near a pedestrian crossing and the stopped vehicles block your view. What should you expect?

Answer: People crossing between the stopped vehicles

Take extra care where your view of either side of a crossing is blocked by queuing or parked traffic. Pedestrians may be crossing between stationary vehicles.