Vehicle loading and eco practice questions

1. What is the legal drink-drive limit for blood alcohol in England and Wales?

Answer: 80 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the blood limit is 80mg per 100ml. The best advice is not to drink at all if you are driving.

2. What is the drink-drive limit for blood alcohol in Scotland?

Answer: 50 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood

Scotland has a lower limit than the rest of the UK: 50mg per 100ml of blood.

3. You're towing a caravan that is wider than your car, so your normal door mirrors only show its sides. What must you do?

Answer: Fit towing mirrors before you set off

If your vehicle is narrower than the trailer or load, or it blocks your view behind, you must use towing mirrors.

4. Which statement about drugs and driving is true?

Answer: Limits for illegal drugs are very low, so even a small amount can put you over

You must not drive with illegal drugs or certain medicines in your blood above set limits. The limits for illegal drugs are very low.

5. You're taking your dog and some heavy toolboxes to your uncle's. Why must heavy objects and animals be secured in the car?

Answer: Because in a crash they could hit someone

You must secure your load. Make sure heavy or sharp objects and animals are secured, because in a collision they could be thrown forward and seriously injure someone inside.

6. You're packing your family's caravan for a week by the sea. Where should the heaviest items go?

Answer: Over the axle, with the weight spread evenly

Spread the weight in a caravan or trailer evenly, with heavy items over the axle(s), and make sure there is a downward load on the tow ball. This helps stop swerving or snaking.

7. A mate lends you a small trailer to take garden rubbish to the tip. As well as the main hitch, what MUST the trailer have?

Answer: A secondary coupling, such as a safety chain

Your trailer must be fitted with a secondary coupling device, such as a safety chain. You must also make sure the trailer is roadworthy, with legal tyres and working lights.

8. You've filled the boot with heavy kit and have four friends on board for a night drive to a festival. What might you need to adjust?

Answer: Your headlights, so they don't dazzle others

Carrying a heavy load can tilt the car so the headlights point higher and dazzle oncoming drivers, so you may need to adjust them. Also check the tyre pressures are right for the load.

9. What is the national speed limit for a car towing a caravan on a dual carriageway?

Answer: 60mph

Cars towing caravans or trailers have lower limits: 50mph on single carriageways and 60mph on dual carriageways and motorways.

10. 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.

11. You are waiting to pick up a friend and will be stopped for several minutes. What should you do with the engine?

Answer: Apply the parking brake and switch off the engine

You must not leave the engine running unnecessarily while stopped on a road. If you will be stopped for more than a couple of minutes, switch it off. This saves fuel and cuts pollution.

12. What is the legal drink-drive limit for BREATH alcohol in England and Wales?

Answer: 35 micrograms per 100 ml of breath

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the breath limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

13. You're driving in Scotland. What is the legal limit for BREATH alcohol there?

Answer: 22 micrograms per 100 ml of breath

Scotland's breath limit is 22 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath, lower than the 35 limit in the rest of the UK.

14. In England and Wales, what is the drink-drive limit for alcohol in URINE?

Answer: 107 milligrammes per 100 ml

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the urine limit is 107 milligrammes per 100 millilitres. In Scotland it is 67.

15. Your older cousin was convicted of drink driving 4 years ago. If he's convicted of it again now, what is the minimum ban?

Answer: 3 years

GOV.UK says the minimum ban for driving over the limit is 1 year, rising to 3 years if you're convicted twice in 10 years. You could also get up to 6 months in prison and an unlimited fine.

16. If you're convicted of driving over the drink-drive limit, what is the minimum driving ban?

Answer: At least 1 year

GOV.UK says driving over the limit can bring up to 6 months in prison, an unlimited fine and a driving ban of at least 1 year (3 years if convicted twice in 10 years).

17. The police ask you for a breath sample and you refuse. What can happen?

Answer: You face the same type of penalty as drink driving

GOV.UK says failing to provide a specimen for analysis can mean up to 6 months in prison, an unlimited fine and a ban of at least 1 year.

18. If you're convicted of drug driving, how long will the conviction stay on your driving licence?

Answer: 11 years

GOV.UK says a drug driving conviction means a minimum 1-year ban, an unlimited fine, up to 6 months in prison, a criminal record, and the conviction shows on your licence for 11 years.

19. 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.

20. Police pull you over after you drift across your lane, and they think you may have taken drugs. What can they ask you to do at the roadside?

Answer: Tests like walking in a straight line

GOV.UK says police can make you do a 'field impairment assessment' if they think you're on drugs. This is a series of tests, such as walking in a straight line. They can also use a roadside drug kit.

21. You passed your car test in 2024. What is the heaviest trailer you can tow with a car, by maximum authorised mass (MAM)?

Answer: Up to 3,500 kg MAM

GOV.UK says if you got your car licence from 1 January 1997, you can tow a trailer up to 3,500kg MAM (category BE).

22. You want to check the maximum authorised mass (MAM) of the car you'll use for towing. Where can you usually find it?

Answer: In the manual or on a plate on the car

GOV.UK says the MAM is in the owner's manual and is usually shown on a plate or sticker fitted to the vehicle.

23. You've packed the car full of heavy bags for a weekend away. How can the extra weight affect the car?

Answer: It changes cornering, braking and speeding up

The car syllabus says loads affect cornering, acceleration and braking. Older cars are more affected than those with stability control.

24. You're moving into student halls and have tied a mattress to your roof rack. What MUST you make sure of?

Answer: The load is secure and doesn't stick out dangerously

Rule 98 says you must secure your load and it must not stick out dangerously.

25. Your summer holiday is over, but the empty roof box is still on the car. Why take it off?

Answer: It makes the car use more fuel

The car syllabus says unnecessary equipment such as roof-top boxes can increase fuel consumption. Remove extra weight and roof racks or storage when not needed.

26. Which driving habit helps save fuel and cut emissions?

Answer: Planning ahead so you speed up and brake smoothly

The car syllabus says plan ahead so you can accelerate, decelerate and brake smoothly and progressively. This saves fuel.

27. On a clear, flat road at a steady speed, which gear choice is most fuel-efficient?

Answer: The highest gear that suits the road

The car syllabus says use the highest gear suitable for the road and traffic, and change down to avoid making the engine labour.

28. It's a warm day and the air conditioning is on full. How can this affect your car?

Answer: It uses more fuel

The car syllabus says air conditioning and heated windscreens affect fuel consumption.

29. Your friend coasts up to every hazard to save fuel and ends up braking hard. What does the official driving syllabus say about eco-driving?

Answer: It should never come before driving safely

The car syllabus says eco-driving should not take priority over safe driving, though the two generally support each other.

30. After a night out, a friend sits in the driver's seat of his parked car with the keys, over the limit, 'just to wait'. What could he face?

Answer: Up to 3 months in prison and a £2,500 fine

GOV.UK says being in charge of a vehicle while over the limit or unfit through drink can mean up to 3 months' imprisonment, a fine of up to £2,500 and a possible driving ban.

31. You're towing a caravan on a single carriageway with the national speed limit. What's your speed limit?

Answer: 50mph

Cars towing caravans or trailers have a limit of 50mph on single carriageways (60mph on dual carriageways and motorways).

32. You're loading the car for a weekend away with four friends. What should you check about the tyres?

Answer: The pressures are right for the load, as shown in the handbook

Annex 6 says tyres should be inflated to the manufacturer's specification for the load being carried.

33. A bike rack on the back of your car covers the number plate. What do you need?

Answer: A number plate fitted to the rack

Your number plate must be clearly visible. If a rack hides it, you need to display a legal plate on the rack.

34. 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.

35. Your tyres are under-inflated. How can this affect your car?

Answer: It can affect steering and braking and use more fuel

Annex 6 says incorrect tyre pressures can affect braking and steering. The car syllabus says correct pressures help fuel economy.

36. You only need to go half a mile to the shop on a dry day. What's the most eco-friendly option?

Answer: Walk or cycle if you can

The car syllabus encourages considering alternatives to driving, such as walking or cycling, for short journeys.

37. You're towing a heavy trailer. How should you handle long downhill slopes?

Answer: Use a lower gear and reduce speed early

Rule 98 and Rule 160 advise extra care when towing; select a lower gear before going downhill to keep speed under control.

38. Why should you avoid carrying heavy items on a roof rack when the boot has room?

Answer: Weight up high makes the car less stable

Rule 98 says loads should be secure and must not affect stability. Heavy loads up high raise the centre of gravity and make the car less stable, especially on bends.

39. You're towing a trailer for the first time. What should you check the trailer has before you go?

Answer: Working lights and a legal number plate matching the car

A trailer must have working lights and a number plate showing the registration of the towing vehicle. Rule 98 says make sure it's safe and roadworthy.

40. When packing the car, where should heavy shopping bags go?

Answer: In the boot, low down

Rule 98 says secure your load. Heavy items should be stowed securely and low, not loose in the passenger area where they could fly forward.

41. You're stuck in a queue that hasn't moved for several minutes because of a crash ahead. What does Rule 123 say about your engine?

Answer: Switch it off if you'll be stationary for more than a couple of minutes

Rule 123 says you MUST NOT leave an engine running unnecessarily while stationary on a public road. If you'll be stopped for more than a couple of minutes, apply the parking brake and switch off.

42. Your friend wants to tow a trailer heavier than his car's towing limit in the handbook. What should you tell him?

Answer: Don't; never exceed the vehicle's towing limit

Rule 98 says you MUST NOT tow more than your licence permits and should not exceed the towing limit set by the manufacturer.