Theory Test Alertness - Questions and Answers

On a long motorway journey boredom can cause you to feel
sleepy. You should

A. Leave the motorway and find a safe place to stop
B. Keep looking around at the surrounding landscape
C. Drive faster to complete your journey faster
D. Ensure a supply of fresh air into your vehicle
E. Stop on the hard shoulder for a rest

Answer -

Leave the motorway and find a safe place to stop

Ensure a supply of fresh air into your vehicle

Plan your journey to include suitable rest stops. You should take all possible precautions against feeling sleepy while driving. Any lapse of concentration could have serious consequences.

When following a large vehicle you should keep well back
because this

A. Allows you to corner more quickly
B. Helps the large vehicle to stop more easily
C. Allows the driver to see you in the mirrors
D. Helps you to keep out of the wind

Answer - Allows the driver to see you in the mirrors

If you’re following a large vehicle but are so close to it that you can’t see the exterior mirrors, the driver can’t see you. Keeping well back will also allow you to see the road ahead by looking past either side of the large vehicle.

When you see a hazard ahead you should use the mirrors.
Why is this?

A. Because you will need to accelerate out of danger
B. To access how your actions will affect following traffic
C. Because you will need to brake sharply to stop
D. To check what is happening on the road ahead

Answer - To access how your actions will affect following traffic

You should be constantly scanning the road for clues about what is going to happen next. Check your mirrors regularly, particularly as soon as you spot a hazard. What is happening behind may affect your response to hazards ahead.

You are driving on a wet road. You have to stop your vehicle
in an emergency. You should

A. Apply the handbrake and footbrake together
B. Keep both hand on the wheel
C. Select reverse gear
D. Give an arm signal

Answers - Keep both hand on the wheel

As you drive, look well ahead and all around so that you’re ready for any hazards that might occur. There may be occasions when you have to stop in an emergency. React as soon as you can whilst keeping control of the vehicle.

You cannot see clearly behind when reversing. What
should you do?

A. Open your window to look behind
B. Open the door and look behind
C. Look in the nearside mirror
D. Ask someone to guide you

Answer - Ask someone to guide you

If you want to turn your car around try to find a place where you have good all-round vision. If this isn’t possible and you’re unable to see clearly, then get someone to guide you.

Windscreen pillars can obstruct your view. You should
take particular care when

A. Driving on a motorway
B. Driving on a dual carriageway
C. Approaching a one-way street
D. Approaching bends and junctions

Answer - Approaching bends and junctions

Windscreen pillars can obstruct your view, particularly at bends and junctions. Look out for other road users, particularly cyclists and pedestrians, as they can be hard to see.

To answer a call on your mobile phone while travelling
you should

A. Reduce your speed wherever you are
B. Stop in a proper and convenient place
C. Keep the call time to a minimum
D. Slow down and allow others to overtake

Answer - Stop in a proper and convenient place

No phone call is important enough to risk endangering lives. It’s better to switch your phone off completely when driving. If you must be contactable plan your route to include breaks so you can catch up on messages in safety. Always choose a safe and convenient place to take a break, such as a lay-by or service area.

Which FOUR are most likely to cause you to lose concentration
while you are driving?

A. Using a mobile phone
B. Talking into a microphone
C. Tuning your car radio
D. Looking at a map
E. Checking the mirrors
F. Using the demisters

Answer -

Using a mobile phone

Talking into a microphone

Tuning your car radio

Looking at a map

It’s easy to be distracted. Planning your journey before you set off is important. A few sensible precautions are to tune your radio to stations in your area of travel, take planned breaks, and plan your route. Except for emergencies it is illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving. Even using a hands-free kit can distract your attention.

You are waiting to turn right at the end of a road. Your view
is obstructed by parked vehicles. What should you do?

A. Stop and then move forward slowly and carefully for a
proper view

B. Move quickly to where you can see so you only block
traffic from one direction

C. Wait for a pedestrian to let you know when it is safe for
you to emerge

D. Turn your vehicle around immediately and find
another junction to use

Answer - Stop and then move forward slowly and carefully for a proper view

At junctions your view is often restricted by buildings, trees or parked cars. You need to be able to see in order to judge a safe gap. Edge forward slowly and keep looking all the time. Don’t cause other road users to change speed or direction as you emerge.

In which of these situations should you avoid overtaking?

A. Just after a bend
B. In a one-way street
C. On a 30 mph road
D. Approaching a dip in the road

Answer - Approaching a dip in the road

As you begin to think about overtaking, ask yourself if it’s really necessary. If you can’t see well ahead stay back and wait for a safer place to pull out.

You are driving on a motorway and want to use your
mobile phone. What should you do?

A. Try to find a safe place on the hard shoulder
B. Leave the motorway and stop in a safe place
C. Use the next exit and pull up on the slip road
D. Move to the left lane and reduce your speed

Answer - Leave the motorway and stop in a safe place

Except in a genuine emergency you MUST NOT use your mobile phone when driving. If you need to use it leave the motorway and find a safe place to stop. Even a hands-free phone can distract your attention. Use your voicemail to receive calls. Driving requires all of your attention, all of the time.

You must not use a hand-held phone while driving. Using
a hands-free system

A. Is acceptable in a vehicle with power steering
B. Will significantly reduce your field of vision
C. Will affect your vehicle's electronic systems
D. Is still likely to distract your attention from the road

Answer - Is still likely to distract your attention from the road

While driving your concentration is required all the time. Even using a hands-free kit can still distract your attention from the road. Any distraction, however brief, is potentially dangerous and could cause you to lose control. Except in a genuine emergency, it is an offence to use a hand-held phone while driving.

Your vehicle is fitted with a navigation system. How should
you avoid letting this distract you while driving?

A. Keep going and input your destination into the system
B. Keep going as the system will adjust to your route
C. Stop immediately to view and use the system
D. Stop in a safe place before using the system

Answer - Stop in a safe place before using the system

Vehicle navigation systems can be useful when driving on unfamiliar routes. However they can also distract you and cause you to lose control if you look at or adjust them while driving. Pull up in a convenient and safe place before adjusting them.

You lose your way on a busy road. What is the best action
to take?

A. Stop at traffic lights and ask pedestrians
B. Shout to other drivers to ask them the way
C. Turn into a side road, stop and check a map
D. Check a map, and keep going with the traffic flow

Answer - Turn into a side road, stop and check a map

It’s easy to lose your way in an unfamiliar area. If you need to check a map or ask for directions, first find a safe place to stop.

You should ONLY use a mobile phone when

A. Receiving a call
B. Suitably parked
C. Driving at less than 30 mph
D. Driving an automatic cehicle

Answer - Suitably parked

It is illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving, except in a genuine emergency. Even using hands-free kit can distract your attention. Park in a safe and convenient place before receiving or making a call or using text messaging. Then you will also be free to take notes or refer to papers.