A green flashing beacon on a vehicle means the driver or passenger is a doctor on an emergency call. Give way to them if it’s safe to do so. Be aware that the vehicle may be travelling quickly or may stop in a hurry.

Qu.2 - Mark one answer

You are driving on a clear night. There is a steady stream of
oncoming trafiic. The national speed limit applies. Which
lights should you use?

A. Full beam headlights
B. Sidelights
C. Dipped headlights
D. Fog lights

Answer - Dipped headlights

Use the full beam headlights only when you can be sure that you won’t dazzle other road users.

Qu.3 - Mark one answer

You are driving in traffic at the speed limit for the road.
The driver behind is trying to overtake. You should

A. move closer to the car ahead, so the driver behind has
no room
B. wave the driver behind to overtake when it is safe
C. keep a steady course and allow the driver behind
to overtake
D. accelerate to get away from the driver behind

Answer - keep a steady course and allow the driver behind to overtake

Keep a steady course to give the driver behind an opportunity to overtake safely. If necessary, slow down. Reacting incorrectly to another driver’s impatience can lead to danger.

Qu.4 - Mark one answer

A bus lane on your left shows no times of operation.
This means it is

A. not in operation at all
B. only in operation at peak times
C. in operation 24 hours a day
D. only in operation in daylight hours

Answers - in operation 24 hours a day

Don’t drive or park in a bus lane when it’s in operation. This can cause disruption to traffic and delays to public transport.

Qu.5 - Mark one answer

A vehicle pulls out in front of you at a junction. What should
you do?

A. Swerve past it and sound your horn
B. Flash your headlights and drive up close behind
C. Slow down and be ready to stop
D. Accelerate past it immediately

Answer - Slow down and be ready to stop

Try to be ready for the unexpected. Plan ahead and learn to anticipate hazards. You’ll then give yourself more time to react to any problems that might occur. Be tolerant of the behaviour of other road users who don’t behave correctly.

Qu.6 - Mark one answer

At puffin crossings, which light will not show to a driver?

A. Flashing amber
B. Red
C. Steady Amber
D. Green

Answer - Flashing amber

A flashing amber light is shown at pelican crossings, but puffin crossings are different. They are controlled electronically and automatically detect when pedestrians are on the crossing. The phase is shortened or lengthened according to the position of the pedestrians.

Qu.7 - Mark one answer

You are driving a slow-moving vehicle on a narrow winding
road. You should

A. keep well out to stop vehicles overtaking dangerously
B. wave following vehicles past you if you think they
can overtake quickly
C. pull in safely when you can, to let following vehicles
overtake
D. give a left signal when it is safe for vehicles to overtake

Answer - pull in safely when you can, to let following vehicles overtake

Try not to hold up a queue of traffic. Other road users may become impatient and this could lead to reckless actions. If you’re driving a slow-moving vehicle and the road is narrow, look for a safe place to pull in. DON’T wave other traffic past since this could be dangerous if you or they haven’t seen an oncoming vehicle.

Qu.8 - Mark two answers

You have a loose filler cap on your diesel fuel tank. This will

A. waste fuel and money
B. make roads slippery for other road users
C. improve your vehicle's fuel consumption
D. increase the level of exhaust emissions

Answer -

Waste fuel and money

Make roads slippery for other road users

Diesel fuel is especially slippery if spilled on a wet road. At the end of a dry spell of weather you should be aware that the road surfaces may have a high level of diesel spillage that hasn’t been washed away by rain.

Qu.9 - Mark one answer

What style of driving causes increased risk to everyone?

A. Considerate
B. Defensive
C. Competitive
D. Responsible

Answer - Competitive

Competitive driving increases the risks to everyone and is the opposite of responsible, considerate and defensive driving. Defensive driving is about questioning the actions of other road users and being prepared for the unexpected. Don’t be taken by surprise.

Qu.10 - Mark one answer

You are driving at night on an unlit road behind another
vehicle. You should

A. flash your headlights
B. use dipped beam headlights
C. switch off your headlights
D. use full beam headlights

Answer - use dipped beam headlights

If you follow another vehicle with your headlights on full beam they could dazzle the driver. Leave a safe distance and ensure that the light from your dipped beam falls short of the vehicle in front.

Qu.11 - Mark one answer

You are approaching a red light at a puffin crossing.
Pedestrians are on the crossing. The red light will
stay on until

A. you start to edge forward on to the crossing
B. the pedestrians have reached a safe position
C. the pedestrians are clear of the front of your vehicle
D. a driver from the opposite direction reaches the crossing

Answer - the pedestrians have reached a safe position

The electronic device will automatically detect that the pedestrians have reached a safe position. Don’t proceed until the green light shows it is safe for vehicles to do so.

Qu.12 - Mark one answer

A person herding sheep asks you to stop. You should

A. ignore them as they have no authority
B. stop and switch off your engine
C. continue on but drive slowly
D. try and get past quickly

Answer - stop and switch off your engine

Allow the sheep to clear the road before you proceed. Animals are unpredictable and startle easily; they could turn and run into your path or into the path of another moving vehicle.

Qu.13 - Mark one answer

When overtaking a horse and rider you should

A. sound your horn as a warning
B. go past as quickly as possible
C. flash your headlights as a warning
D. go past slowly and carefully

Answer - go past slowly and carefully

Horses can become startled by the sound of a car engine or the rush of air caused by passing too closely. Keep well back and only pass when it is safe; leave them plenty of room. You may have to use the other side of the road to go past: if you do, first make sure there is no oncoming traffic.

Qu.14 - Mark one answer

You are waiting in a traffic queue at night. To avoid dazzling
following drivers you should

A. apply the handbrake only
B. apply the footbrake only
C. switch off your headlights
D. use both the handbrake and the footbrake

Answer - apply the handbrake only

You should consider drivers behind as brake lights can dazzle. However, if you are driving in fog it’s safer to keep your foot on the footbrake. In this case it will give the vehicle behind extra warning of your presence.

Qu.15 - Mark one answer

The conditions are good and dry. You should use the
'two-second rule'

A. before restarting the engine after it has stalled
B. to keep a safe gap from the vehicle in front
C. before using the 'Mirror-Signal-Manoeuvre' routine
D. when emerging on wet roads

Answer - to keep a safe gap from the vehicle in front

To measure this, choose a fixed reference point such as a bridge, sign or tree. When the vehicle ahead passes the object, say to yourself ‘Only a fool breaks the twosecond rule.’ If you reach the object before you finish saying this, you’re TOO CLOSE.

Qu.16 - Mark one answer

You should ONLY flash your headlights to other road users

A. to show that you are giving way
B. to show you are about to turn
C. to tell them that you have right of way
D. to let them know that you are there

Answer - to let them know that you are there

You should only flash your headlights to warn others of your presence. Don’t use them to, greet others, show impatience or give priority to other road users. They could misunderstand your signal.

Qu.17 - Mark one answer

You are approaching an unmarked crossroads. How should
you deal with this type of junction?

A. Accelerate and keep to the middle
B. Slow down and keep to the right
C. Accelerate looking to the left
D. Slow down and look both ways

Answer - Slow down and look both ways

Be extra-cautious, especially when your view is restricted by hedges, bushes, walls and large vehicles etc. In the summer months these junctions can become more difficult to deal with when growing foliage may obscure your view.

Qu.18 - Mark one answer

Which type of crossing are cyclists allowed to ride across
with pedestrians?

A. Toucan
B. Puffin
C. Pelican
D. Zebra

Answer - Toucan

A toucan crossing is designed to allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross at the same time. Look out for cyclists approaching the crossing at speed.

Qu.19 - Mark one answer

What should you use your horn for?

A. To alert others to your presence
B. To allow you the right of way
C. To greet other road users
D. To signal your annoyance

Answer - To alert others to your presence

Your horn must not be used between 11.30 pm and 7 am in a built-up area or when you are stationary, unless a moving vehicle poses a danger. Its function is to alert other road users to your presence.

Qu.20 - Mark one answer

A long, heavily-laden lorry is taking a long time to overtake
you. What should you do?

A. Speed up
B. Slow down
C. Hold your speed
D. Change direction

Answer - Slow down

A long lorry with a heavy load will need more time to pass you than a car, especially on an uphill stretch of road. Slow down and allow the lorry to pass.

Contains the Theory Test Questions for Car Drivers valid from September 2008 or valid until Autumn 2010. Crown copyright material has been reproduced by permission of the Driving Standards Agency which does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the reproduction.