Theory Test Hazard Awareness - Questions and Answers

How does alcohol affect you?

A. It speeds up your reactions
B. It increases your awareness
C. It improves your co-ordination
D. It reduces your concentration

Answer - It reduces your concentration

Concentration and good judgement are needed at all times to be a good, safe driver. Don’t put yourself or others at risk by drinking and driving.

Which of the following types of glasses should NOT be worn
when driving at night?

A. Half-moon
B. Round
C. Bi-focal
D. Tinted

Answer - Tinted

If you are driving at night or in poor visibility, tinted lenses will reduce the efficiency of your vision, by reducing the amount of available light reaching your eyes.

How will a school crossing patrol signal you to stop?

A. By pointing to children on the opposite pavement
B. By displaying a red light
C. By displaying a stop sign
D. By giving you an arm signal

Answer - By displaying a stop sign

If a school crossing patrol steps out into the road with a stop sign you must stop. Don’t wave anyone across the road and don’t get impatient or rev your engine.

Why should you look particularly for motorcyclists and cyclists
at junctions?

A. They may want to turn into the side road
B. They may slow down to let you turn
C. They are harder to see
D. They might not see you turn

Answer - They are harder to see

Cyclists and motorcyclists are smaller than other vehicles and so are more difficult to see. They can easily become hidden from your view by cars parked near a junction.

You are waiting to come out of a side road. Why should you
watch carefully for motorcycles?

A. Motorcycles are usually faster than cars
B. Police patrols often use motorcycles
C. Motorcycles are small and hard to see
D. Motorcycles have right of way

Answer - Motorcycles are small and hard to see

If you’re waiting to emerge from a side road watch out for motorcycles: they’re small and can be difficult to see. Be especially careful if there are parked vehicles restricting your view, there might be a motorcycle approaching. IF YOU DON’T KNOW, DON’T GO.

You are following two cyclists. They approach a roundabout
in the left-hand lane. In which direction should you expect
the cyclists to go?

A. Left
B. Right
C. Any direction
D. Straight ahead

Answer - Any direction

Cyclists approaching a roundabout in the left-hand lane may be turning right but may not have been able to get into the correct lane due to the heavy traffic. They may also feel safer keeping to the left all the way round the roundabout. Be aware of them and give them plenty of room.

There are flashing amber lights under a school warning
sign. What action should you take?

A. Reduce speed until you are clear of the area
B. Keep up your speed and sound your horn
C. Increase your speed to clear the area quickly
D. Wait at the lights until they change to green

Answer - Reduce speed until you are clear of the area

The flashing amber lights are switched on to warn you that children may be crossing near a school. Slow down and take extra care as you may have to stop.

You are following a car driven by an elderly driver. You should

A. expect the driver to drive badly
B. flash your lights and overtake
C. be aware that the driver's reactions may not be as fast
as yours
D. stay very close behind but be careful

Answer - be aware that the driver's reactions may not be as fast as yours

You must show consideration to other road users. The reactions of older drivers may be slower and they might need more time to deal with a situation. Be tolerant and don’t lose patience or show your annoyance.

Ahead of you there is a moving vehicle with a flashing amber
beacon. This means it is

A. slow moving
B. broken down
C. a doctor's car
D. a school crossing patrol

Answer - slow moving

As you approach the vehicle, assess the situation. Due to its slow progress you will need to judge whether it is safe to overtake.

You should never attempt to just before you turn left

A. just before you turn left
B. on a left-hand bend
C. on a one-way street
D. on a dual carriageway

Answer - just before you turn left

If you want to turn left and there’s a cyclist in front of you, hold back. Wait until the cyclist has passed the junction and then turn left behind them.

You see a pedestrian with a dog. The dog has a yellow or
burgundy coat. This especially warns you that the
pedestrian is

A. elderly
B. dog training
C. colour blind
D. deaf

Answer - deaf

Take extra care as the pedestrian may not be aware of vehicles approaching.

You think the driver of the vehicle in front has forgotten to
cancel their right indicator. You should

A. flash your lights to alert the driver
B. sound your horn before overtaking
C. overtake on the left if there is room
D. stay behind and not overtake

Answer - stay behind and not overtake

The driver may be unsure of the location of a junction and turn suddenly. Be cautious and don’t attempt to overtake.

Why are mirrors often slightly curved (convex)

A. They give a wider field of vision
B. They totally cover blind spots
C. They make it easier to judge the speed of following traffic
D. They make following traffic look bigger

Answer - They give a wider field of vision

Although a convex mirror gives a wide view of the scene behind, you should be aware that it will not show you everything behind or to the side of the vehicle. Before you move off you will need to check over your shoulder to look for anything not visible in the mirrors.

Why are place names painted on the road surface?

A. To restrict the flow of traffic
B. To warn you of oncoming traffic
C. To enable you to change lanes early
D. To prevent you changing lanes

Answer - To enable you to change lanes early

The names of towns and cities may be painted on the road at busy junctions and complex road systems. Their purpose is to let you move into the correct lane in good time, allowing traffic to flow more freely.

Some two-way roads are divided into three lanes. Why
are these particularly dangerous?

A. Traffic in both directions can use the middle lane to
overtake
B. Traffic can travel faster in poor weather conditions
C. Traffic can overtake on the left
D. Traffic uses the middle lane for emergencies only

Answer -Traffic in both directions can use the middle lane to overtake

If you intend to overtake you must consider that approaching traffic could be planning the same manoeuvre. When you have considered the situation and have decided it is safe, indicate your intentions early. This will show the approaching traffic that you intend to pull out.

What does this signal from a police officer mean to
oncoming traffic?

A. Go ahead
B. Stop
C. Turn left
D. Turn right

Answer - Stop

Police officers may need to direct traffic, for example, at a junction where the traffic lights have broken down. Check your copy of The Highway Code for the signals that they use.

You are invited to a pub lunch. You know you will have to
drive in the evening. What is your best course of action?

A. Avoid mixing your alcoholic drinks
B. Not drink any alcohol at all
C. Have some milk before drinking alcohol
D. Eat a hot meal with your alcoholic drinks

Answer - Not drink any alcohol at all

Alcohol will stay in the body for several hours and may make you unfit to drive later in the day. Drinking during the day will also affect your performance at work or study.

You ar driving along a motorway and become tired. You should

A. stop at the next service area and rest
B. leave the motorway at the next exit and rest
C. increase your speed and turn up the radio volume
D. close all your windows and set heating to warm
E. pull up on the hard shoulder and change drivers

Answer -

stop at the next service area and rest

leave the motorway at the next exit and rest

If you have planned your journey properly, to include rest stops, you should arrive at your destination in good time.

During periods of illness your ability to drive may be
impaired. You must

A. see your doctor each time before you drive
B. only take smaller doses of any medicines
C. be medically fit to drive
D. not drive after taking certain medicines
E. tale all your medicines with you when you drive

Answer -

be medically fit to drive

not drive after taking certain medicines

Be responsible and only drive if you are fit to do so. Some medication can affect your concentration and judgement when dealing with hazards. It may also cause you to become drowsy or even fall asleep. Driving while taking such medication is highly dangerous.

You are about to drive home. You feel very tired and have
a servere headache. You should

A. wait until you are fit and well before driving
B. drive home, but take a tablet for headaches
C. drive home if you can stay awake for the journey
D. wait for a short time, then drive home slowly

Answer - wait until you are fit and well before driving

All your concentration should be on your driving. Any pain you feel will distract you and you should avoid driving when drowsy. The safest course of action is to wait until you have rested and feel better.

What does the solid white line at the side of the road
indicate?

A. Traffic lights ahead
B. Edge of the carriageway
C. Footpath on the left
D. Cycle path

Answer - Edge of the carriageway

The continuous white line shows the edge of the carriageway. It can be especially useful when visibility is restricted, for example at night or in bad weather. It is discontinued where it crosses junctions, lay-bys etc.

You are approaching this cyclist. You should

A. overtake before the cyclists gets to the junction
B. flash your headlights at the cyclist
C. slow down and allow the cyclist to turn
D. overtake the cyclist on the left-hand side

Answer - slow down and allow the cyclist to turn

Keep well back and allow the cyclist room to take up the correct position for the turn. Don’t get too close behind or try to squeeze past.

You have just been overtaken by this motorcyclist who is
cutting in sharply. You should

A. sound the horn
B. brake firmly
C. keep a safe gap
D. flash your lights

Answer - keep a safe gap

If another vehicle cuts in too sharply, ease off the accelerator and drop back to allow a safe separation distance. Try not to overreact by braking sharply or swerving, as you could lose control. If vehicles behind you are too close or unprepared, it could lead to a crash.

Why must you take extra care when turning right at
the junction?

A. Road surface is poor
B. Footpaths are narrow
C. Road markings are faint
D. There is reduced visibility

Answer - There is reduced visibility

You may have to pull forward slowly until you can see up and down the road. Be aware that the traffic approaching the junction can’t see you either. If you don’t know that it’s clear, don’t go.

You are driving towards this level crossing. What would be
the first warning of an approaching train?

A. Both half barriers down
B. A steady amber light
C. One half barrier down
D. Twin flashing red lights

Answer - A steady amber light

The steady amber light will be followed by twin flashing red lights that mean you must stop. An alarm will also sound to alert you to the fact that a train is approaching.

You are behind this cyclist. When the traffic lights change,
what should you do?

A. Try to move off before the cyclist
B. Allow the cyclists time and room
C. Turn right but give the cyclist room
D. Tap your horn and drive through first

Answer - Allow the cyclists time and room

Hold back and allow the cyclist to move off. In some towns, junctions have special areas marked across the front of the traffic lane. These allow cyclists to wait for the lights to change and move off ahead of other traffic.

While driving, you see this sign ahead. You should

A. stop at the sign
B. slow, but continue around the bend
C. slow to a crawl and continue
D. stop and look for open farm gates

Answer - slow, but continue around the bend

Drive around the bend at a steady speed in the correct gear. Be aware that you might have to stop for approaching trains.

You intend to turn left at the traffic lights. Just before
turning you should

A. check your right mirror
B. move close up to the white car
C. straddle the lanes
D. check for bicycles on your left

Answer - check for bicycles on your left

Check your nearside for cyclists before moving away. This is especially important if you have been in a stationary queue of traffic and are about to move off, as cyclists often try to filter past on the nearside of stationary vehicles.

You are driving along this road. The driver on the left is
reversing from a driveway. You should

A. move to the opposite side of the road
B. drive through as you have priority
C. sound your horn and be prepared to stop
D. speed up and drive through quickly

Answer - sound your horn and be prepared to stop

White lights at the rear of a car show that it is about to reverse. Sound your horn to warn of your presence and reduce your speed as a precaution.

You are driving on a road with several lanes. You see
these signs above the lanes. What do they mean?

A. The two right lanes are open
B. The two left lanes are open
C. Traffic in the left lanes should stop
D. Traffic in the right lanes should stop

Answer - The two left lanes are open

If you see a red cross above your lane it means that there is an obstruction ahead. You will have to move into one of the lanes which is showing the green light. If all the lanes are showing a red cross, then you must stop.