4. Safety Margins

Question 1

Define a personal safety margin

Answer 1

The space you maintain around your vehicle

Question 2

How should you control your speed down a hill?

Answer 2

Selecting low gears
Braking gently

Question 3

Why should you not coast?

Answer 3

Coasting (travelling with the clutch disengaged or in neutral) reduces your control over the car.

Question 4

What is stopping distance?

Answer 4

The distance you cover from the moment you realise you must brake until you come to a full stop, made up of thinking and braking distance

Question 5

What is a good method for judging the gap between you and the driver ahead on a good, dry road?

Answer 5

2 second rule

Question 6

What is a good method for judging the gap between you and the driver ahead on a wet, rainy road?

Answer 6

Increase safety margin by double - 4 second rule

Question 7

What is a good method for judging the gap between you and the driver ahead on an icy road?

Answer 7

Increase safety margin by 10 times he distance (~20 seconds)

Question 8

Why must you leave a gap between yourself and the driver in front?

Answer 8

So you can pull up safely if it slows down or stops suddenly

Question 9

What must you do before travelling in snowy weather?

Answer 9

Clear ice/ snow from windows, lights, mirrors and number platesW

Question 10

What must you do when driving in snowy weather?

Answer 10

Use very high gears
Brake very gently
Be prepared to manually clean snow from the windscreen as wipers may not suffice

Question 11

What must you do when travelling in fog?

Answer 11

Allow more time for your journey
Slow down
Increase vehicle safety margin
Use dipped headlights/ fog lights if your visibility is less than 100 metres

Question 12

Define aquaplaning

Answer 12

When tyres lift off of the road surface and skate on a film of water. Steering will become light. On ice, the tyres will barely make noise

Question 13

What should you do if aquaplaning occurs?

Answer 13

Ease of the accelerator
Do not brake until steering feels normal

Question 14

What should you do after driving through deep water?

Answer 14

Test the brakes, you may need to press gently to dry them out

Question 15

What is the danger of hot weather?

Answer 15

Road surfaces may become hot such that tyres will not grip as well, affecting braking and steering

Question 16

Why may you want to give an arm signal in bright sunlight?

Answer 16

Other drivers may not see your indicator lights

Question 17

Who may be effected by high winds?

Answer 17

High sided vehicles, motorists and cyclists may be blown off course, allow extra wide birth

Question 18

What is the main cause of skidding?

Answer 18

Bad driving

Question 19

When is the risk of skidding greatest?

Answer 19

Wet/ icy weather

Question 20

How do you identify black ice?

Answer 20

When the steering feels light

Question 21

How can we decrease the risk of skidding and wheelspin in wet/ icy weather?

Answer 21

Drive at low speed in a high gear and react to hazards with plenty of time

Question 22

What should you do if you start skidding?

Answer 22

Release the foot break and re-apply gently (of you do not have ABS)
Steer smoothly in the direction of the skid
If you have ABS apply the footbrake rapidly and firmly until you’ve stopped

Question 23

Does ABS decrease stopping distance?

Answer 23

Not necessarily, only allows steering whilst braking

Question 24

When may ABS not work?

Answer 24

Where there is surface water
Where there is a loose road surface

Question 25

What is ESC?

Answer 25

Electronic stability control comprises the function of ABS and traction control systems and aims to prevent a vehicle skidding sideways by detecting risk of skid and providing selective braking intervention to restore vehicle stability.
This is now fitted in all new UK vehicles

Question 26

Describe a contraflow system

Answer 26

When a dual carriageway is split into a two way system when one direction is closed

Question 27

What should you remember in a contraflow system?

Answer 27

Reduce speed
Choose appropriate lane in good time
Maintain correct separation distance

Question 28

What can I do to stop my vehicle rolling downhill when parked?

Answer 28

Turn the wheel towards the kerb

Question 29

What are the benefits of a four-wheeled drive vehicle?

Answer 29

Improved road holding on different road surfaces

Question 30

Where should you not overtake?

Answer 30

When view is blocked
When approaching a junction
If intending to turn off the road shortly