8. Vehicle Handling

Question 1

What conditions may affect how you handle your vehicle?

Answer 1

Weather and light
Control and speed
Road surface

Question 2

What precautions may you take in wet weather?

Answer 2

Double safety margin distance
Careful with motorcyclists/ cyclists who may swerve to avoid metal cover
Use dipped headlights if visibility is seriously reduced

Question 3

What is defined as seriously reduced visibility?

Answer 3

Visibility for less than 100m

Question 4

What should you do if you approach a flooded ford?

Answer 4

Decide whether you can continue based on depth. If you are continuing, select a low gear, drive slowly and test your breaks afterwards

Question 5

When should you use fog lights?

Answer 5

If you have them use them if visibility is seriously reduced

Question 6

Why should you remember to always switch off your fog lights?

Answer 6

You may break the law by leaving them on
They dazzle road users
Road users behind you will not be able to clearly see your fog lights clearly and therefore not react in time to stop safely
Road users behind may mistake your fog lights for brake lights and stop unnecessarily

Question 7

What provisions should you take in fog?

Answer 7

Slow down
Fog lights on (or dipped headlights)
Increase distance from the car in front
Allow more time for your journey

Question 8

What will help you see through fog on the motorway?

Answer 8

Reflective studs
Red stud = left hand edge of carriageway
Amber stud = central reservation

Question 9

When should you not travel unless it is essential?

Answer 9

Very foggy or snowy weather

Question 10

If you travel in very bad weather what should you check before you leave?

Answer 10

Your lights are working
Your windows are clean

Question 11

What may you consider fitting if driving in deep snow?

Answer 11

Chains to the wheels

Question 12

In icy conditions by how much do you increase stopping distance?

Answer 12

10 times

Question 13

When may you, as a car, be more vulnerable to wind?

Answer 13

When passing a high sided vehicle
When driving on exposed stretches of road

Question 14

Who must you be aware not to dazzle at night?

Answer 14

Vehicles you’re following
Oncoming traffic
Other road users

Question 15

What should you do if you are dazzled by an oncoming vehicle

Answer 15

Slow down or stop to remain in full control

Question 16

Why should you take extra care overtaking at night?

Answer 16

You may not be able to see all the way down the road and there may be beds in said road

Question 17

What lights must you use on a motorway at night?

Answer 17

Dipped headlights, even if the road is well lit
Sidelights if you’ve broken down or parked on the hard shoulder

Question 18

Why mustn’t you coast?

Answer 18

Coast -> driving with the clutch down or in neutral for any length of time
This reduces control especially of driving and braking and is especially dangerous when travelling downhill as the vehicle will pick up speed quickly with no engine braking

Question 19

How can you use the vehicles engine to control your speed?

Answer 19

Select a low gear, especially when driving down steep hills, especially if it is along hill as brakes may overheat and become less effective

Question 20

What may happen to your speed and engine as you go up hill?

Answer 20

Your engine will work harder and you’ll slow down sooner

Question 21

What should you do in a single-track road if there is an oncoming vehicle?

Answer 21

Pull into or opposite a passing place

Question 22

What 3 elements affect your stopping distance?

Answer 22

Your speed
Tyre conditions
The weather

Question 23

Why should you avoid skidding?

Answer 23

It is hard to regain control once a skid has started

Question 24

What should you do if you start to skid on a wet road and do not have anti-lock brakes?

Answer 24

Release the footbrake
If the rear wheels also begin to skis, steer into the skid and avoid braking harshly as it may make the situation worse

Question 25

What’s the purpose of traffic calming?

Answer 25

Slow down traffic and make roads safer for vulnerable road users, especially pedestrians

Question 26

What is the most common traffic calming measure?

Answer 26

Road humps

Question 27

What should you do in traffic calming areas?

Answer 27

Stay within the speed limit and don’t overtake other vehicles

Question 28

How might an are used by trams be marked?

Answer 28

They have a different surface texture or colour, this may be edged with white markings

Question 29

What is a rumble device?

Answer 29

Raised markings across the road

Question 30

What is the purpose of a rumble device?

Answer 30

Alert you to a hazard (e.g.: roundabout)
Encourage you to reduce your speed

Question 31

When can you sit in the box junction?

Answer 31

When turning right with a clear exit but your route is prevented by oncoming traffic

Question 32

When should you leave sidelights on when parking on a two-way road?

Answer 32

If the speed limit >30mph (48kmh)
If it’s foggy

Question 33

Which side of the road should you park on, on a two-way road?

Answer 33

Left hand side