8. Vehicle Handling Flashcards
What conditions may affect how you handle your vehicle?
Weather and light
Control and speed
Road surface
What precautions may you take in wet weather?
Double safety margin distance
Careful with motorcyclists/ cyclists who may swerve to avoid metal cover
Use dipped headlights if visibility is seriously reduced
What is defined as seriously reduced visibility?
Visibility for less than 100m
What should you do if you approach a flooded ford?
Decide whether you can continue based on depth. If you are continuing, select a low gear, drive slowly and test your breaks afterwards
When should you use fog lights?
If you have them use them if visibility is seriously reduced
Why should you remember to always switch off your fog lights?
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
What provisions should you take in fog?
Slow down
Fog lights on (or dipped headlights)
Increase distance from the car in front
Allow more time for your journey
What will help you see through fog on the motorway?
Reflective studs
Red stud = left hand edge of carriageway
Amber stud = central reservation
When should you not travel unless it is essential?
Very foggy or snowy weather
If you travel in very bad weather what should you check before you leave?
Your lights are working
Your windows are clean
What may you consider fitting if driving in deep snow?
Chains to the wheels
In icy conditions by how much do you increase stopping distance?
10 times
When may you, as a car, be more vulnerable to wind?
When passing a high sided vehicle
When driving on exposed stretches of road
Who must you be aware not to dazzle at night?
Vehicles you’re following
Oncoming traffic
Other road users
What should you do if you are dazzled by an oncoming vehicle
Slow down or stop to remain in full control
Why should you take extra care overtaking at night?
You may not be able to see all the way down the road and there may be beds in said road
What lights must you use on a motorway at night?
Dipped headlights, even if the road is well lit
Sidelights if you’ve broken down or parked on the hard shoulder
Why mustn’t you coast?
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
How can you use the vehicles engine to control your speed?
Select a low gear, especially when driving down steep hills, especially if it is along hill as brakes may overheat and become less effective
What may happen to your speed and engine as you go up hill?
Your engine will work harder and you’ll slow down sooner
What should you do in a single-track road if there is an oncoming vehicle?
Pull into or opposite a passing place
What 3 elements affect your stopping distance?
Your speed
Tyre conditions
The weather
Why should you avoid skidding?
It is hard to regain control once a skid has started
What should you do if you start to skid on a wet road and do not have anti-lock brakes?
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
What’s the purpose of traffic calming?
Slow down traffic and make roads safer for vulnerable road users, especially pedestrians
What is the most common traffic calming measure?
Road humps
What should you do in traffic calming areas?
Stay within the speed limit and don’t overtake other vehicles
How might an are used by trams be marked?
They have a different surface texture or colour, this may be edged with white markings
What is a rumble device?
Raised markings across the road
What is the purpose of a rumble device?
Alert you to a hazard (e.g.: roundabout)
Encourage you to reduce your speed
When can you sit in the box junction?
When turning right with a clear exit but your route is prevented by oncoming traffic
When should you leave sidelights on when parking on a two-way road?
If the speed limit >30mph (48kmh)
If it’s foggy
Which side of the road should you park on, on a two-way road?
Left hand side
