Safety And Your Vehicle

Question 1

What items should you check on a regular basis?

Answer 1

Lights, brakes, steering, exhaust system, seat belts, horn, speedometer, wipers and washers.

Oil and water levels (if oil overfilled, can cause leakes)

Brake fluid (if too low, dangerous and could cause an incident)

Battery levels (it may need topping up with distilled water if maintenance-free)

Windscreen

Tyre pressures (check at least once a week)

Tyre condition (the tread must be 1.6mm+ deep across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tyre and around the entire circumference)

Question 2

What can under-inflated tyres affect?

Answer 2

Steering - it will feel heavy
Fuel consumption - it may increase
Braking

Question 3

What could uneven wear on the tyres be caused by?

Answer 3

Faults in the braking system
Faults in the suspension
Faults in the wheel alignment

Question 4

The wheels are unbalanced - what could this cause?

Answer 4

It could cause the steering to vibrate

Question 5

If you see the warnings on your dashboard light up, what should you do?

Answer 5

Check your vehicle handbook for their meaning.

Don’t ignore the warning - it could affect your safety.

Question 6

When does the ABS warning light go out (at what speed)?

Answer 6

5-10mph

Question 7

How do you check the condition of the shock absorbers?

Answer 7

Bounce the vehicle

Push down hard on each corner, it shouldn’t continue to bounce unduly when released

Question 8

When should you consult a garage as soon as possible?

Answer 8

If the steering vibrates - the wheels may need balancing

The vehicle pulls to one side when you brake - your brakes may need adjusting

Question 9

Seatbelt rules

Answer 9

Everyone, unless they’re exempt, should be wearing a seatbelt.

You, as the driver, are responsible for making sure that children under 14 wear a suitable restraint, and if a child restraint isn’t available, an adult seatbelt must be used.

Question 10

Should you fit a rear-facing baby seat in a seat protected by an airbag?

Answer 10

No, it can cause fatal injuries, you should deactivate it.

Question 11

What should you do when you get into the car?

Answer 11

Adjust the seat to ensure you can reach all the controls in comfort

Adjust the head restraint to help prevent neck injury in a collision

Wear suitable shoes is that you can keep control of the pedals

Adjust the mirrors to maximise your field of vision

Question 12

What should you do if visibility is poor?

Answer 12

Use dipped headlights. If it’s foggy, use fog lights.

Question 13

When leaving your car on a two-way road at night, how should you park?

Answer 13

Park in the direction of traffic, and switch on your parking lights if the speed limit is over 30mph.

Question 14

What are the purpose of hazard lights?

Answer 14

They warn drivers of hazards ahead, including when you’ve broken down or queueing traffic on a dual carriageway or motorway.

Don’t use this to park illegally!

Question 15

How can you make it difficult for a thief to break into/steal your car?

Answer 15

Engage the steering lock
Remove the keys and lock your car
Lock contents, especially valuables
Don’t leave the vehicle registration document in the car as the thief can declare ownership
Park in a well-lit and secure car park at night

Question 16

How can you make it difficult for an opportunist thief to break into your car?

Answer 16

Fit an anti-theft alarm or immobiliser
Use a visible security device, such as a steering-wheel/handbrake lock
Have the vehicle registration number etched on the windows

Question 17

Radios/in car entertainment are prime targets for thieves. What should you do about it?

Answer 17

Install a security-coded radio. If they’re stolen, they’re useless.

Question 18

Avoid parking your vehicle in an obstructive manner, such as…

Answer 18

In front of a property entrance
At or near a bus stop
Near the brow of a hill
Where the kerb has been lowered for wheelchair access
On a bend or opposite a side road

Question 19

Why should you never stop on or near a level crossing/zigzag lines at a pedestrian crossing?

Answer 19

It would block the view of pedestrians and drivers, and endanger people trying to use the crossing.

Question 20

How can motor vehicles harm the environment?

Answer 20

Pollution
Damage to buildings
Use of natural resource

Question 21

Road transport accounts for how much of total emissions?

Answer 21

20%

Question 22

What should you do for transport in your vehicle when considering the environment?

Answer 22

Reduce your speed - vehicles travelling at 70mph use up to 15% more fuel than those travelling at 50mph

Plan well ahead so that you can drive smoothly - avoiding rapid acceleration and heaving braking can cut your fuel bill by up to 15%.

Change up as soon as you can so that you use the highest possible gear without making the engine struggle. Keeping the engine revs down uses less fuel.

Have your vehicle serviced and tuned properly

Make sure your tyres are correctly inflated

Question 23

What should you not do for transport in your vehicle when considering the environment?

Answer 23

Carry unnecessary weight or leave an empty roof rack on your car

Over-rev in lower gears

Leave the engine running unnecessarily - if your vehicle is stationary and likely to remain so for a short time, switch of the engine

Question 24

For short journeys, should you take your car?

Answer 24

Try not to - think about walking or cycling instead. Using public transport or sharing a car can reduce volume of traffic and their emissions.

Question 25

How does having your car services regularly help?

Answer 25

It will give better fuel economy and your exhaust emissions would be cleaner. If your vehicle is over 3 years old, it will have to pass an emissions test as part of the MOT test.

Question 26

What should you do with old engine oil and batteries when servicing your own vehicle?

Answer 26

Dispose them. Take them to a local-authority site or a garage, and don’t pour oil down the drain.

Question 27

Noise pollution rules

Answer 27

Don’t use your horn in built-up areas between 11:30pm and 7am, unless another vehicle poses danger

Question 28

What risk is associated with continuous high speeds?

Answer 28

It could increase the risk of breakdown. Make sure your check your vehicle before making a long motorway journey (mainly oil, water, tyre pressure)

Question 29

What makes an easier and more pleasant journey?

Answer 29

Plan your route before starting out
Avoid busy times, if possible
Allow plenty of time for your journey, especially if you have an appointment to keep or a connection to make.

Question 30

How should you plan your route?

Answer 30

Look at a map
Use satellite navigation equipment
Check with a motoring organisation
Use a route planner on the internet

Question 31

If you’re new or unfamiliar with a route, what should you do?

Answer 31

Print out or write down directions, and also plan an alternative route in case your original route is blocked.

Question 32

If you can avoid travelling at busy times, you’ll…

Answer 32

Be less likely to be delayed

Help to ease congestion for those who have to travel at these times

Question 33

Congestion charges

Answer 33

In London:

ULEZ and LEZ

Residents living with the charging zone obtained a reduced rate but aren’t exempt.

Question 34

What is ‘dry steering’

Answer 34

Turning the steering wheel while the car isn’t moving - it can cause unnecessary wear to the tyres and steering mechanism.

Question 35

What is a catalytic converter?

Answer 35

It’s a device fitted to the exhaust system. It reduces emissions by acting like a filter, removing some of the toxic waste.

Question 36

Different means of traffic-calming measures (3 please)

Answer 36

Road humps
Road narrowing
Chicanes

Question 37

Automatic cars - what is ‘kick-down’?

Answer 37

A device that gives quick acceleration when needed, for example, to overtake. Excessive use will burn more fuel.

Question 38

What are red lines on the side of the road?

Answer 38

Theses indicate ‘Red Routes’. They help the traffic flow by restricting stopping on these routes.

Question 39

What is a brake fade?

Answer 39

This is when the brakes become less effective because of overheating. It may happen if they’re used continuously, such as on a long, steep, downhill stretch of road. Using a lower gear will help braking.