Safety Margins

Question 1

How do you control your speed when travelling downhill?

Answer 1

Selecting a lower gear
Braking gently

Question 2

What reduces your control?

Answer 2

Coasting, travelling in neutral or with the clutch pressed down.

Question 3

What is your overall stopping distance?

Answer 3

The distance your car travels from the moment you realise you must break until the moment the vehicle stops.
This is made up of thinking distance and breaking distance.

Question 4

What gap should you leave between you and the vehicle in front?

Answer 4

A two second gap, enough room so you can pull up safely if it slows down or stops suddenly

Question 5

When it’s raining or the road is wet, what gap should you leave?

Answer 5

Double the distance

Question 6

When it’s icy, what gap should you leave?

Answer 6

Ten times the distance

Question 7

In faster conditions, increasing the distance between vehicles helps…

Answer 7

Lower the risk of collision

Question 8

What should you do when driving in freezing weathers?

Answer 8

Clear ice and snow from windows,lights, mirrors and number plates
Use the highest gear you can
Brake gently and in plenty of time
Be prepared to stop and clean snow from your windscreen by hand if the wipers can’t keep it clear.

Question 9

What should you do when driving in foggy weather?

Answer 9

Allow more time for your journey
Slow down, as your visibility is reduced
Increase the gap between your vehicle and the one in front of you
Use dipped headlights even in daylight.

Question 10

When should you turn on fog lights?

Answer 10

If the visibility falls below 100 metres (328 ft).

Question 11

What might happen in icy/wet weather?

Answer 11

The tyres lift off the road and skate on a film of water, the steering becomes light.

Question 12

What should you do in icy/wet weather?

Answer 12

Ease off the accelerator
Don’t brake until steering feels normal again.

Question 13

What should you do if you’ve driven in a ford?

Answer 13

Test your brakes, dry them out by pressing lightly on the brake pedal as you go along.

Question 14

How can hot weather pose a danger?

Answer 14

The road surface could become soft and your tyres might not grip so well, this affects braking and steering.

Question 15

What might happen in bright sun?

Answer 15

Might dazzle drivers and they might not see indicators, make sure to give arm signals.

Question 16

What should you do when passing high sided vehicles, motorcyclists and pedestrians in windy weather?

Answer 16

Take care as they may be blown off course. Allow extra room and check your left side as you pass them.

Question 17

How do you reduce the risk of skidding?

Answer 17

Driving at a low speed
In as high a gear as possible

Question 18

How can you not be taken by surprise in extreme weather conditions?

Answer 18

Scan the road ahead for clues such as road signs and markings. You can:
Slow down gradually before you reach the hazard, such as a bend.
Avoid sudden steering movements

Question 19

What should you do if you start to skid?

Answer 19

Release the footbrake and reapply it gently
Steer smoothly in the direction of the skid, if the back of the car skids to the right steer carefully to the right and vice versa

Question 20

What should you do if you’re driving a vehicle with ABS?

Answer 20

Apply the footbrake rapidly and firmly
Don’t release the brake pedal until you’ve stopped

Question 21

What should you do in a contraflow system?

Answer 21

Reduce speed in good time
Choose an appropriate lane in good time
Keep the correct separation distance