Safety of your vehicle Flashcards
What things should you maintain in your car?
Lights, break, steering, exhaust system, seat belts, horn, speedometer, wipers and washers
Oil and water levels
Break fluid
Battery levels
The windscreen
Tyre Pressure
Tyre condition
What can under inflated tyres affect?
Steering- it will feel heavy
Fuel consumption- it may increase
Breaking
What must the tread be?
At least 1.6 mm deep across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tyre and around the entire circumference.
What causes uneven wear on the tyres?
Faults in the:
Braking system
Suspension
Wheel alignment
What might vibrate if the wheels are unbalanced?
The steering wheel
What should go out when the vehicle’s travelling at 5-10 mph
The ABS Warning light
How can you check the vehicle’s shock absorbers?
Bounce the vehicle, push down hard on each corner. It shouldn’t continue to bounce unduly when released.
What is a sign your brakes need adjusting?
If the vehicle pulls to one side when you break
Who is responsible for making sure children under 14 wear a suitable restraint?
You as the driver, if the correct child restraint isn’t available an adult seatbelt must be used.
What must be deactivated before fitting a rear-facing baby seat?
The airbag if the seat has one
What does the neck restraint do?
Helps prevent neck injury in a collision
Why should you wear suitable shoes?
To keep control of the pedals
Why do you adjust mirrors?
To maximise the field of vision
Why do you adjust the seat?
So you can reach all the controls in comfort
If your visability is poor what do you use?
Dipped headlights
If there’s fog what do you use?
fog lights
When leaving your car on a two-way road at night, which direction do you park in?
The direction of the traffic
When should you switch on your parking lights?
At night, if the speed limit is over 30mph
When do you use hazard lights?
To warn other drivers of hazards ahead, such as:
When you’ve broken down
Queuing traffic on a dual carriageway or motorway
When should you not use hazard lights?
Don’t use them as an excuse to park illegally
How can you make it difficult for a thief to break into your car?
Engaging the steering lock
Removing the keys
Locking any contents, especially valuables out of sight or taking them with you
Not leaving the vehicle registration document in the car, the thief could declare ownership
Parking in a well lit area or secure car park
How can you make it even more difficult for a thief to break into your car?
Fit an anti-theft alarm or immobiliser
Use a visible security device, such as a steering wheel lock or handbrake lock
Have the vehicle registration number etched into the windows
Install a security-coded radio
Where should you avoid parking?
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
Where should you never park?
Level crossing
Zigzag lines at a pedestrian crossing- this would block the view of pedestrians and drivers
How do motor vehicles harm the environment?
Air pollution
Damage to buildings
Using up natural resources
What percentage of emissions are road transports accountable for?
20%
How can you improve your fuel consumption?
Reducing your speed
Plan well ahead so you can drive smoothly
Changing up as soon as you can so that you use the highest possible gear without making the engine struggle
Have your vehicle serviced and tuned properly
Make sure your tyres are correctly inflated
What should you NOT do to help the environment?
Carry unnecessary weight or leave an empty roof rack on your car
Over rev in lower gears
Leave the engine running unnecessarily
Try not to use your car to
Make short journeys
How can you prevent spilling fuel
Making sure your filler cap is securely fastened
In built up areas when can you not use your horn?
Between 11:30 PM and 7:00 AM
What does having your car serviced regularly give you?
Better fuel economy and your exhaust emissions will be cleaner
Where should you take old engine oil and batteries?
To a local authority site or a garage
What should you check before a long journey?
Oil and water and tyre pressure, continuous high speeds could increase risk of a breakdown.
How can you make a journey easier?
Plan your route
Avoid busy times
Allow plenty of time for your journey
How can you plan a route?
Look at a map
Use a satnav
Check with a motoring organisation
Use a route planner
What are the benefits of travelling at less busy times
Less likely to be delayed
Help to ease congestion
What is a ULEZ
Ultra Low Emission Zone
What is a LEZ
Low Emission Zone
What is drysteering?
When you turn the steering wheel whilst the car isn’t moving, it can cause unecessary wear to the tyres and steering mechanism
What is a catalytic converter?
A device fitted to the exhaust system to reduce emissions by acting like a filter, removing some of the toxic wast
Give examples of traffic calming measures
Road humps
Road narrowing and chicanes
A reduced speed limit
What will help braking?
Using a lower gear
What is brake fading
When the brakes become less effective because of overheating. It may happen if they’re used continuously, such as a long steep downhill stretch of road.
