Section 1: Alertness

Question 1

What, according to The Highway Code, do the letters MSM mean?

a) Mirror, signal, manoeuvre

b) Manoeuvre, signal, mirror

c) Mirror, speed, manoeuvre

d) Manoeuvre, speed, mirror

Answer 1

a) Mirror, signal, manoeuvre

A manoeuvre is any change, no matter how small, in your speed and/or direction. A hazard is anything that may cause you to alter your speed and/or direction. Good drivers use thier mirrors to montior the traffic behind them, and to help them decide in good time on the need to signal their intentions to other road users. Remember that your brake lights will signal your intention to slow down. The routine for normal driving is MSM - PSL because your manoeuvre gives you a better Position and Speed to Look for hazards.

Question 2

What is meant by ‘defensive’ driving?

a) Being alert and thinking ahead

b) Always driving slowly and gently

c) Always letting others go first

d) Pulling over for faster traffic

Answer 2

a) Being alert and thinking ahead

Defensive drivers are constantly on the alert to assess the traffic situation and the dangers all around them. They use their mirrors, before signalling any manoeuvre to give them a better position and/or speed to reassess the hazards and the traffic

Question 3

You may drive on the footpath

a) To overtake slow moving traffic

b) When the pavement is very wide

c) If no pedestrians are near

d) To get into a property

Answer 3

d) To get into a property

Always be on the alert for pedestrians, especially where driveways cross pavements or footpaths. Take care not to cause an obstruction for pedestrians and other road users by inconsiderate parking on a driveway or by illegal parking on a pavement or footpath. Just think how dangerous this could be to blind pedestrians

Question 4

To move off safely from a parked position you should

a) Signal if other drivers will need to slow down

b) NOT look round if there is a parked vehicle close in front of you

c) Give a hand signal as well as using your indicators

d) Use your mirrors and look round for a final check

Answer 4

d) Use your mirrors and look round for a final check

Your signal shows what you intend to do. So you must signal correctly at the right time. Before you signal, make sure it is safe to do whatever you intend. For example, only when there is a safe gap in the traffic should you signal your intention to move off. Your signal to other traffic is a warning not an order. You cannot tell other road users what to do.

Question 5

What is the safest way to brake?

a) Brake lightly, then harder just as you begin to stop, then ease off just before stopping

b) Brake hard, put your gear lever into neutral and pull your handbrake on just before stopping

c) Brake lightly, push your clutch pedal down and pull your handbrake on just before stopping

d) Put your gear lever into neutral, brake hard, then ease off just before stopping

Answer 5

a) Brake lightly, then harder just as you begin to stop, then ease off just before stopping

Never brake hard except in a real emergency, brake progressively. Keep in gear for as long as possible, When the car has stopped, use the handbrake to set the rear brakes.

Question 6

You are driving on a wet road. You have to stop your vehicle in a an emergency

a) Apply the handbrake and footbrake together

b) Keep both hands on the wheel

c) Select reverse gear

d) Give an arm sign

Answer 6

b) Keep both hands on the wheel

Real emergencies are rare. Most of the time when we brake sharply and stop suddenly we have failed to plan ahead and spot the hazards early enough to brake progressively. Remember that stopping distances on a wet road are at least double those on a dry road.

Question 7

You may remove your seat belt when carrying out a manoeuvre that involves

a) Reversing

b) A hill start

c) An emergency stop

d) Driving slowly

Answer 7

a) Reversing

Look where you are going. When going forwards, driving normally, this means looking through your front window most of the time. When going backwards driving in reverse, this means looking through your rear window most of the time. Steering with one hand and holding the passenger seat with the other can make it easier to look out of the rear window. A hill start, an emergency stop and reversing are exercises included in the practical driving test.

Question 8

When you’re NOT sure that it’s safe to reverse your vehicle you should

a) Use your horn

b) Rev your engine

c) Get out and check

d) Reverse slowly

Answer 8

c) Get out and check

It is tragic but true that people have been killed or seriously injured when struck by a vehicle being driven slowly in reverse gear. Young children, elderly and disabled people are especially vulnerable, often because they may not be aware of any danger.

Question 9

You are reversing from a driveway and cannot see clearly. There are many pedestrians around. You should

a) Continue whilst sounding your horn

b) Continue with you hazard lights on

c) Get someone to guide you

d) Continue: it is your right of way

Answer 9

c) Get someone to guide you

It is much safer to reverse from a road into a driveway in order later to be able to drive forward from the driveway into the road. Traffic on a road should normally be given priority over vehicles emerging from a driveway. Except in a motorway emergency, you should not switch on your hazard warning lights when your vehicle is moving.

Question 10

You want to reverse into a side road. You are not sure that the area behind your car is clear. What should you do?

a) Look through the rear window only

b) Get out and check

c) Check the mirrors only

d) Carry on, assuming it’s clear

Answer 10

b) Get out and check

Before you can reverse into a side road you must go past it and stop in a convenient position. As you pass the turning, drive slowly and glance into the side road to chek that the area is clear. Keep a sharp lookout for vulnerable road users and be ready to give priority to approaching traffic in the side road.

Question 11

You’re reversing your vehicle into a side road. When would the greatest hazard to passing traffic occur?

a) After you have completed the manoeuvre

b) Just before you actually begin the manoeuvre

c) After you have entered the side road

d) When the front of your vehicle swings out

Answer 11

d) When the front of your vehicle swings out

Just before you start to turn in reverse into the side road you should check for any traffic approaching in the main road. Remember that on a road for two-way traffic, anyone approaching you from the opposite side of the main road cannot see your reversing lights and will not necessarily expect the front of your vehicle to swing towards them as you reverse around the corner.

Question 12

When turning your car in the road, you should

a) Overhang the kerb

b) Use a driveway if possible

c) Check all around for other road users

d) Keep your hand on the handbrake throughout

Answer 12

c) Check all around for other road users

Whatever you are doing, you must be alert and show consideration for other road users. You should choose a safe and convenient place if you need to turn in the road. Do not put pedestrians in danger. Do not inconvenience other road users.

Question 13

You may make a U-turn

a) When it is safe on a wide road

b) On a motorway, when it is safe

c) In a wide one-way street

d) By mounting both pavements carefully

Answer 13

a) When it is safe on a wide road

Motorways are for one-way traffic only. It is extremely dangerous and a serious offence to drive the wrong way down a one-way street or on a motorway. Remember that pavements are for pedestrians. It is never safe to make a U-turn at a junction no matter how wide the roads are at the junction.

Question 14

While driving, you intend to turn left into a minor road. On the approach you should

a) Keep just left of the middle of the middle of the road

b) Keep in the middle of the road

c) Swing out wide just before turning

d) Keep well to the left of the road

Answer 14

d) Keep well to the left of the road

The road position in normal driving is on the left, keeping to the left and staying well clear of traffic coming from the opposite direction. Only long, large vehicles need to swing out wide, and then only just before turning.

Question 15

You are driving on a main road. You intend to turn right into a side road. Just before turning you should

a) Adjust your interior mirror

b) Flash your headlamps

c) Steer over to the left

d) Check for traffic overtaking on your offside

Answer 15

d) Check for traffic overtaking on your offside

Always check and, if necessary, adjust all your mirrors as part of your daily routine at the start of the day. If they ever need readjusting during the day, pull over and park in a safe, convenient place before attempting to readjust them. Only long, large vehicles need to swing left when they are turning right into a side road.

Question 16

You want to turn right from a main road into a side road. Just before turning you should

a) Cancel your right-turn signal

b) Select first gear

c) Check for traffic overtaking on your right

d) Stop and set the handbrake

Answer 16

c) Check for traffic overtaking on your right

If traffic is approaching from the opposite direction, you may need to wait with the right-hand indicators on, the handbrake set, the clutch down and your vehicle in first gear. But when your way forward is clear it is vital to check for traffic from behind before you start to turn.

Question 17

Motorcyclists will often look round over their right shoulder just before turning right. This is because

a) They need to listen for following traffic

b) Motorcycles do not have mirrors

c) Looking around helps them balance as they turn

d) They need to check for traffic in their blind area

Answer 17

d) They need to check for traffic in their blind area

Mirrors cannot show motorists and motorcyclists everything that is happening behind them. When you see a cyclist or motorcyclist up ahead you should be prepared for the rider to change speed and/or direction. Riders do not always glance back or even signal before turning.

Question 18

Which of the following are hazards motorcyclists present in queues of traffic?

• *_{Mark three answers}
  a) Cutting in just in front of you**

b) Riding in single file

c) Passing very close to your car

d) Riding with their headlamp on dipped beam

e) Filtering between the lanes

Answer 18

• *a) Cutting in just in front of you
  c) Passing very close to your car
  e) Filtering between the lanes**

Motorcycles are not as manoeuvrable as bicycles but they can move much faster and their riders are just as vulnerable as cyclists. In slow-moving traffic you should watch for the possibility of riders overtaking your vehicle on the nearside.

Question 19

You are driving in slow-moving queues of traffic. Just before changing your lane you should

a) Sound the horn

b) Look for motorcyclists filtering through the traffic

c) Give a ‘slowing down’ arm signal

d) Change down to first gear

Answer 19

b) Look for motorcyclists filtering through the traffic

When you are in a traffic queue, be patient and think carefully before changing lanes. If you really need to change lanes, make sure you use your mirrors and give an appropriate signal in good time.

Question 20

In which of these situations should you avoid overtaking

a) Just after a bend

b) In a one-way street

c) On a 30mph road

d) Approaching a dip in the road

Answer 20

d) Approaching a dip in the road

Overtaking is potentially the most dangerous manoeuvre because it often puts you in the path of traffic coming from the opposite direction at a high relative speed. For example, two cars travelling at 60mph will approach each other at a relative speed of 120mph so that the gap between them is closing at about 12 car lengths every second. If you must overtake, remember that the normal MSM-PSL routine becomes the PSL-MSM routine for overtaking. You need the best Position and Speed to Look ahead and in your Mirror before you Signal your intention to begin the overtaking Manoeuvre.

Question 21

You are driving at night and are dazzled by the headlights of an oncoming car. You should

a) Slow down or stop

b) Close your eyes

c) Flash your headlights

d) Pull down the sun visor

Answer 21

a) Slow down or stop

Keep your eyes open and on the road. Try to avoid looking directly at oncoming headlights. Do not dazzle other road users: dip your headlights in good time.

Question 22

You are driving a vehicle fitted with a hand-held telephone. To answer the telephone you MUST

a) Find a safe place to stop

b) Reduce your speed

c) Steer the car with one hand

d) Be particularly careful at junctions

Answer 22

a) Find a safe place to stop

Question 23

You should only use a hand-held telephone when

a) Your vehicle an automatic gear change

b) Driving at low speeds

c) You have stopped at a safe place

d) Travelling on minor roads

Answer 23

c) You have stopped at a safe place

You must stop to use a hand-held telephone. You may only stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway in a real emergency. You cannot pay proper attention to your driving if you are using any telephone.