Section 2: Vehicle loading Flashcards
Which THREE are suitable restraints for a child under three years?
- *Mark three answers**
- *a) A child seat**
b) An adult holding a child
c) An adult seat belt
d) A lap belt
e) A harness
f) A baby carrier
- *b) A child seat**
- *d) A harness
d) A baby carrier**
The seat belt law requires the driver and passengers of all ages in the front of the vehicle to be restrained unless exempt on medical or other grounds. Passengers travelling in the rear of cars or taxis must be restrained where a seat belt is fitted and available. Ideally, a child under 3 years of age should be protected by a purpose-designed restraint appropriate to the child’s weight. A carry cot held by straps or an infant carrier is suitable for a child under 1 year old. For a child over 1 but under 3 years of age an appropriate child seat or booster cushion with an adult belt is suitable. If a seat belt is not available in the rearm a child under 3 years old should be restrained by an adult.
Would it be safe to allow children to sit BEHIND the rear seats of a hatchback car?
a) Yes, if you can see clearly to the rear
b) Yes, if they’re under 11 years
c) No, unless all the other seats are full
d) No, not in any circumstances
d) No, not in any circumstances
Never carry children behind in the rear seats of an estate car or hatchback. If you stopped suddenly in an emergency, they would be thrown forward with considerable force against the windscreen, the other passengers or yourself. This could result in sever injuries or even death.
What do child locks in a vehicle do?
a) Lock the seat belt buckles in place
b) Lock the rear windows in the up positon
c) Stop children from opening rear doors
d) Stop the rear seats from tipping forward
c) Stop children from opening rear doors
Children can do what you least expect. They have been known to undo their restraint and open a door whilst the car is travelling at speed. Make sure you set the child locks of the rear doors when you have children in the back. If possible have an adult passenger with you to keep an eye on them.
Your car is fitted with child safety door locks. When used this means that normally
a) The rear doors can only be opened from the outside
b) The rear doors can only be opened from the inside
c) All the doors can only be opened from the outside
d) All the doors can only be opened from the inside
a) The rear doors can only be opened from the outside
Child-proof safety locks can only be put on or taken off when the rear doors are open to allow access to a small lever built into the doors themselves.
Your vehicle is fitted with child safety door locks. You should use these so that children inside cannot open
a) The right-hand doors
b) The left-hand doors
c) The rear doors
d) Any of the doors
c) The rear doors
Child-proof safety locks are independent of any central locking system. Adult passengers travelling in the rear of your car may be irritated if they cannot open their door.
When your vehicle is loaded you MUST make sure that the load will
a) Remain secure
b) Be easy to unload
c) Not be damaged
d) Not damage the vehicle
a) Remain secure
As the driver, you are responsible for the vehicle you are driving even if you are still a new learner. You would be the one committing an offence if yout vehicle is in any way unroadworthy, for example by being overloaded or having an insecure load.
Any load that is carried on a roof rack MUST be
a) Securely fastened when driving
b) Carried only when strictly necessary
c) As light as possible
d) Covered with a plastic sheeting
a) Securely fastened when driving
Causing danger by carrying an insecure load is an offence. Luggage on a roof rack increases fuel consumption and running costs. Overloading the roof rack makes a car less stable and could provide an insurance company with a reason for not honouring a claim. If something (say a ladder) on the roof rack overhangs your vehicle by more than 2m (61/2 feet) you must make the overhang obvious to other road users. You could fix a projection triangle or tie a red cloth to the overhanging end of the load.
You should load a trailer so that the weight is
a) Mostly over the nearside wheel
b) Evenly distributed
c) Mainly at the front
d) Mostly at the rear
b) Evenly distributed
It is an offence to tow a trailer which is overloaded or which has an insecure or dangerously projecting load. When you are towing a trailer (or caravan) the national speed limit is 50mph on single-carriageway roads and 60mph on dual carriageways and motorways. And you must not park on the road at night without lights.
Before towing a caravan you should ensure that heavy items in it are loaded
a) As high as possible, mainly over the axle(s)
b) As low as possible, mainly over the axle(s)
c) As low as possible, forward of the axle(s)
d) As high as possible, foward of the axle(s)
b) As low as possible, mainly over the axle(s)
Racing cars are built to be as low to the ground as possible to minimise their tendency to tip over, especially when cornering. If you are towing a trailer or caravan, make sure its gross laden weight does not exceed 85% of the kerbside weight of your car and its nose weight does not exceed the maximum downward load of your car’s towing hitch.
Are passengers allowed to ride in a caravan that is being towed?
a) Yes
b) No
c) Only if all the seats in the towing vehicle are full
d) Only if a stabiliser is fitted
b) No
Just as no one should travel in a towed caravan, no one should travel in the boot of a hatchback car.
You are towing a small trailer on a busy three-lane motorway. All the lanes are open. You must
- *Mark two answers
a) Not exceed 60mph**
b) Not overtake
c) Have a stabiliser fitted
d) Use only the left and centre lanes
- *a) Not exceed 60mph**
- *d) Use only the left and centre lanes**
Different motorway restrictions apply to different vehicles. The speed limits are 70mph and 60mph unless signs indicate otherwise. You would need to travel a very long distance at 60mph to overtake a long vehicle travelling at 59mph.
If a trailer swerves or snakes when you are towing you should
a) Ease off the accelerator and reduce your speed
b) Let go of the steering wheel and let it correct itself
c) Brake hard and hold pedal down
d) Increase your speed as quickly as possible
a) Ease off the accelerator and reduce your speed
Experienced drivers know how to adjust their speed to the changing road conditions so that their caravan or trailer remains stable.
You are towing a caravan. Which is the safest type of rear-view mirror to use?
a) Interior wide-angle-view mirror
b) Extended-arm side mirrors
c) Ordinary door mirrors
d) Ordinary interior mirror
b) Extended-arm side mirrors
Towing a caravan is similar to driving a large articulated lorry and having to rely on external mirrors to check on the traffic conditions behind the caravan or lorry.
How can you stop a caravan snaking from side to side?
a) Turn the steering wheel slowly each side
b) Accelerate to increase your speed
c) Stop as quickly as you can
d) Slow down very gradually
d) Slow down very gradually
The higher the speed the greater the risk of a caravan or trailer snaking. The maximum speed you are allowed to drive at when towing a caravan or trailer is 60mph on dual carriageways or motorways. Remember that towing becomes more dangerous in windy conditions.
You are towing a trailer and experience snaking. How would you reduce it?
a) Ease off the accelerator slowly
b) Press the accelerator firmly
c) Steer sharply
d) Brake hard
a) Ease off the accelerator slowly
If you are steering in a straight line and you feel your car and caravan starting to swing from side to side, this is a sure sign that you are travelling too fast. If you apply your brakes too soon and too hard there is a risk of the caravan jack-knifing.
