Section 4 - Safety Margins

Question 1

thinking distance + braking distance =

Answer 1

stopping distance

Question 2

thinking distance

Answer 2

the distance travelled in the time it takes to react to a situation

Question 3

braking distance

Answer 3

distance travelled from when you start to use the brakes to when your car completely stops

Question 4

at 20mph, thinking and stopping distance ?

Answer 4

thinking distance: 6m
braking distance: 6m
stopping distance: 12m

Question 5

at 30mph, thinking and stopping distance?

Answer 5

thinking distance:9m
braking distance 14m
stopping distance 23m

Question 6

at 40mph, thinking and stopping distance?

Answer 6

thinking distance: 12m
braking distance: 24m
stopping distance:36m

Question 7

at 50mph, thinking and stopping distance?

Answer 7

thinking distance: 15m
braking distance: 38m
stopping distance: 53 m

Question 8

at 60mph, thinking and stopping distance?

Answer 8

thinking distance: 18m
braking distance: 55m
stopping distance 73m

Question 9

at 70mph, thinking and stopping distance?

Answer 9

thinking distance: 21m
braking distance 75m
stopping distance: 96m

Question 10

in wet weather leave a ….

Answer 10

4 second gap (double the distance to dry)

Question 11

in icy weather leave a …

Answer 11

20 second gap (10 times the distance)

Question 12

Heavy rain

Answer 12

• water can collect on the road surface and causes AQUAPLANING
• Aquaplaning is where tyres lift off the road surface and skate on a film of water
  -the steering becomes light

You should:
- ease of the accelerator
-do not brake until the steering feels normal again

if you’ve driven through deep water such as a ford or flood teste your brakes as you may need to dry the out by pressing lightly on the brake pedal as you drive

Question 13

Freezing conditons

Answer 13

• can make roads very slippery which will make your car harder to control
• before journey clear ice and snow from windows, light, mirrors and number plates

you should:
-keep your speed down
-brake gently and in plenty of time
- be prepared to stop and clean snow from your windscreen by hand if the wipers cannot keep it clear .

Question 14

Hot and/or bright

Answer 14

• road surface can become soft affecting breaking and steering
• bright sunlight can dazzle, other drivers might not be able to see your indicators flashing, give an arm signal if you think it’ll be helpful.

Question 15

Fog

Answer 15

-reduces visibility, remember to
- allow more time for your journey
-slow down because you cannot see as far ahead as usual
- increase the gap between your vehicle and the one in front of you.
- use dipped headlights even in daylight.

If visibility falls below 100m (328ft) you should use fog lights, you MUST switch them off when fog lifts

Question 16

Wind

Answer 16

• high wind can blow you off course especially on an open stretch of road. It has EVEN greater effect on:
• high-sided vehicles
  -vehicles towing trailers or caravans
  -motorcyclists
  -cyclists

take care and allow extra room if you pass these users as they may be blown off by a sudden gust of wind. Check your LEFT side as you pass them

Question 17

Skidding

Answer 17

this is when the tyres lose grip on the road and it’s caused by the driver
road surface and tyre conditions can increase the risk of skidding, but skids are the result of how the drive controls acceleration, braking, speed and steering

there is a greater risk of skidding in wet and icy conditions
black ice can be a hazard but is not obvious until you feel the steering becoming light.

Question 18

to reduce the risk of skidding in slippery conditions you should …

Answer 18

• drive at a low speed
  -in the highest gear you can use effectively

Question 19

to reduce the risk of skidding in general …

Answer 19

• scan the road ahead for road signs and markings
• plan to slow down gradually before you reach a hazard such as a bend.
• avoid sudden steering and bends

Question 20

anti-lock braking system (ABS) is designed …

Answer 20

to prevent skidding caused by excessive braking. Wheel speed sensors anticipate when a wheel is about to lock, which could lead to skidding.

if you have to brake suddenly when you’re driving a vehicle with ABS
- press footbrake quickly and firmly
-don’t release the brake pedal until your vehicle has stopped

Question 21

ABS does not necessarily reduce your…

Answer 21

stopping distance but you can keep steering while braking because the wheels are prevented from locking.

• it may not work well if there’s :
• surface water eg. after heavy rainfall
• a loose road surface, such as gravel.

Question 22

ABS will prevent skidding caused by

Answer 22

braking too hard

Question 23

Anti-skid technology

Answer 23

Electronic stability control ESC is a computer-controlled system that combines the functions of ABS and traction control.

• It detects loss of traction and automatically makes corrective adjustments to prevent loss of control
• when the system operates the driver may be unaware of how close the car is to its handling limits
• to alert the driver =, the ESC indicator lam0p will flash on when the ESC operates
• ESC cannot overcome the laws of physics, if the driver is travelling too fast, there’s a risk of losing control

-ESC is fitted to all new cars sold in the EU, but some manufacturers give it a different name eg.. ESP Electronic Stability Programme

Question 24

what is a contraflow system?

Answer 24

where one or more lanes have a direction of traffic against that of the rest of the carriageway

Question 25

when you enter a contraflow system you should …

Answer 25

• reduce your speed in good time
• choose a suitable lane in good time and look for signs advising you to use a particular lane i9f you want to take an exit coming up or have a wide vehicle
• keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front

Question 26

when you enter a contraflow system you should …

Answer 26

• reduce your speed in good time
• choose a suitable lane in good time and look for signs advising you to use a particular lane i9f you want to take an exit coming up or have a wide vehicle
• keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front