Traffic Signs, Car Control & Pedestrians

What does a circular road sign with a red border generally indicate?

• AA prohibition or restriction that must be obeyed✓
• BAdvance warning of a hazard ahead
• CA direction or route to follow
• DInformation about a service or facility

Answer: Circular signs give orders, and those with a red border are generally prohibitive, telling drivers what they must not do, such as no entry or no overtaking. Blue circles give a positive instruction that must be obeyed.

What is the shape of most warning signs that alert drivers to a hazard ahead?

• ATriangular with a red border✓
• BCircular with a blue background
• CRectangular with a green background
• DOctagonal with a red background

Answer: Most warning signs are triangular with a red border, giving advance notice of a hazard such as a bend, junction or steep hill. The octagonal shape is reserved exclusively for the STOP sign.

At a pelican crossing, what does a flashing amber light mean to a driver?

• AGive way to pedestrians on the crossing, but proceed if it is clear✓
• BStop and wait as you would at a red light
• CThe crossing is out of order and should be ignored
• DAccelerate to clear the crossing before pedestrians arrive

Answer: A flashing amber at a pelican crossing means you must give way to any pedestrians on the crossing, but you may proceed once the crossing is clear. The pelican is the only signal-controlled crossing that uses a flashing amber phase.

Which type of pedestrian crossing has no flashing amber phase and instead uses a red and green man signal controlled by sensors that detect waiting pedestrians?

• AA puffin crossing✓
• BA pelican crossing
• CA zebra crossing
• DA pegasus crossing

Answer: A puffin crossing uses sensors to detect waiting and crossing pedestrians and shows the red and green man on the near side, with no flashing amber phase. It holds the red signal only as long as pedestrians need, improving traffic flow.

A pegasus (equestrian) crossing differs from other crossings because it includes which additional feature?

• AA higher control panel and signals for horse riders✓
• BAn audible bleep only, with no visual signal
• CA barrier that physically blocks the road
• DA flashing green man for cyclists only

Answer: A pegasus crossing provides a second, higher-mounted control button and signal positioned for horse riders, in addition to the standard pedestrian controls. This allows riders to operate the crossing without dismounting.

To help a pupil develop smooth clutch control when moving off, what is the key skill they must learn to find?

• AThe biting point where the clutch begins to transmit drive✓
• BFull clutch engagement before releasing the handbrake
• CMaximum engine revs before lifting the clutch fully
• DHolding the clutch fully down while accelerating hard

Answer: Smooth moving off depends on finding the biting point, where the clutch plates begin to engage and the car starts to take up drive. Holding the clutch steady at this point while releasing the handbrake gives controlled, stall-free moving off.

What is meant by 'coasting' and why is it considered a fault?

• ATravelling with the clutch down or in neutral, reducing steering and braking control✓
• BBraking gently to slow for a hazard ahead
• CAccelerating smoothly through a bend
• DUsing engine braking on a long downhill gradient

Answer: Coasting means travelling with the clutch held down or the gearbox in neutral, which removes engine braking and reduces the driver's control over the vehicle, particularly on bends and downhill. Because it lengthens stopping and weakens control, it is treated as a fault.

Which group of road users is the Highway Code's hierarchy of road users designed to give the greatest protection to?

• APedestrians, particularly children, older and disabled people✓
• BDrivers of large goods vehicles
• CMotorcyclists overtaking in queues
• DCar drivers travelling at the speed limit

Answer: The hierarchy of road users places those most at risk in the event of a collision at the top, giving pedestrians, especially children, older and disabled people, the greatest protection. Those in charge of vehicles that can cause the most harm bear the greatest responsibility to reduce danger.

When a pedestrian is waiting to cross at a junction into which you are turning, what does the Highway Code now require?

• AYou should give way to the pedestrian waiting to cross✓
• BThe pedestrian must wait until all traffic has turned
• CYou should sound your horn to warn them
• DYou have priority because you are already moving

Answer: The Highway Code requires drivers to give way to pedestrians waiting to cross or crossing a road into which the driver is turning. This rule strengthened the priority of pedestrians at junctions under the hierarchy of road users.