Traffic Signs, Car Control & Pedestrians

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

• AAdvance warning of a hazard ahead
• BA direction or route to follow
• CInformation about a nearby service, facility or tourist attraction
• DA prohibition or restriction that must be obeyed✓

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?

• ACircular with a blue background
• BRectangular with a green background
• CTriangular with a red border✓
• 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?

• AStop and wait as you would at a red light
• BAccelerate to clear the crossing before any waiting pedestrians step out onto it
• CThe crossing has failed and the signals should be ignored until they are repaired
• DGive way to pedestrians on the crossing, but proceed if it is clear✓

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, with no separate signal for horse riders?

• AA zebra crossing
• BA puffin crossing✓
• CA pelican crossing
• DA pegasus crossing, which adds a higher signal for horse riders

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. A pegasus (equestrian) crossing uses this same puffin-style technology but adds a separate, higher-mounted signal and button for horse riders, so a puffin crossing, which has no rider signal, is the correct answer here.

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

• AA barrier that drops across the carriageway to physically block the road
• BA higher control panel and signals for horse riders✓
• CAn audible bleep only, with no visual signal
• 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?

• AHolding the clutch pedal fully down while accelerating hard in first gear
• BMaximum engine revs before lifting the clutch fully
• CFull clutch engagement before releasing the handbrake
• DThe biting point where the clutch begins to transmit drive✓

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✓
• BUsing engine braking on a long downhill gradient
• CAccelerating smoothly through a bend
• DBraking gently to slow for a hazard ahead

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?

• ACar drivers who are travelling within the posted speed limit at all times
• BMotorcyclists overtaking in queues
• CDrivers of large goods vehicles, because of the size of their vehicles
• DPedestrians, particularly children, older and disabled people✓

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 sound your horn to warn them
• BThe pedestrian must wait on the pavement until all turning traffic has passed
• CYou should give way to the pedestrian waiting to cross✓
• 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.

What does a blue circular sign generally indicate?

• AAdvance information about a tourist route
• BA warning of a hazard ahead
• CA positive instruction that must be obeyed✓
• DA prohibition on a particular manoeuvre

Answer: Blue circles give a positive instruction, such as turn left ahead or a minimum speed. Circles with a red border prohibit, triangles warn and rectangles inform.

Which sign shape is used exclusively for the STOP sign?

• AOctagonal✓
• BCircular with a blue background
• CTriangular
• DRectangular

Answer: The octagon is used for STOP alone, so that its meaning can still be recognised from its outline if the face is obscured by snow or dirt. No other UK sign uses that shape.

What is the minimum legal tread depth for a car tyre across the central three-quarters of the breadth and around the entire circumference?

• A1.6 mm✓
• B3.0 mm
• C1.0 mm
• D2.0 mm

Answer: The legal minimum is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread and around the whole circumference. Below that the tyre is illegal and the penalty applies per tyre.

What is the most likely consequence of driving with tyres inflated below the recommended pressure?

• AImproved grip in wet conditions because more rubber contacts the road
• BWear concentrated in the centre of the tread only
• CA reduction in stopping distance at speed
• DWear on the outer edges and vaguer steering response✓

Answer: An under-inflated tyre flexes at the sidewall so the shoulders take more load, wearing the outer edges, raising rolling resistance and making the steering feel vague. Over-inflation produces the opposite pattern, wearing the centre.

An amber ABS warning light stays lit after the engine is started. What does this indicate?

• AThe brake fluid has been overfilled
• BThe handbrake is still applied
• CThe brakes have failed completely and the car must not be moved
• DThe anti-lock system has a fault, though normal braking remains✓

Answer: A lit ABS warning means the anti-lock function is not working, so the wheels may lock under heavy braking. The conventional brakes normally still operate, but the vehicle should be checked promptly because the safety margin is reduced.

What does the term 'block changing' gears mean?

• AMissing out intermediate gears, such as fifth to third✓
• BHolding the clutch down between every gear change
• CSelecting neutral between each pair of gears
• DChanging gear only when the engine reaches maximum revolutions

Answer: Block changing skips gears that are not needed, such as going straight from fifth to third on approach to a hazard. It reduces the number of changes, keeps a hand on the wheel for longer and lets the driver concentrate on the road.

What is the correct response if the rear of the car begins to skid to the right?

• ABrake firmly and steer to the left
• BDepress the clutch and hold the steering straight
• CEase off the accelerator and steer right, into the skid✓
• DApply the handbrake to bring the rear back into line

Answer: In a rear-wheel skid the driver steers into the direction the rear has moved, so a skid to the right is corrected by steering right, while easing off the accelerator. Braking or steering the opposite way makes the skid worse.

What is the main cause of skidding?

• AWorn suspension bushes
• BThe driver, through harsh braking, steering or acceleration✓
• CA cold engine that has not reached operating temperature
• DCross-ply tyres fitted to the front axle

Answer: Skids are caused by the driver asking more of the tyres than the available grip allows, usually through braking, steering or accelerating too harshly for the surface. Road conditions and vehicle condition contribute, but the driver's input is the trigger.

What does double white lines with a broken line nearest to you mean?

• AYou may cross to overtake if the road ahead is clear✓
• BYou may park alongside the lines during daylight
• CYou must not cross the lines under any circumstances
• DThe road ahead is one-way only

Answer: When the line nearer to you is broken you may cross the markings to overtake, provided it is safe and you can return before the line becomes solid on your side. When the nearer line is solid, you must not cross except in the defined exceptions.

What do white diagonal stripes or chevrons bordered by a solid white line indicate?

• AA lane reserved for buses and taxis
• BA pedestrian refuge that may be crossed at low speed
• CAn area where parking is permitted outside peak hours
• DAn area separating traffic streams✓

Answer: Hatched markings separate traffic streams or protect a right-turn lane. If the border is solid you must not enter except in an emergency; a broken border means you should not enter unless it is necessary and safe.

In the traffic light sequence, what follows the red light?

• AFlashing amber
• BAmber alone
• CGreen alone
• DRed and amber together✓

Answer: The sequence is red, then red and amber together, then green, then amber, then red again. Red and amber together still means stop; the lights have not yet changed to green.

What is meant by the 'thinking distance' component of stopping distance?

• AThe distance needed to change down through the gears
• BThe distance travelled while the brakes are slowing the vehicle
• CThe distance a driver should keep from the vehicle ahead in fog
• DThe distance covered before the brakes begin to act✓

Answer: Thinking distance covers reaction time, from seeing the hazard to the brakes taking effect, and it grows in direct proportion to speed. It is lengthened by tiredness, alcohol, drugs and distraction, none of which affect braking distance in the same way.

Why should a driver avoid resting a hand on the gear lever while driving?

• AIt interferes with the operation of the clutch
• BIt prevents the engine from reaching its most economical revolutions
• CIt disables the reversing lights
• DIt wears the selector mechanism and takes a hand off the wheel✓

Answer: Continuous light pressure on the lever bears on the selector mechanism and wears it, and the hand is not on the wheel where it is needed. Both hands should be on the wheel unless a control genuinely requires otherwise.

A pupil consistently steers by crossing their hands on the wheel. How should this be treated?

• AAs acceptable if the vehicle stays under full control✓
• BAs a fault only when reversing
• CAs an automatic serious fault on the driving test
• DAs grounds to stop the lesson immediately

Answer: DVSA does not require a particular steering technique and does not fail a candidate for crossing hands as such. What is assessed is whether the vehicle is kept under control and on the correct course.

What should be checked when carrying out an engine oil level check?

• AThe engine should be running at fast idle while the dipstick is read
• BThe vehicle should be parked facing downhill to drain oil to the sump
• CThe dipstick reading should be taken immediately after a long drive
• DLevel ground, engine off and cool, dipstick wiped and reinserted✓

Answer: An accurate reading needs level ground, a stopped engine and enough time for oil to drain back to the sump. Wiping and reinserting the dipstick removes splash from the tube so the level shown is the real one.

What is the purpose of the catalytic converter?

• ATo silence the exhaust note
• BTo improve fuel economy by restricting flow
• CTo convert harmful exhaust gases into less harmful ones✓
• DTo increase engine power at low revolutions

Answer: The catalytic converter treats exhaust gases, converting carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen into less harmful products. It is an emissions device rather than a performance or noise component.

How does a driver check the condition of the brakes as part of moving off?

• ATest the footbrake for firmness and a square stop at low speed✓
• BRely on the brake warning light alone
• CApply the handbrake at speed to confirm it holds
• DPump the brake pedal rapidly while stationary

Answer: A firm pedal and a straight, even stop at low speed early in the drive confirms the brakes are working and not pulling to one side. Using the handbrake at speed as a test is dangerous and can lock the rear wheels.