Theory Test: Attitude

Watch the video or read the transcript below it.

The theory test questions from the attitude category are at the bottom of the page.

Attitude means

• Your frame of mind when you are driving
  
• How you react when you meet road hazards
  
• How you behave towards other drivers

Topics include:

• Consideration: treating other road users in a polite and correct manner
  
• Positioning: knowing vehicle road positions
  
• Courtesy: treating other drivers with respect
  
• Priority: understanding the rules of priority when driving.

Basically, this section tries to encourage you to be a careful, considerate and safe driver. Again, safety is the main concern. The DVSA want to instill in you an attitude that is polite, calm, considerate and above all safe.

A regular theme is your attitude towards other road users.

To help you answer such questions think what is the safest, most considerate option. E.g. Question. You wish to turn right ahead. Why should you take up the correct position in good time?

1. 1. To allow other drivers to pull out in front of you
2. 2. To give a better view into the road that you are joining
3. 3. To help other road users know what you intend to do
4. 4. To allow drivers to pass you on the right
   

The correct answer is 3 - the safest and most considerate option.

Common Themes

• Competitive driving and showing off whilst driving is dangerous. Young, inexperienced drivers can often be involved in crashes due to showing off and driving competitively.
  
• Fuel - diesel fuel when spilt is slippery. Always make sure your fuel cap is correctly replaced after filling up. A loose filler cap can waste fuel and money and make the road slippery for other road users.
  
• Rural Roads - slow down and be careful when approaching animals and livestock. When passing a horse move forward slowly and give plenty of room. If you encounter a farmer herding animals you should stop if he asks you to.

Pedestrian Crossings

• Never wave a pedestrian across at any crossing, as there may be another vehicle coming
• Pelican Crossing - the flashing amber light means give way to pedestrians already on the crossing
  
• Toucan Crossings - cyclists can ride across these
  
• Puffin Crossing - a steady amber light follows the green light. There is no flashing amber light. The red light will stay on until the pedestrians using it have reached a safe position
  
• Zebra Crossing - when approaching a zebra crossing if pedestrians are waiting to cross you must slow down and stop. If they fail to cross immediately you should continue to wait.
  

Vehicles with BLUE flashing beacons:

• bomb disposal
• blood transfusion
• police patrol
• mountain rescue
• coastguard
• ambulance
• fire engine
• When being followed by a vehicle with a flashing blue light you should pull over as soon as safely possible to let it pass.
  

Vehicle's with GREEN flashing beacons:

• doctor's car
  

Facts To Know

• Tailgating - this means following another vehicle too closely. It can be distracting and intimidating for the driver in front, and dangerous, as it could cause an incident if the vehicle in front stops suddenly.
  
• Two Second Rule - in good, dry conditions you should leave a two second between you and the vehicle you are following. In wet conditions the gap should be four seconds.
  
• Car Horn - only use this to alert other road users of your presence.
  
• Flashing Headlights - only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there.
  
• Full beam headlights - only use when on a unlit road at night when there is no traffic ahead of you.
  
• If it is safe to do so, give way to buses.
  
• Don't follow long vehicles too closely as doing so will reduce your view ahead.
  
• Diamond-shaped road signs give instructions to tram drivers only.
  
• Tram rails pose most risk to cyclists.
  
• In a one-way street, when wanting to turn right you should position your car in the right-hand lane.
  
• At an unmarked crossroads, slow down and look both ways.
  
• If a driver is following you too closely, slow down gradually and increase the distance between your car and the one in front of you.
  
• Give way to buses whenever it is safe to do so.
  
• If another road user cuts you up, drop back to leave the correct separation distance.
  
• When passing horses slow down and allow plenty of room.
  
• A loose filler cap on a diesel fuel tank may allow diesel to leak out, This will waste fuel and could make the road slippery for other road users, as diesel when spilt is slippery.

Theory Test Questions - Attitude Category