Theory Test Vehicle Handling

Watch the video or read the transcript below it.

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

The questions deal with how external factors, such as the weather, can affect the handling of your vehicle and overall road safety. As always, safety is the prime concern - a fact that is reflected in the answers to the questions.

Overtaking at night

• be careful because you can see less.
  
• beware of bends in the road ahead.
  
• don't dazzle other road users.
  
• If you are overtaken at night and you have your headlights on full beam, you should switch to dipped beam as the overtaking car draws level with you.

Facts To Know

• In heavy rain your overall stopping distance is likely to be doubled.
  
• If heavy snow is falling you should not drive unless it is essential.
  
• Areas reserved for trams may have white line markings, a different coloured surface, a different surface texture.
  
• You active the engine brake when you change to a lower gear.
  
• When driving up a steep hill lower gears will pull better, the engine will work harder, you will slow down sooner.
  
• On icy roads the distance you should driver from the car in front is ten times the normal distance.
  
• Coasting (rolling in neutral gear or holding the clutch pedal down) is dangerous because you will have less steering and braking control, and won't be able to make use of the engine brake.
  
• When using your brakes a lot i.e. when driving downhill you may notice that they don't work as well as normal. This is due to them overheating.
  
• You must use dipped headlights during the day if visibility is poor.
  
• When driving through a Ford (a small stream) remember, it could be more difficult in the winter, use a low gear and driver slowly, test your brakes afterwards, there may be a depth gauge, which will show how deep the water is.
  
• Traffic calming measures are used to slow traffic down.
  
• In windy weather, high-sided vehicles, cyclists, motorcyclists and cars towing caravans are likely to be most affected.
  
• To correct a rear-wheel skid you should steer into it.
  
• You must use dipped headlights during the day when visibility is poor.
  
• A rumble device is designed to alert you to a hazard.
  
• Areas reserved for trams may have a) white line markings b) a different coloured surface c) a different textured surface.

Box Junctions

• You may wait in a box junction when oncoming traffic prevents you turning right.
  
• Traffic calming measures, such as road humps, are designed to slow traffic down.
  
• Rumble strips, raised markings or yellow painted strips across the road, are designed to alert you to a hazard ahead, make you aware of your speed and encourage you to slow down.

Driving in Fog

When driving in fog:

• Leave plenty of time for the journey.
• Only drive when absolutely necessary.
• Reduce your speed, as it is harder to see ahead.
• Keep well back from vehicles in front, as they may stop suddenly.
• Turn on rear fog lights when visibility drops below 100 metres (328 feet).
• Front fog lights should only be used when visibility is seriously reduced.
• When fog clears you must turn off fog lights, as they can dazzle other road users and cause brake lights to be less clear.
• Driving with fog lights on when visibility is above 100 metres is breaking the law.
• Before driving in fog check you lights are working and make sure your windows are clean.

Motorways

• On a well-lit motorway at night always use dipped headlights
  
• If you break down on the motorway, or have to stop on the hard shoulder you must turn your headlights off and turn on the sidelights.
  
• The left-hand side of a motorway lane edge is marked by red reflective studs.
  
• The reflective studs between lanes are white.
  
• The right-hand edge of a motorway lane is marked by amber reflective studs.
  
• The reflective studs between the carriageway and slip road are green.

DSA Theory Test Questions - Vehicle Handling Category