Stopping distances quiz

Stopping distances quiz

1. Your view ahead gets shorter on a winding road. How should you choose your speed?

   1. ATo keep up with the car behind
   2. BTo match the speed limit
   3. CTo stop within the distance you can see
   4. DTo get round the bends quickly
   Answer and reason

   C. To stop within the distance you can see. Drive at a speed that will allow you to stop well within the distance you can see to be clear. Source: The Highway Code, rule 126

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2. On a high-speed road in good conditions, what is the smallest gap to leave behind the vehicle in front?

   1. AOne second
   2. BTwo seconds
   3. CThree seconds
   4. DFour seconds
   Answer and reason

   B. Two seconds. Allow at least a two-second gap on high-speed roads and in tunnels where visibility is reduced. Source: The Highway Code, rule 126

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3. You were keeping a two-second gap and it starts to rain. What gap should you now leave, at least?

   1. ATwo seconds
   2. BThree seconds
   3. CFour seconds
   4. DOne second
   Answer and reason

   C. Four seconds. The gap should be at least doubled on wet roads. Source: The Highway Code, rule 126

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4. In the Highway Code chart, what is the typical overall stopping distance at 30 mph?

   1. A12 metres
   2. B23 metres
   3. C36 metres
   4. D53 metres
   Answer and reason

   B. 23 metres. 9 metres of thinking distance plus 14 metres of braking distance: 23 metres, about six car lengths. Source: The Highway Code, rule 126

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5. In the same chart, what is the typical thinking distance at 70 mph?

   1. A9 metres
   2. B15 metres
   3. C21 metres
   4. D75 metres
   Answer and reason

   C. 21 metres. Thinking distance goes up by 3 metres for every 10 mph: 21 metres at 70 mph. Braking adds 75 metres, for 96 metres in total. Source: The Highway Code, rule 126

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6. How much greater can stopping distances be on icy or snowy roads than on dry roads?

   1. ATwice as great
   2. BFive times as great
   3. CTen times as great
   4. DNo greater
   Answer and reason

   C. Ten times as great. In icy or snowy weather, stopping distances can be ten times greater than on dry roads. Source: The Highway Code, rule 230

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7. In fog, why should you not trust the rear lights of the car in front to tell you your gap is safe?

   1. AThey can give a false sense of security
   2. BThey are always too bright
   3. CThey are not allowed in fog
   4. DThey hide the road signs
   Answer and reason

   A. They can give a false sense of security. Keep a safe distance: rear lights can give a false sense of security. Be able to pull up well within the distance you can see clearly. Source: The Highway Code, rule 235

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8. Traffic stops while you are in a tunnel. What is the smallest gap to leave to the vehicle in front?

   1. A1 metre
   2. B2 metres
   3. C5 metres
   4. D10 metres
   Answer and reason

   C. 5 metres. If you have to stop in a tunnel, leave at least a 5-metre gap between you and the vehicle in front. Source: The Highway Code, rule 126

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