Hazard awareness theory test questions

4 free questions here · 21 in the app (coming soon)

Checked against GOV.UK · Report a mistake

  1. Hazard awareness

    You are following a slow-moving car through a residential stretch with traffic-calming chicanes. The road briefly widens between two chicanes. What should you do about overtaking?

    1. AOvertake in the wider section before the next chicane
    2. BOvertake if the car ahead is below the speed limit
    3. COvertake after signalling to warn the driver ahead
    4. DStay behind while within the traffic-calming stretch
    Answer and reason

    D. Stay behind while within the traffic-calming stretch. Do not overtake moving road users within a stretch of traffic-calming measures. Source: The Highway Code, rule 153

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  2. Hazard awareness

    A pedestrian stands at the kerb ahead, looking away from your approaching car. What should you anticipate?

    1. AThey may step into the road without seeing you
    2. BThey have noticed you even though they are looking away
    3. CThey will always turn towards you before stepping out
    4. DThey will stay on the pavement until traffic stops
    Answer and reason

    A. They may step into the road without seeing you. Pedestrians looking the other way may step into the road without seeing you. Source: The Highway Code, rule 146

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  3. Hazard awareness

    You are following a motorcyclist on a road with drain covers and oily patches. Why might the rider suddenly change direction?

    1. ATo avoid the poor road surface
    2. BTo let you overtake them safely
    3. CTo read a direction road sign
    4. DTo test their brakes are working
    Answer and reason

    A. To avoid the poor road surface. Riders may suddenly avoid drain covers and oily, wet or icy patches. Source: The Highway Code, rule 213

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  4. Hazard awareness

    You are driving on a country road towards a turning that is partly hidden by hedges. Why should you reduce your speed?

    1. AYou must stop and sound your horn at hidden turnings
    2. BCountry roads have a 30 mph limit near every turning
    3. CFarm vehicles may emerge, or there may be mud on the road
    4. DTraffic from hidden turnings always has priority
    Answer and reason

    C. Farm vehicles may emerge, or there may be mud on the road. On country roads, slow down for partly hidden turnings and be ready for farm vehicles or mud on the road. Source: The Highway Code, rule 154

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What this topic covers

This topic focuses on recognising situations that could call for a change in your driving. Think about what you can see, what might develop and how to plan your response.

These are our own practice questions, drafted with AI help and checked against their cited sources. No driving instructor has reviewed them: how we write and check our questions. Hazard perception is not covered.

Read more: Hazard perception guide.

Other theory test topics

Return to the topic question hub or choose another area to practise.

Try a mixed mock theory test

The one free UK mock has 50 questions across the topics. Most of these sample questions also appear in that mock.

Sources

  1. The Highway Code: General rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders (103 to 158), GOV.UK
  2. The Highway Code: Road users requiring extra care (204 to 225), GOV.UK

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Traffic sign images are Crown copyright, from the Department for Transport. Sources and image credits.

Continue in the app

This page shows 4 of the 21 hazard awareness questions in our bank. The DriveQuiz app is coming soon with all 21, and Pro will bring back the ones you get wrong until you get them right.

Read each explanation before moving on. Follow its official source to understand the rule in context, then consider why the other choices would be unsuitable. A short sample can help you identify a point to revisit, but it cannot tell you everything that might be asked in the real test. Use the official reading alongside your practice and return to topics you find difficult.