Safety margins theory test questions

5 sample safety margins questions

1. Safety margins

   In fog, you can see only a short stretch of clear road ahead. The rear lights of another car are visible farther away. What should determine your speed?

   1. AKeeping close enough to follow the other car's lights
   2. BMaintaining the speed you used before the fog
   3. CMatching the speed of the visible rear lights
   4. DStopping well within the distance you see clearly
   Answer and reason

   D. Stopping well within the distance you see clearly. In fog, you should be able to stop well within the distance you can see clearly; rear lights can mislead. Source: The Highway Code, rule 235

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2. Safety margins

   During heavy rain, your steering becomes unresponsive as water prevents the tyres gripping the road. How should you reduce speed?

   1. AMake repeated sharp turns while maintaining speed
   2. BBrake sharply to push the tyres through the water
   3. CEase off the accelerator and slow gradually
   4. DKeep accelerating until the steering responds again
   Answer and reason

   C. Ease off the accelerator and slow gradually. If water makes the steering unresponsive, ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually. Source: The Highway Code, rule 227

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3. Safety margins

   At 50 mph, what is the thinking distance shown in the Highway Code's stopping-distance guide?

   1. A21 metres
   2. B15 metres
   3. C9 metres
   4. D18 metres
   Answer and reason

   B. 15 metres. Rule 126's diagram shows 15 metres of thinking distance at 50 mph. Source: The Highway Code, rule 126, Typical stopping distances diagram: 50 mph

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4. Safety margins

   You are driving on a road that may be icy. Which of these is a sign that your vehicle is losing its grip on ice?

   1. AThe steering feels heavier and the tyres make more noise
   2. BThe steering feels unresponsive and the tyres go quiet
   3. CThe tyres make a loud rumbling noise
   4. DThe steering responds normally and tyre noise increases
   Answer and reason

   B. The steering feels unresponsive and the tyres go quiet. Rule 231: on ice the steering may feel unresponsive and tyres make almost no noise. Source: The Highway Code, rule 231

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5. Safety margins

   In icy or snowy weather, stopping distances can reach how many times the dry distance?

   1. ATen times
   2. BFive times
   3. CThree times
   4. DTwo times
   Answer and reason

   A. Ten times. 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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