The road
136 questions
What this topic tests
How a large vehicle behaves on the road and in the weather. Nearly every answer follows from mass and height: a laden lorry takes longer to stop, a tall one catches the wind, and both effects are larger than a car driver would expect.
- Gradient and gravity — going downhill a laden vehicle needs more braking effort and a longer distance.
- Side wind on exposed sections, where the most vulnerable vehicle of all is an unladen box body.
- Spray: your own suppression equipment, checked before every journey, and the spray you throw at others.
- Two seconds in the dry, and considerably more when it is not.
- Overtaking on a motorway — check the lane beyond the one you are moving into, not only the one you are entering.
The mark people lose: Assuming an empty vehicle is the safer one. An unladen lorry with a box body is the vehicle most easily blown off course.
- High-sided vehicles can be affected by side wind. On which type of road is this most likely?
- How could you reduce the problems caused by a strong side wind when driving an empty curtain-sided vehicle on an exposed bridge?
- How is a strong wind likely to affect your bus?
- How much longer can your stopping distance be in snow than in dry weather?
- How should you drive through flood water?
- How should you slow down or stop when you're driving on an icy road?
- How should you use the brakes in icy weather?
- How will gravity affect a laden vehicle going downhill?
- In fast traffic, when should you leave a two-second gap between your vehicle and the one in front?
- In strong winds, an overtaking lorry can cause additional air turbulence that can affect other road users. Which vehicle is most at risk from this turbulence?
- In which type of weather is spray-suppression equipment particularly useful?
- It's raining heavily. What effect could this have when you overtake a cyclist?
- It's raining. Why would a motorcyclist steer around drain covers on a bend?
- It's very windy and you're overtaking a motorcyclist on a motorway. What should you be aware of that may cause them problems?
- The entrances to roundabouts are often slippery when they're wet. How should you deal with this hazard?
- The road is wet. Why should you slow down as you approach this pedestrian?
- This vehicle is fitted with spray-suppression equipment. In what weather conditions will it be most useful?
- What component fitted to your vehicle will help following drivers in wet weather?
- What do you need to be aware of when you drive over an exposed suspension bridge?
- What do you need to be careful of when you're driving in high winds?
- What does it indicate if you see white lights on a vehicle at night?
- What does this motorway sign mean?
- What ground conditions are suitable for a tipper lorry to tip its load?
- What might happen if using the brakes continuously causes them to overheat?
- What must bus and coach drivers do when they park their vehicle on the road at night?
- What must you be certain of before you overtake at night?
- What problem may you have when driving at night?
- What should you be aware of when you're overtaking on a motorway while it's raining heavily?
- What should you do after overtaking on a dual carriageway?
- What should you do as you approach a zebra crossing?
- What should you do as you approach these roadworks?
- What should you do before changing lanes to overtake on a motorway?
- What should you do before driving your high-sided lorry in windy weather?
- What should you do before driving your lorry away from a wet construction site at the side of a motorway?
- What should you do before overtaking on a single carriageway road?
- What should you do before you start to overtake a lorry?
- What should you do if an overtaking vehicle pulls in too close in front of you?
- What should you do if you intend to overtake a lorry that's throwing up spray?
- What should you do if you see a vehicle too close behind when you're driving in traffic on the motorway?
- What should you do when you drive in windy weather?
- What should you do when you overtake a cyclist on a two-way road?
- What should you do when you park your vehicle on a two-way road at night?
- What should you do when you want to join a motorway where traffic is flowing freely?
- What should you do when you're overtaking a motorcyclist in very windy conditions?
- What time gap should you leave when you're following a vehicle on a wet road?
- What will affect a double-deck bus more than a single-deck bus?
- What's a buffer lane?
- What's a crawler lane for?
- What's the best way to control your vehicle when driving on snow?
- What's the greatest risk to your safety when you're overtaking on a motorway in very wet weather?
- What's the minimum distance you should allow for braking when it's raining heavily?
- When are air deflectors most effective?
- When do drivers of long vehicles need to straddle lanes?
- When do long vehicles sometimes need to straddle lanes?
- When is a buffer lane most likely to be in use?
- When is a high-sided vehicle most affected by side wind?
- When may vehicles over 7.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass (MAM) use the right-hand lane of a motorway to overtake?
- When may you use your vehicle's hazard warning lights while it's moving?
- When should you check your vehicle's spray-suppression equipment?
- When should you not overtake?
- When should you use a crawler lane?
- When should you use the two-second rule?
- When would weight transference be most likely to occur?
- Where are these lights found?
- Where would you anticipate problems when you're driving a high-sided vehicle on a windy day?
- Where would you expect to find buffer lanes?
- Which lane should you use when you're driving on a clear motorway, at the speed limit for your vehicle?
- Which of these vehicles is most at risk from strong side wind?
- Which road users are most likely to be affected by the turbulence created by large vehicles travelling at speed?
- Which vehicle is least likely to be affected by high wind?
- Which vehicle is most at risk in windy conditions?
- Which vehicles are most likely to be affected by high winds?
- Why are brushes fitted to this vehicle's wheel arch?
- Why can visibility be worse when driving at high speed in wet weather?
- Why is it dangerous to follow a heavy goods vehicle too closely?
- Why is tailgating dangerous?
- Why should you be aware of motorcyclists on a motorway when there are gusty winds?
- Why should you be especially aware of parked cars when you're driving at night?
- Why should you take care before moving into the centre lane of a three-lane motorway?
- Why should you take extra care when overtaking at night?
- You'll be driving a high-floor coach. You'll be going over several high bridges. Why should you check the weather forecast before starting your journey?
- Your lorry has a curtain-sided body. Your route will take you over several high-level bridges. Why should you check the weather forecast before starting your journey?
- You're about to pass this car. What's the main hazard you should be aware of?
- You're driving a bus at night on a road without street lighting. Why could it be dangerous to overtake?
- You're driving a bus on a windy day. What should you do when you're overtaking a motorcyclist?
- You're driving a bus. Where should you be aware of the risk of grounding?
- You're driving a fully laden vehicle approaching an uphill gradient. What will happen if you start to overtake?
- You're driving a high-sided vehicle in very windy conditions. Where should you avoid travelling?
- You're driving a high-sided vehicle on a motorway. Where should you be especially aware of the effects of side wind?
- You're driving a high-sided vehicle on a motorway. You should anticipate the effects of side wind. When is this most likely to happen?
- You're driving a large vehicle in gusty conditions. Which vehicle is most likely to be affected by buffeting when you overtake it?
- You're driving a large vehicle in heavy rain on a motorway. You slow down to reduce the risk of aquaplaning. For what other reason should you slow down?
- You're driving a long bus. When would you need to straddle lanes?
- You're driving a long vehicle and want to turn right at a roundabout ahead. How should you signal if you need to occupy the left-hand lane?
- You're driving a lorry from a wet construction site onto a motorway. Why must you take extra precautions before leaving the site?
- You're driving a lorry of more than 7.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass along a motorway. When can you use the right-hand lane to overtake?
- You're driving a lorry towards a high bridge on a windy day. What should you expect?
- You're driving along a motorway and see this sign. What does it mean?
- You're driving along a motorway in thick fog at night. The reflective studs are red on your left and white on your right. Which lane are you in?
- You're driving an articulated lorry on a three-lane motorway. When can you drive in the right-hand lane?
- You're driving an empty curtain-sided vehicle. Why might you consider tying the curtains open?
- You're driving at 50 mph (80 km/h) on a dry, level road. What gap should you leave between your vehicle and the one in front?
- You're driving at night. Why should you make sure that all your lights are clean and working correctly?
- You're driving at the speed limit in the left-hand lane of a motorway. What should you do if you see lorries merging from a slip road ahead?
- You're driving behind 2 cyclists. They're approaching a roundabout in the left-hand lane. What should you expect them to do?
- You're driving downhill. How will this affect your vehicle?
- You're driving in fog that's starting to clear. When should you switch off your high-intensity rear fog lights?
- You're driving in fog. When should high-intensity rear fog lights be used?
- You're driving in heavy rain. What should you do if your steering suddenly feels very light?
- You're driving in heavy rain. Why do you need to increase your distance from the vehicle in front?
- You're driving in the left-hand lane of a motorway. What should you do when you see a large vehicle merging from a slip road ahead?
- You're driving in the left-hand lane on a three-lane motorway. What should you check for before moving into the middle lane to overtake a slower vehicle?
- You're driving in town and see these lights flashing. What would you expect to see ahead?
- You're driving in wet conditions. What should you try to do before braking?
- You're driving in wet weather. What effect will faulty spray-suppression equipment have on other drivers?
- You're driving on a dual carriageway and intend to overtake the vehicle ahead. What should you do if there's a car approaching quickly behind you in the right-hand lane?
- You're driving on a motorway after it's been raining heavily. What should you do if spray is being thrown up, causing poor visibility?
- You're driving on a motorway and it's raining heavily. What should you do when spray is causing poor visibility?
- You're driving on a motorway in heavy rain. What could cause your steering to become unresponsive?
- You're driving on a motorway in heavy rain. When are you allowed to use high-intensity rear fog lights?
- You're driving on a motorway. What should you do if your view ahead is restricted by heavy spray?
- You're driving on a motorway. You look in your mirrors and see smoke coming from your rear tyres. What should you do?
- You're driving through the night. What could it mean if your steering feels lighter than normal?
- You're driving your lorry on the motorway. What should you do when visibility is reduced by heavy rain and spray?
- You're following a large vehicle. How can you improve your view ahead?
- You're in the centre lane of a motorway, overtaking another vehicle. What should you do before returning to the left-hand lane?
- You're in the left-hand lane on a three-lane motorway. Why should you check for any vehicles in the right-hand lane before you overtake?
- You're on a motorway and the surface is still wet after rain. Why should you take care when you're overtaking?
- You're on a motorway and there's a strong side wind. Which vehicle is particularly at risk?
- You're on a motorway, approaching a working snow plough. Why should you stay behind it?
- You're on a wet, level road, driving at 50 mph. What's the minimum time gap you should leave between your vehicle and the one in front?
- You're overtaking a motorcycle in windy conditions. Why should you check your nearside mirror?
- You're overtaking another lorry. What should you do if you start to lose speed due to an uphill gradient?
- You're waiting at a T-junction. What should you do if you see a vehicle is coming from the right, with its left indicator flashing?
- You've just overtaken another large vehicle. How do you know when it's safe to move back to the nearside lane?
- You've just overtaken another vehicle on a motorway. What should you avoid when moving back to the left?