Theory Hub UK Theory Test

What should you teach a pupil to do if another driver flashes their headlights?

Why this is the answer

Sometimes another road user will use a signal whose meaning is open to interpretation. When this happens, learner drivers should make sure they understand what the other driver intends before taking any action.

Why the other answers don't fit

A
Ignore it, as the signal is not an official one — A flash carries no fixed meaning in law, and ignoring it entirely throws away information.
C
Stop and wait for further information — Stopping in the road to wait for an explanation creates a hazard of its own.
D
Flash their headlights back at the other driver — Flashing back adds a second ambiguous signal to the first.

Where this comes from

  • Driving: the essential skills — section 10

Rule numbers link to The Highway Code on gov.uk.

Where this question comes from

The question, its options and the explanation are reproduced word for word from the DVSA revision question bank under licence. The licence requires them to appear unaltered, so we cannot reword them and neither can anyone else — that is why you will meet the same wording on other sites. Everything else on this page is written by Theory Hub: the explanation of why each wrong answer is wrong, the topic guide and the revision notes.

More about our sources and licence

Asked in: Driving Instructor (ADI Part 1)

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