You're driving along a dual carriageway and have to brake hard in a straight line. Which wheels do most of the braking?
- A It's evenly distributed between the front and rear wheels
- B The rear wheels
- C It will alternate from one side of the car to the other
- D The front wheels
Why this is the answer
When brakes are applied on a car moving in a straight line, they slow the rotation of the wheels but the rest of the car tries to continue moving forward. This shifts more of the car's weight onto the front wheels, making steering more difficult. If the car is cornering when the brakes are applied, the weight shifts both forward and towards the outside of the bend, thus the weight is loaded onto one front wheel. In severe cases, this can lead to skidding or even cause the car to roll over.
Why the other answers don't fit
- A
- It's evenly distributed between the front and rear wheels — Braking throws the weight forward, so the split is never even.
- B
- The rear wheels — The rear wheels are the lightest loaded under braking and do the least.
- C
- It will alternate from one side of the car to the other — Weight moves forward, not from side to side, when you brake in a straight line.
Where this comes from
- Driving: the essential skills — section 5
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.
Asked in: Driving Instructor (ADI Part 1)
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