You're driving on a motorway. What does it mean if the car ahead shows its hazard warning lights for a short time?
- A The driver wants you to overtake
- B The driver is going to change lanes
- C Traffic ahead is slowing or stopping suddenly
- D There's a police speed check ahead
Why this is the answer
Hazard warning lights must not be switched on in normal driving. The exception is when driving on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway and there's a need to warn drivers behind of a hazard or obstruction ahead.
Why the other answers don't fit
- A
- The driver wants you to overtake — Hazard lights are not an invitation to overtake.
- B
- The driver is going to change lanes — A lane change is signalled with one indicator.
- D
- There's a police speed check ahead — They are not used to warn about speed checks.
Where this comes from
- Driving: the essential skills — section 11
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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