What this topic covers
How your car responds depends on the conditions. This covers braking in the wet, dealing with skids, driving at night and using the correct lights.
Practice questions
Q1You're driving on an icy road. To keep control you should:
On ice, reduce speed and use gentle inputs. A higher gear reduces wheelspin, and braking or steering gently helps you keep grip.
Q2Your car begins to skid. What's the first thing to do?
Take your foot off the accelerator and steer gently in the direction of the skid. Avoid harsh braking, which usually makes a skid worse.
Q3When should you use dipped headlights in the daytime?
Use dipped headlights when visibility is poor, such as heavy rain or gloom, so other road users can see you.
Q4Driving at night, an oncoming car dazzles you. You should:
If you're dazzled, slow down or stop if necessary until your eyes recover. Don't retaliate with full beam.
Q5You're going downhill on a steep hill. To control your speed you should:
A lower gear lets the engine help control your speed, so the brakes don't overheat and fade on a long descent.
Q6In heavy rain your steering suddenly feels light. This probably means:
Water can lift the tyres off the road (aquaplaning). Ease off the accelerator, don't brake or steer harshly, and let your speed fall.
Q7You may use your rear fog lights only when visibility is:
Use rear fog lights only when visibility drops below about 100 metres, and switch them off when it improves so you don't dazzle others.
Q8Crossing an exposed bridge in a strong side wind, you should:
Open, exposed stretches catch crosswinds. Slow down, grip the wheel and be ready for sudden gusts as you leave the shelter of trees or buildings.
Q9After a long dry spell, the first rain can make the road surface:
Rain mixes with oil and rubber left on a dry road, making it unusually slippery at first. Slow down and leave extra room.
Q10Driving at night, you should drive so that you can stop within:
Never drive faster than lets you stop within the distance you can see to be clear — at night that's usually the range lit by your headlights.
Q11Stopped facing uphill at traffic lights, you should:
Use the handbrake so the car can't roll back, then move off smoothly when the lights change.
Q12When moving off in deep snow, it usually helps to:
Gentle acceleration in a higher gear reduces wheelspin and helps the tyres grip in snow.
Q13Going through roadworks with a lower temporary speed limit, you should:
Temporary limits are there for safety — lanes may be narrow and workers nearby. Slow down and keep within your lane.
Q14Braking continuously down a long, steep hill can cause:
Constant braking overheats the brakes so they work less well. Select a lower gear and let engine braking help.
Q15You should slow down for a sharp bend:
Lose speed before the bend so you can steer smoothly through it. Braking hard mid-bend can unsettle the car.
Ready for the real thing?
Mix this topic with all the others in a full, timed mock test.