Theory Test Safety & Your Vehicle

To learn all about the Safety & Your Vehicle category, watch the video or read the article below.

The theory test featuring questions from the Safety & Your Vehicle category is at the bottom of the page.

Topics Include

  • Fault Detection: being able to detect vehicle problems real or potential and the consequences of them.
  • Vehicle Defects: understanding how and why a vehicle that isn’t roadworthy vehicle can endanger life.
  • Emissions: understanding the regulations that govern vehicle emissions.
  • Noise: preventing excessive noise.
  • Safety Equipment: knowing how to use any safety equipment a road vehicle may have.

The Environment

Many questions concern the the effects cars have on the environment. These effects are basically considered to be negative. In relation to the Theory test, cars pollute; consuming fuel is bad; using less fuel is good. So remember this when answering the questions, for example:

Question: Motor vehicles can harm the environment. This has resulted in (mark 3 answers)

1. air pollution

2. damage to buildings

3. less risk to health

4. improved public transport

6. using up natural resources

The correct answers are 1, 2 and 6.

Increased Fuel Consumption

The following increase fuel consumption, which is considered bad for the environment.
  • Under inflated tyres
  • Harsh braking
  • Harsh, rapid acceleration
  • A roof rack
  • Over-revving in low gear
  • Carrying unecessary weight
To reduce fuel consumption
  • Plan you journey
  • Use gently, steady acceleration
  • Get your car serviced regularly
  • Reduce your speed
  • Watch traffic and plan ahead
  • Avoid very short car journeys
  • Miss out some gears when conditions allow

Other Environment Facts to Know

  • Driving at 70mph uses 30% more fuel than driving at 50mph.
  • Catalytic Converters are part of the exhaust system. They reduce toxic exhaust emissions.
  • Road transport accounts for 20% of all emissions.
  • Red routes in cities exist to help the traffic flow.
  • Light Rapid Transit (LRT) systems are environmentally friendly because they are powered by electricity, so they don’t emit toxic fumes.
  • A roof rack fitted to your car will increase fuel consumption.
  • Servicing your car regularly will help give you better fuel economy.
  • Eco-safe driving leads to improved road safety and helps the environment by reducing exhaust emissions.
  • Missing out some gear changes can help save fuel by reducing the amount of time you are accelerating.

Avoiding Congestion

Avoiding congestion makes driving less stressful and can help you save fuel. Always try to:

  • plan your route before starting out
  • avoid driving at times when roads will be busy, as you are less likely to be delayed
  • allow plenty of time for your journey.

Plan you route by:

  • looking at a map
  • using sat-nav equipment
  • checking for road works with a motoring organisation
  • using a route planner on the internet.

Car Security

Common sense answers many of these questions. E.g. Question: When leaving your vehicle parked and unattended you should?
  1. park near a busy junction
  2. park in a housing estate
  3. remove the key and lock it
  4. leave the left indicator on
As I’m sure you know, the correct answer is 3.

Other Facts You Need to Know

  • When parking remove any valuables and take them with you. If you have to leave them then lock them out of sight.
  • Never leave vehicle documents in a car.
  • Etching the car number on the windows may deter car theft, as does adding an immobiliser.

Car Maintenance

  • Check tyre pressure when the tyres are cold.
  • Dispose of a used car battery and engine oil by taking them to a garage or local authority site.
  • The fluid used to top up a car battery is distilled water. The level you need to fill it to is just above the cell plates.
  • Uneven or excessive tyre wear can cause faults in the braking system, wheel alignment and the suspension.
  • Low levels of brake fluid can cause you to crash.
  • Brake fade is caused by overheating brakes and will make your brakes less effective.
  • Consult a mechanic immediately if your anti-lock brake light stays on or your vehicle pulls to one side when braking.
  • If the anti-lock brakes warning light comes on and stays on you should consult a mechanic immediately.
  • The legal minimum depth of tread for car tyres over 3/4’s of the breadth is 1.6mm.
  • The law requires you to keep headlights, windscreen and seat belts in a good condition.
  • Too much oil in the engine can cause oil leaks.
  • Dry steering (steering whilst the car is stationary) can cause damage to the tyres and steering.
  • Unbalanced wheels on a car can cause the steering to vibrate.

Driving with under inflated tyres can affect

  • Fuel Consumption
  • make the steering seem heavy
  • Braking

Seat Belts & Safety Devices

  • It is the responsibility of the driver to make sure anyone under the age of 14 who is a passenger in the car wears an appropriate seatbelt.
  • Car passengers must wear a seat belt or restraint if one is available, unless they are exempt for medical reasons.
  • A child under 1.35 metres tall who is a passenger in the back seat of your car must wear a suitable child restraint. If such a restraint isn’t available then they must use an adult seat belt.
  • Make sure any front passenger airbag is deactivated when carrying a child in the front passenger seat using a rear-facing baby seat
  • In a collision a properly adjusted head restraint will help reduce the risk of neck injury.

Don't Park Your Car

  • On front of a property entrance.
  • At or near a bus stop.
  • Near the brow of a hill where the limited view of the road ahead makes it difficult to see whether it’s safe to pass the obstruction.
  • At a dropped kerb, as this is the place for wheelchair and mobility scooter users to get onto the road or pavement.
  • On the zigzag lines at a pedestrian crossing.

When parking you car at night on a road with a speed limit of 40mph or above you should leave the parking lights on.

Other Facts to Know

  • You must not sound your horn between 11.30pm and 7am in a built-up area.
  • Before a long journey check the engine’s oil levels. Too much oil in the engine can cause oil leaks.
  • Red routes have been introduced in major cities to help the traffic flow.
  • Road humps, chicanes and narrowings are traffic calming measures. When you encounter them you should slow down
  • You should only sound your horn in a built-up area between 7am and 11.30pm.
  • When parking on the road at night, park in the direction of the traffic. Use your parking lights if the speed limit is over 30mph.
  • Planning your journey before you start out will result in you having a more pleasant and easier journey, it will also help to ease congestion. Plan an alternative route just in case your preferred route is blocked.
  • Wear suitable shoes when driving as this will help you maintain control of the pedals.
5 votes, 5 avg

Theory Test: Safety & your Vehicle

1 / 31

What should you do when leaving your vehicle?

(mark one answer)

2 / 31

Which THREE does the law require you to keep in good condition?

(mark THREE answers)

3 / 31

To help protect the environment you should NOT

(mark one answer)

4 / 31

Your vehicle pulls to one side when braking. You should

(mark one answer)

5 / 31

It is illegal to drive with tyres that

(mark one answer)

6 / 31

How can you, as a driver, help the environment?

(mark THREE answers)

7 / 31

What will reduce the risk of neck injury resulting from a collision?

(mark one answer)

8 / 31

A roof rack fitted to your car will

(mark one answer)

9 / 31

The main cause of brake fade is

(mark one answer)

10 / 31

Driving with under-inflated tyres can affect

(mark TWO answers)

11 / 31

Rapid acceleration and heavy braking can lead to

(mark one answer)

12 / 31

You are carrying two 13 year old children and their parents in your car. Who is responsible for seeing that the children wear seat belts?

(mark one answer)

13 / 31

By avoiding busy times when travelling

(mark one answer)

14 / 31

You are parked on a road at night. Where must you use parking lights?

(mark one answer)

15 / 31

It is essential that tyre pressures are checked regularly. When should this be done?

(mark one answer)

16 / 31

The purpose of a catalytic converter is to reduce

(mark one answer)

17 / 31

Which of these is most likely to deter the theft of your vehicle?

(mark one answer)

18 / 31

Which of the following should not be kept in your vehicle?

(mark one answer)

19 / 31

What can cause heavy steering?

(mark one answer)

20 / 31

Which of these, if allowed to get low, could cause you to crash?

(mark one answer)

21 / 31

As well as planning your route before starting a journey, you should also plan an alternative route. Why us this?

(mark one answer)

22 / 31

Why is it a good idea to plan your journey to avoid busy times?

(mark one answer)

23 / 31

Excessive or uneven tyre wear can be caused by faults in which THREE of the following?

(mark THREE answers)

24 / 31

The pictured vehicle is environmentally friendly because it

(mark TRHEE answers)

Theory Test Tram

25 / 31

You enter a road where there are road hmps. What should you do?

(mark one answer)

26 / 31

You are checking your trailer tyres. What is the minimum legal thred depth over the central three quarters of its breadth?

(mark one answer)

27 / 31

You are carrying an 11-year-old child in the back seat of your car. They are under 1.35 metres in height. You MUST make sure that

(mark one answer)

28 / 31

You are using a rear-facing baby seat. You want to put it on the front passenger seat which is protected by a frontal airbag. What must you do before setting off?

(mark one answer)

29 / 31

You are parked at the side of the road. You will be waiting for some time for a passenger. What should you do?

(mark one answer)

30 / 31

You have too much oil in your engine. What could this cause?

(mark one answer)

31 / 31

You can save fuel when conditions allow by

(mark one answer)

Your score is

The average score is 82%

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