Theory Test Alertness Category

To learn all about the Alertness category, watch the video or read the article below.

The theory test featuring questions from this category is at the bottom of the page.

Topics Include

Observation: making sure you know what other road users are in your vicinity.
Anticipation: thinking well in advance about what other road users may do next.
Concentration: understanding the actions of other road users whilst driving.
Distraction: making sure you focus on your driving and avoid distraction.
Concentration: staying alert when driving & knowing what factors may affect your driving.

Safety is the main concern. Understand this, add some common sense, and many of the questions are easy to answer.

Always ask yourself, which is the safest option?

E.g. You lose your way on a busy road. What is the best action to take?

Stop at traffic lights and ask pedestrians.
Shout to other drivers to ask them the way.
Turn into a side road, stop and check a map.
Check a map, and keep going with the traffic flow.

To answer the question ask yourself, which is the safest option? Safety and common sense should tell you it’s answer 3, stopping somewhere safe and convenient is an answer that repeats itself throughout the test. Why? Because this is the safest option.

Common Themes

Mobile phones – eight questions exist that concern mobile phone usage. The facts you need to know are:

Never use a hand-held mobile phone while driving
If you receive a call while driving pull up and stop in a safe, convenient location before answering it.
The reason you can’t use a hand-held mobile phone while driving is because it will cause you to lose concentration.
Although you can use a hands-free mobile phone while driving it is still likely to divert your attention from the road.

Staying focused while driving.

Have regular rest stops, alays take a break after driving for two hours
Plan your route before setting off

Facts to Know

Blind Spot
An area not covered by your mirrors.

Overtaking
Never overtake on the brow of a hill, approaching a bend, approaching a dip in the road, approaching a left-hand junction.

Large Vehicles
keep well back when following a large vehicle as this helps the driver of the vehicle see you in their mirrors.

Tired Whilst Driving
Then find a suitable place to stop and get some rest. Allow fresh air into your vehicle.

Losing Concentration
Loud music, using a mobile phone, tuning the car radio, looking at a map and objects hanging from your interior mirror can all cause you to lose concentration and distract your attention.

A-Frames
Also known as windscreen pillars can obstruct your view of the road, especially when approaching a bend or junction. At junctions always be look twice for cyclists and motorcyclists.

Headlights
Always turn your lights on at dusk, even if the street lights have yet to come on. You use lights so other road users can see you.

Overtaking
Never overtake while approaching a junction, a dip in the road or a brow of a hill.

Alcohol and illegal substances (drugs)
The will affect your ability to drive. Don't drive when under their influence.

Medicine
Don't drive if you have taken a medicine that has the potential to make your feel tired and groggy. If unsure, consult your doctor.

Reversing
If you can't see behind you when reversing, ask someone to guide you.

Lights
Switch on your car lights when it starts to get dark, even if the street lights aren't on.

Use your horn to be 'seen'
Where you can't be seen, such as at a hump bridge, you may need to sound your horn to warn other road users of your presence.

Hanging Objects
Objects hanging from your interior mirror may restrict your view.

25 votes, 4.8 avg

Theory Test: Alertness Category

1 / 22

You are waiting to turn right onto a dual carriageway. What should you do before emerging?

(mark ONE answer)

Stop, apply the handbrake and then select a low gear

Position your vehicle well to the left of the side road

Check that the central reservation is wide enough for your vehicle

Make sure that you leave enough room for a vehicle behind

2 / 22

What does the tem 'blind spot' mean for a driver?

(mark ONE answer)

An area covered by your right-hand mirror

An area not covered by your headlights

An area covered by your left-hand mirror

An area not covered by your mirrors

3 / 22

You are travelling along this narrow country road. When passing the cyclists you should go

(mark ONE answer)

slowly, sounding the horn as you pass

quickly, leaving plenty of room

slowly, leaving plenty of room

quickly, sounding the horn as you pass

4 / 22

When you are moving off from behind a parked car you should

(mark THREE answers)

Look round before you move off

Use all the mirrors on the vehicle

Look round after moving off

Use the exterior mirrors only

Give a signal if neccessary

Give a signal after moving off

5 / 22

You are driving at dusk. You should switch your lights on

(mark TWO answers)

Even when the street lights are not lit

So others can see you

Only when others have dome so

Only when street lights are lit

6 / 22

Objects hanging from your interior mirror may

(mark TWO answers)

Restrict your view

Improve your driving

Distract your attention

Help your concentration

7 / 22

You are approaching traffic lights that have been on green for some time. You should

(mark ONE answer)

Accelerate hard

Maintain your speed

Be ready to stop

Brake hard

8 / 22

Why are these yellow lines painted across the road?

(mark ONE answer)

To help you choose the correct lane

To help you keep the correct separation distance

To make to aware of your speed

To tell you the distance to the roundabout

9 / 22

On a long motorway journey boredom can cause you to feel sleepy. You should

(mark TWO answers)

Leave the motorway and find a safe place to stop

Keep looking around at the surrounding landscape

Drive faster to complete your journey faster

Ensure a supply of fresh air into your vehicle

Stop on the hard shoulder for a rest

10 / 22

When following a large vehicle you should keep well back because this

(mark ONE answer)

Allows you to corner more quickly

Helps the large vehicle to stop more easily

Allows the driver to see you in the mirrors

Helps you to keep out of the wind

11 / 22

When you see a hazard ahead you should use the mirrors. Why is this?

(mark ONE answer)

Because you will need to accelerate out of danger

To access how your actions will affect following traffic

Because you will need to brake sharply to stop

To check what is happening on the road ahead

12 / 22

You are driving on a wet road. You have to stop your vehicle in an emergency. You should

(mark ONE answer)

Apply the handbrake and footbrake together

Keep both hand on the wheel

Select reverse gear

Give an arm signal

13 / 22

You cannot see clearly behind when reversing. What should you do?

(mark ONE answer)

Open your window to look behind

Open the door and look behind

Look in the nearside mirror

Ask someone to guide you

14 / 22

Windscreen pillars can obstruct your view. You should take particular care when

(mark ONE answer)

Driving on a motorway

Driving on a dual carriageway

Approaching a one-way street

Approaching bends and junctions

15 / 22

Which FOUR are most likely to cause you to lose concentration while you are driving?

(mark FOUR answers)

Using a mobile phone

Talking into a microphone

Tuning your car radio

Looking at a map

Checking the mirrors

Using the demisters

16 / 22

You are waiting to turn right at the end of a road. Your view is obstructed by parked vehicles. What should you do?

(mark ONE answer)

Stop and then move forward slowly and carefully for a proper view

Move quickly to where you can see so you only block traffic from one direction

Wait for a pedestrian to let you know when it is safe for you to emerge

Turn your vehicle around immediately and find another junction to use

17 / 22

In which of these situations should you avoid overtaking?

(mark ONE answer)

Just after a bend

In a one-way street

On a 30 mph road

Approaching a dip in the road

18 / 22

You are driving on a motorway and want to use your mobile phone. What should you do?

(mark ONE answer)

Try to find a safe place on the hard shoulder

Leave the motorway and stop in a safe place

Use the next exit and pull up on the slip road

Move to the left lane and reduce your speed

19 / 22

You must not use a hand-held phone while driving. Using a hands-free system

(mark ONE answer)

Is acceptable in a vehicle with power steering

Will significantly reduce your field of vision

Will affect your vehicle's electronic systems

Is still likely to distract your attention from the road

20 / 22

Your vehicle is fitted with a navigation system. How should you avoid letting this distract you while driving?

(mark ONE answer)

Keep going and input your destination into the system

Keep going as the system will adjust to your route

Stop immediately to view and use the system

Stop in a safe place before using the system

21 / 22

You lose your way on a busy road. What is the best action to take?

(mark ONE answer)

Stop at traffic lights and ask pedestrians

Shout to other drivers to ask them the way

Turn into a side road, stop and check a map

Check a map, and keep going with the traffic flow

22 / 22

You should ONLY use a mobile phone when

(mark ONE answer)

Receiving a call

Suitably parked

Driving at less than 30 mph

Driving an automatic vehicle

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