UK Driving Theory Questions Test 4

A white rectangle with a black diagonal line through it indicates the end of a restriction — most commonly the end of a national speed limit zone returning to a lower limit, or the end of a prohibition. In the context of speed, it signals that the previous restriction has ended.

Once you have passed a motorway exit you must not reverse on the motorway as this is illegal and extremely dangerous. You must continue to the next exit and leave the motorway there, then use other roads or re-join the motorway to return. Reversing on a motorway is a serious criminal offence.

In queuing traffic, you should only move forward when you can do so without stopping in a box junction or blocking an exit. On a motorway, you should also leave sufficient space in front to allow emergency vehicles through if needed and to avoid creating a concertina effect.

A flashing amber sign with a speed limit but no red circle is advisory, not mandatory. It warns of a hazard ahead such as an incident or congestion. You should reduce your speed accordingly and proceed with caution, but it is not legally enforceable in the same way as a sign inside a red circle.

In a skid caused by heavy braking on snow, you should release the brake pedal to allow the wheels to rotate again, which restores steering control. Then steer gently in the direction you want to go. Braking harder locks the wheels further and makes the skid worse.

You must leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking a cyclist at speeds up to 30 mph and more at higher speeds. If an oncoming vehicle is approaching and completing the overtake safely is not possible, you must wait behind the cyclist until the oncoming vehicle has passed and the road is clear.

If no collision occurred and there is no injury or damage, you are not legally required to stop. However, if there had been any contact, damage or injury, stopping would be a legal requirement under the Road Traffic Act 1988.

Flashing headlights should only be used to let other road users know you are there. You must not use them to give instructions or invite other drivers to proceed, as this could be misinterpreted and cause a collision with traffic the other driver cannot see.

When another vehicle moves into your lane, your priority is to avoid a collision. You should sound your horn to alert the driver, hold back if possible, and create space. Never accelerate to force your way through — this dramatically increases collision risk.

In a genuine emergency on a motorway, the hard shoulder may be used. Switch on hazard lights, reduce speed progressively, pull onto the hard shoulder as far left as possible, and call 999. Stopping in a live lane is extremely dangerous and must be avoided at all costs.

When taking a third exit or going right around a roundabout, you should approach in the right-hand lane. If you are already in the left lane at the roundabout entrance, you should not cut across to the right. You must signal left as you pass the exit before yours and exit safely.

In the UK, a road with streetlights but no speed limit signs has a default speed limit of 30 mph. This rule applies unless signs indicate otherwise. Streetlighting at regular intervals is the key indicator of this default limit.

After driving through water such as a ford, your brakes may be temporarily less effective due to water on the disc or drum surfaces. You should test them as soon as it is safe by applying gentle pressure, then allowing them to dry out by driving slowly with light brake pressure applied.

You must never rely on another driver's indicator to decide when to pull out. The driver may have forgotten to cancel their signal or may change their mind. You must wait until the vehicle has actually committed to turning before proceeding.

Large vehicles need to swing wide before turning to allow their trailer to follow a tighter arc. You must not try to pass on the left as the lorry swings right — the trailer will sweep across that space during the turn. Hang well back and wait until the lorry has completed its manoeuvre.

A red line through a mobile phone sign on a motorway is a reminder that using a handheld mobile phone while driving is illegal. This applies to all uses including calls, texting, scrolling, and photography. The fixed penalty is £200 and 6 penalty points.

When ABS activates, you should maintain firm continuous pressure on the brake pedal and steer around the hazard if needed. ABS prevents wheel lockup and allows steering control during braking. Pumping the pedal reduces ABS effectiveness and increases stopping distance.

Motorway signs are mandatory and based on real-time information from sensors and cameras which can detect queues before they are visible to drivers. You must comply with the displayed speed limit immediately even if you cannot yet see the hazard ahead.

Before entering a tunnel you should switch on dipped headlights even in daylight, remove sunglasses, check your mirrors and adjust speed to comply with any limit shown. Tunnels create sudden changes in light levels that can temporarily blind you if unprepared.

At 20 mph the total stopping distance is 12 metres — thinking distance of 6 metres plus braking distance of 6 metres. With 15 metres available you should be able to stop, but only if you are alert and reacting normally. This illustrates exactly why 20 mph limits exist near schools and residential areas.

A cattle warning sign means animals may be on or crossing the road ahead. You should reduce speed significantly and be prepared to stop, as cattle can appear suddenly from gates or fields and a collision at speed would be extremely dangerous for both you and the animals.

On a smart motorway without a permanent hard shoulder, you should try to reach an emergency refuge area marked with blue signs and an orange SOS phone. If you cannot reach one, move as far left as possible, switch on hazard lights and call 999 immediately.

A blue circular sign with a white arrow and bicycle symbol indicates a mandatory route for cyclists only. Motor vehicles are not permitted to use this route. Blue circular signs are always mandatory orders, not advisory guidance.

A green filter arrow means you may proceed in the direction of the arrow even though the main lights are red. Traffic in other lanes will be held by red signals, so it is safe to turn in the direction of the arrow. You should still check for pedestrians crossing before proceeding.

Box junction rules state you must not enter unless your exit is clear. However, there is a specific exception — you may enter a box junction to turn right if your exit is clear and you are only waiting for a gap in oncoming traffic. This is the only permitted reason to wait inside a box junction.

A sudden headlight failure on a motorway at night is extremely dangerous. You should switch on your hazard lights immediately to warn following traffic, reduce speed gradually, and move to the hard shoulder as safely as possible to stop and call for assistance.