Practical Driving Test in UK / Alertness Category

Practical Driving Test in UK / Alertness Category

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?

1. Stop at traffic lights and ask pedestrians
2. Shout to other drivers to ask them the way
3. Turn into a side road, stop and check a map
4. 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, always 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) 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.
  
• Objects hanging from your interior mirror may restrict your view. 

1	On a long motorway journey boredom can cause you to feel sleepy. You should (mark TWO answers) Knowledge and Understanding Plan your journey to include suitable rest stops. You should take all possible precautions against feeling sleepy while driving. Any lapse of concentration could have serious consequences.   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
2	When following a large vehicle you should keep well back because this (mark ONE answer) Knowledge and UnderstandingIf you are following a large vehicle but are so close to it that you can not see the exterior mirrors, the driver can�t see you. Keeping well back will also allow you to see the road ahead by looking past either side of the large vehicle.   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
3	When you see a hazard ahead you should use the mirrors. Why is this? (mark ONE answer) KKnowledge and UnderstandingYou should be constantly scanning the road for clues about what is going to happen next. Check your mirrors regularly, particularly as soon as you spot a hazard. What is happening behind may affect your response to hazards ahead.   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
4	You are driving on a wet road. You have to stop your vehicle in an emergency. You should (mark ONE answer) Knowledge and UnderstandingAs you drive, look well ahead and all around so that you are ready for any hazards that might occur. There may be occasions when you have to stop in an emergency. React as soon as you can whilst keeping control of the vehicle.   Apply the handbrake and footbrake together  Keep both hand on the wheel  Select reverse gear  Give an arm signal
5	You cannot see clearly behind when reversing. What should you do? (mark ONE answer) Knowledge and UnderstandingIf you want to turn your car around try to find a place where you have good all-round vision. If this isn�t possible and you are unable to see clearly, then get someone to guide you.   Open your window to look behind  Open the door and look behind  Look in the nearside mirror  Ask someone to guide you
6	Windscreen pillars can obstruct your view. You should take particular care when (mark ONE answer) Knowledge and UnderstandingWindscreen pillars can obstruct your view, particularly at bends and junctions. Look out for other road users, particularly cyclists and pedestrians, as they can be hard to see.   Driving on a motorway  Driving on a dual carriageway  Approaching a one-way street  Approaching bends and junctions
7	To answer a call on your mobile phone while travelling you should (mark ONE answer) Knowledge and UnderstandingNo phone call is important enough to risk endangering lives. It is better to switch your phone off completely when driving. If you must be contactable plan your route to include breaks so you can catch up on messages in safety. Always choose a safe and convenient place to take a break, such as a lay-by or service area.   Reduce your speed wherever you are  Stop in a proper and convenient place  Keep the call time to a minimum  Slow down and allow others to overtake
8	Which FOUR are most likely to cause you to lose concentration while you are driving? (mark FOUR answers) Knowledge and UnderstandingIt is easy to be distracted. Planning your journey before you set off is important. A few sensible precautions are to tune your radio to stations in your area of travel, take planned breaks, and plan your route. Except for emergencies it is illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving. Even using a hands-free kit can distract your attention.   Using a mobile phone  Talking into a microphone  Tuning your car radio  Looking at a map  Checking the mirrors  Using the demisters
9	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) Knowledge and UnderstandingAt junctions your view is often restricted by buildings, trees or parked cars. You need to be able to see in order to judge a safe gap. Edge forward slowly and keep looking all the time. Do not cause other road users to change speed or direction as you emerge.   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
10	In which of these situations should you avoid overtaking? (mark ONE answer) Knowledge and Understanding   Just after a bend  In a one-way street  On a 30 mph road  Approaching a dip in the road
11	You are driving on a motorway and want to use your mobile phone. What should you do? (mark ONE answer) Knowledge and UnderstandingExcept in a genuine emergency you MUST NOT use your mobile phone when driving. If you need to use it leave the motorway and find a safe place to stop. Even a hands-free phone can distract your attention. Use your voicemail to receive calls. Driving requires all of your attention, all of the time.   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
12	You must not use a hand-held phone while driving. Using a hands-free system (mark ONE answer) Knowledge and UnderstandingWhile driving your concentration is required all the time. Even using a hands-free kit can still distract your attention from the road. Any distraction, however brief, is potentially dangerous and could cause you to lose control. Except in a genuine emergency, it is an offence to use a hand-held phone while driving.   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
13	Your vehicle is fitted with a navigation system. How should you avoid letting this distract you while driving? (mark ONE answer) Knowledge and UnderstandingVehicle navigation systems can be useful when driving on unfamiliar routes. However they can also distract you and cause you to lose control if you look at or adjust them while driving. Pull up in a convenient and safe place before adjusting them.   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
14	You lose your way on a busy road. What is the best action to take? (mark ONE answer) Knowledge and UnderstandingIt is easy to lose your way in an unfamiliar area. If you need to check a map or ask for directions, first find a safe place to stop.   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
15	You should ONLY use a mobile phone when ( mark ONE answer) Knowledge and UnderstandingIt is illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving, except in a genuine emergency. Even using hands-free kit can distract your attention. Park in a safe and convenient place before receiving or making a call or using text messaging. Then you will also be free to take notes or refer to papers.   Receiving a call  Suitably parked  Driving at less than 30 mph  Driving an automatic vehicle