ADI Free Test #4

Slow-moving vehicles, such as a salt spreader or breakdown vehicle, may use a flashing amber beacon. On unrestricted dual carriageways, vehicles with a maximum speed of 25 mph (40 km/h) or less must use a flashing amber beacon.

If a vehicle is taking a long time to overtake, you should try to help the situation by slowing down. Your safety and the safety of other road users could be at risk if you maintain speed and prolong the time it takes for the overtaking manoeuvre to be completed.

All your concentration should be on your driving. Any pain you feel will distract you, and you should avoid driving when drowsy. The safest course of action is to wait until you've rested and feel better.

It's dangerous for vehicles to travel too close together. Visibility is reduced and there's a higher risk of collision if a vehicle brakes suddenly to avoid a hazard. By increasing the separation distance between you and the vehicle in front, you have a greater safety margin. If necessary, this will allow you to reduce speed gradually and so avoid the vehicle behind being unable to stop within the space it has allowed.

Engines are least efficient when they're cold; they take a few minutes to reach their operating temperature. Similarly, the catalytic converter needs to heat up before it operates efficiently. So, on short journeys, the vehicle will use more fuel and release more harmful exhaust gases into the environment. It may be quicker - and better for your health - to walk or use a bicycle.

As you approach traffic lights that have been on green for some time, anticipate that they'll soon change. Check your mirror so that you know what traffic is behind you and how far away it is. If the lights change to steady amber, you should stop behind the stop line. If you're so close to the stop line when the lights change that to stop may cause a collision, you should continue. You'll only know the risk from traffic behind if you use your mirrors as you approach the lights.

You should check the coolant level frequently, particularly before a long journey, and top it up as necessary. The need to top up often might indicate a leak or other fault in the cooling system. Have it checked by your garage or dealer.

When traffic lights are out of order, you should treat the junction as an unmarked crossroads. Be cautious, as you may need to give way or stop. Keep a lookout for traffic attempting to cross the junction at speed.

If traffic is moving slowly in queues on a motorway, stay in your lane. If the queue on your right is moving more slowly than the queue you're in, you may pass on the left.

Provided they're breathing, unconscious casualties shouldn't usually be moved. The exception to this is when there's further danger; for example, from other traffic or from fire. Moving a person unnecessarily could cause further injury.

The right-hand lane of the motorway is for overtaking. Once overtaking is completed, you should return to the lane on your left. Sometimes you may be directed into a right-hand lane as a result of roadworks or an incident. This will be indicated by signs or officers directing the traffic.

This sign means it's illegal to overtake. It may have a black-and-white plate telling you over what distance the prohibition applies. There will normally be a sign with an 'End' plate where the prohibition ends.

Time your driving and adjust your speed so that you don't have to use your brakes while you're cornering. Braking on an icy or snow-covered bend is potentially dangerous. The cornering force will continue to pull you outwards and the tyres will have very little grip. This could cause your vehicle to skid.

Psychomotor activities relate to practical skills. When driving a vehicle, a pupil will need to learn how to use each control competently. The next stage of learning will be to combine the use of these controls and coordinate actions smoothly to complete a task. In the early stages of learning, an example would be to move away smoothly without stalling.

Always check road and traffic conditions in all directions before reversing into a side road. Keep a good lookout throughout the manoeuvre. Remember that as you reverse in, the front of your vehicle will swing out and may create a hazard to passing traffic. Be aware of this danger. If you feel there's a risk, wait for the traffic to clear.

In wet weather, visibility on the motorway is made worse by the spray thrown up from vehicles' tyres. Using dipped headlights will help other drivers to see you more easily.

A vehicle fitted with an automatic transmission usually changes to a higher gear as its speed increases and to a lower gear as it falls. It will also change down to a lower gear going uphill, as the load on the engine increases. However, there are times when you need to stay in a low gear even if the speed is constant and the load is light - for example, when going down a steep hill. The system normally tries to change to a higher gear in these situations; the driver is usually able to override the system by using the gear selector to stay in a low gear.

The thinking distance is the distance that the vehicle travels from the moment the driver realises there's a need to brake, until they actually begin to apply the brakes. This reaction time can increase if a driver is tired or unwell.

Hatch markings are painted at potentially dangerous areas to separate streams of traffic. For example, they can be seen at sharp bends and at junctions to protect traffic turning right.

Using your hazard warning lights in addition to your brake lights will give the traffic behind you an extra warning of the hazard ahead. Only use them for long enough to ensure that your warning has been seen.

Keep well back and allow the cyclist room to take up the correct position for the turn. Don't get too close behind or try to squeeze past.

Hatch markings bounded by broken white lines are designed to separate traffic lanes or to protect traffic turning right. Only drive into these areas if it's necessary and you can see that it's safe.

Carrying a heavy load in a vehicle will change its centre of gravity. This will affect the vehicle's handling on bends, compared with when it's lightly loaded. It's your responsibility to make sure that your vehicle isn't overloaded and that any load is secure.

Puffin crossings have infra-red sensors that detect when pedestrians are crossing and hold the red traffic signal until the crossing is clear. The use of a sensor means there's no flashing amber phase, as there is with a pelican crossing; the lights follow the same sequence as traffic lights.

It's the driver's legal responsibility to ensure that all passengers under 14 years old wear a seat belt, or are fastened in an approved child restraint. However, it's good practice to ensure that all other passengers wear seat belts as well.

If you have to drive in fog during daylight, use dipped headlights. If visibility is below 100 metres (328 feet), use high-intensity fog lights; they help other road users to see you.

This sign reminds all road users that they're entering an area where cameras will monitor traffic regulations. This could include traffic-light cameras and bus-lane cameras, as well as the more common speed cameras.

Use a slip road to adjust your speed to match that of the traffic in the left-hand lane of the motorway. This will allow you to merge into a safe gap in the traffic. Give priority to traffic already on the motorway.

If you don't keep your tyres inflated to the recommended pressure, they may wear unevenly. Over-inflated tyres will tend to wear heavily in the centre tread area, while under-inflated tyres will tend to wear more on their outer edges. Check your tyres regularly and use a reliable gauge. Follow the manufacturer's guide for the correct tyre pressure; check and adjust the pressure when the tyres are cold.

Serious incidents have occurred when vehicles or people on the hard shoulder have been struck by vehicles using the left-hand lane of the motorway. While using the emergency telephone, be alert and watch for approaching traffic.