An instructor must normally wear a seat belt during all practical training when there's one fitted to the vehicle, unless they're exempt. However, when a pupil is carrying out a manoeuvre that involves reversing, instructors may release the belt during the exercise; this gives them a little more freedom to teach the exercise safely.

When parking at night, park in the direction of the traffic flow. This will enable other road users to see the reflectors on the rear of your vehicle. You must also use parking lights where the speed limit is more than 30 mph.

Drivers are responsible for ensuring the security of any load they carry. However, if something does fall from your vehicle onto the motorway, you must inform the authorities as soon as possible by using an emergency telephone. Never try to retrieve the item yourself.

While a driving instructor should have a prepared plan for each lesson, there needs to be flexibility in how it's delivered. If one teaching method isn't successful, then other methods need to be tried to find one that works for the pupil.

If there's any doubt as to whether it's safe to reverse, get out and have a look before you start reversing.

The 'stop' sign is the only road sign that's octagonal. This is so that it can be recognised and obeyed even if it's obscured; for example, by snow.

You may only stop on the carriageway of a motorway
- when told to do so by the police
- when a red cross with flashing red lights shows above every lane - in a traffic jam
- in an emergency or breakdown.

Be aware that other traffic might still be clearing the junction. When the green light shows, make sure the way is clear before continuing.

If your pupil's driving is below the required test standard, it's your responsibility as a professional instructor to advise them not to take the test. As soon as you become aware of a possible problem, you should discuss this with your pupil and positively encourage them that, in their interest, and for other road users as well, it would be far better to postpone the appointment. If you can't dissuade them, then you should withhold the use of your vehicle. Ultimately, it's the pupil's test and an instructor can't prevent them from taking it in someone else's vehicle.

All vehicles must display parking lights when parked on a road with a speed limit greater than 30 mph. Park in the direction of the traffic flow so that your parked vehicle isn't mistaken for a moving vehicle.

On a single carriageway road, the national speed limit will apply, unless signs indicate otherwise. For a car, the limit is 60 mph unless the car is towing a trailer - in which case the limit is reduced to 50 mph.

Drivers and riders should proceed with caution at a junction where the traffic lights have failed. They should treat the situation as if it were an unmarked junction. As no-one has priority, everyone should be prepared to stop.

Learning isn't always a continuous upward process. Sometimes pupils simply need time to consolidate learning before moving on. On other occasions there may be something blocking progress. You should work with the learner to understand what's happening and decide how to proceed.

There are marker posts at 100 metre intervals along the hard shoulder of a motorway. The markers direct you to the nearest emergency telephone, so follow them if you've broken down.

This is important because, when a learner encounters something on the road for the first time, they may not be able to decide whether it represents a risk. So they might not take the right action. With experience, they'll use the information available and get better at assessing risk.

A driver who's been drinking alcohol should go home by public transport or taxi. Alcohol takes time to leave the body and someone might remain unfit to drive even the day after drinking it.

Tyres must have enough depth of tread to give them a good grip on the road surface. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm. This depth should be across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tyre and around the entire circumference.

Be sure that the gap in the central reservation is wide enough to protect your vehicle before moving into it. Once you're within the central reservation, wait for a safe opportunity to complete the crossing. Where the central reservation is narrow, treat a dual carriageway as one road. Wait until it's clear in both directions before emerging, otherwise your vehicle will cause an obstruction to one or more lanes of traffic.

On a quiet country road, always be aware that there may be a hazard just around the next bend, such as a slow-moving vehicle or pedestrians. Pedestrians are advised to walk on the right-hand side of the road if there's no pavement, so they may be walking towards you on your side of the road.

Photocard licences are valid for a maximum of 10 years. This is to allow the photographic likeness to be updated when the licence is renewed. However, the licence entitlement usually lasts until age 70.

Before moving off from behind a parked car, you should use all the mirrors to check that the road is clear. Look around to check the blind spots and give a signal if it's necessary to warn other road users of your intentions.

People who appear uninjured may be in shock and need professional treatment. Avoid unnecessary movement, reassure them, and keep them comfortable and warm. Don't leave them on their own and don't give them anything to eat or drink. Make sure the emergency services are called if necessary.

If you want to turn left and there's a cyclist in front of you, hold back. Wait until the cyclist has passed the junction and then turn left behind them.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will need to know that your pupil is profoundly deaf to make the appropriate booking arrangements. This should be recorded when booking the test. Approved driving instructors should be able to help any pupil with their application for a theory test or a practical driving test.

On a motorway, all traffic should use the left-hand lane unless they're overtaking. Use the centre or right-hand lanes if you need to overtake. Make sure that you move back to the left-hand lane when you've finished overtaking. Don't stay in the middle or right-hand lane if the left-hand lane is free.

If your tyres show uneven or excessive wear, have the alignment checked. This is often called tracking, and it can be carried out by most garages or tyre-fitting businesses.

For the purposes of driving a motor car, deafness isn't classed as a disability. Having passed their test, deaf drivers won't have their licence restricted.

Engines burning fossil fuels produce harmful gases. We need to be concerned about the effect this has on our environment. A catalytic converter acts like a filter, removing most of the harmful compounds from the exhaust gas.

The colours of the reflective studs on the motorway, and their locations, are
- red - between the hard shoulder and the carriageway
- white - between the lanes
- amber - between the edge of the
carriageway and the central reservation
- green - along slip-road exits and entrances bright green/yellow - at roadworks and contraflow systems.

Having your car registration number etched on all your windows is a cheap and effective way to deter car thieves.