It's against the law to reverse, cross the central reservation or drive against the traffic flow on a motorway. If you've missed your exit, leave the motorway at the next exit. You can either rejoin the motorway in the opposite direction or find another route to your destination.

Catalytic converters are designed to reduce toxic exhaust emissions by up to 90%. They have a high normal working temperature and for this reason are inefficient when the engine is cold.

You normally join a motorway from a slip road on the left. Join where there's a suitable gap in the traffic travelling in the left-hand lane. You should adjust your speed to fit in with the traffic flow in the left-hand lane, but you must give way to the traffic already on the motorway. Don't try to force your way into the traffic stream.

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.

Large vehicles take time to get moving, especially on an uphill gradient. You should keep this in mind and give way, if you can do so safely, so that they can maintain momentum up the hill.

If you don't have your vehicle serviced regularly, the engine will steadily become less efficient. This loss of efficiency will progressively cause an increase in fuel consumption, engine running problems and increased risk of the vehicle breaking down.

The reflective studs between the carriageway and the hard shoulder are normally red. These change to green where there's a slip road. They help you identify slip roads when visibility is poor or when it's dark.

The right-hand lane of the motorway isn't the 'fast lane'; it should be used only for overtaking. Sometimes you may be directed into a right-hand lane as a result of roadworks or an incident. Be guided by the signs or officers directing the traffic.

Bright fog lights can dazzle other drivers, so you must remember to turn them off when the fog lifts and visibility improves. Be prepared for patchy fog: you may need to turn the fog lights on again.

Over-inflated tyres will cause excessive wear along the centre of the tread. Check your tyre pressures on a regular basis, and when the tyres are cold.

You must be able to show your documents to a police officer when asked to do so. If you don't have them with you, you're allowed to produce them at a police station within seven days.

Cyclists approaching a roundabout in the left-hand lane may be turning right, but may not have been able to get into the correct lane due to heavy traffic. They may feel safer by keeping to the left all the way around the roundabout. Give them plenty of room and be prepared for them to take a different course to other traffic.

Normally, you should travel in the left-hand lane and use the right-hand lane only for overtaking or turning right. Move back into the left-hand lane as soon as it's safe, but don't cut across the path of the vehicle you've just overtaken.

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.

You should approach mini-roundabouts in the same way as normal roundabouts. All vehicles must pass around the central markings except vehicles that are physically incapable of doing so, such as long vehicles or vehicles towing trailers.

If your front wheels are out of balance, the steering will vibrate. You'll have to take your vehicle to a garage or tyre-fitting firm, where they can balance your wheels; it isn't a fault that will rectify itself.

Child passengers should be encouraged to fasten their seat belts themselves from an early age, so that it becomes a matter of routine. It's the driver's responsibility to check that the seat belts of any passengers under 14 years old are fastened securely.

When brakes are applied on a car moving in a straight line, they slow the rotation of the wheels but the rest of the car tries to continue moving forward. This shifts more of the car's weight onto the front wheels, making steering more difficult. If the car is cornering when the brakes are applied, the weight shifts both forward and towards the outside of the bend, thus the weight is loaded onto one front wheel. In severe cases, this can lead to skidding or even cause the car to roll over.

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.

Before you enter a roundabout, you normally give way to any traffic approaching from your immediate right. In a few cases, however, traffic on the roundabout has to give way to traffic entering. Look out for 'give way' signs, road markings and traffic lights on the roundabout.

The cockpit drill is a logical sequence of safety checks. New drivers should be trained to go through them methodically and in sequence every time they get into a vehicle. Briefly, these checks are
- doors closed
- parking brake set
- driver's seat position
- head restraint adjusted
- mirrors adjusted
- seat belts fastened
- gear lever in neutral (check parking brake again)
- fuel.

Knowing the sequence of traffic lights allows you to plan your approach. This can help prevent excessive braking or hesitation at the junction.

Strict controls on exhaust emissions require a catalytic converter to be fitted to the exhaust system of all new vehicles. Catalytic converters remove most of the carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and unburned hydrocarbons from the exhaust gases.

An interested pupil is likely to be well motivated and should retain information better than one who has lost interest. Everyone has different abilities, so instruction needs to be varied to suit the individual.

It's illegal to use a mobile phone while you're driving (except for genuine emergencies). Driving requires your total attention and concentration at all times. Using a mobile phone will distract you and increase your chances of having a collision. Even using a hands-free system will distract you. Be safe: switch off your phone before you start driving and pick up any messages when you stop for a break.

You must always remain within the speed limit, but how fast you drive will depend on many other factors. Above all, you should never drive so fast that you can't stop within the distance you can see to be clear.

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.

Reflective studs are placed along the edges and between the lanes on motorways. The colour of the stud can help you identify your position on the road when visibility is reduced; for example, when it's foggy. Between the lanes, the studs are white. Red studs are used between the left-hand edge of the carriageway and the hard shoulder. Amber studs are used along the right-hand edge of the carriageway, and green studs are used where slip roads enter or leave the motorway.

You should always do your best to make other road users aware of your intentions. If you think your indicator might not be seen, or your intentions might not be clear, then giving an arm signal as well may be helpful.

The sign shows a mandatory cycle lane, and drivers mustn't park or drive in it during its times of operation. The lane will be marked by a solid white line on the road. Where the cycle lane is advisory, it will be marked by a broken white line. There'll also be a similar sign that shows a cycle on a blue background but without the lane represented. Don't drive in this lane unless it's unavoidable.