ADI Free Test #6

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.

If your vehicle catches fire, quickly get the occupants out of the vehicle and to a safe place. Don't attempt to put out a fire in the engine compartment. Opening the bonnet will give the fire more oxygen and make it flare up. Call the fire service.

Always start the Mirrors - Signal - Manoeuvre (MSM) routine well before you intend to change lanes. On motorways, vehicles are travelling at much higher speeds, so they may come up behind you very quickly. By checking the mirrors early, you'll have a chance to plan and give any necessary signals in plenty of time, so that other drivers have advance warning of your intended actions. In turn, they'll have more time to expect a change in traffic pattern and be able to prepare and act accordingly.

Large goods vehicles are fitted with speed limiters. This means it can take them a long time to overtake if the vehicle they're passing is travelling close to their limited speed. If a lorry is struggling to overtake you, slow down to let it pass. This helps the lorry driver and also other drivers following behind who want to travel faster.

If you can't restart your engine before the warning bells ring, stay calm, especially if you have passengers on board. Leave the vehicle and get yourself and any passengers well clear of the crossing without delay.

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.

Coloured studs are used to help you judge your position on the carriageway in poor visibility. Knowing which colour is used and where can help keep you safe. Amber studs are used between the right-hand lane and the central reservation on a motorway or dual carriageway.

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.

If you see a vehicle with a flashing green light, allow it to pass when you can do so safely; it will be a doctor on an emergency call. Someone's life could depend on the driver making good progress through the traffic.

When driving through shallow flood water or fords, drive through slowly, in a low gear, while keeping the engine speed high by slipping the clutch; this should prevent water from entering the exhaust system. Check for traffic behind you and, if it's safe to do so, try your brakes as soon as you're clear of the water. Don't attempt to drive through deep or fast-flowing flood water.

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.

You should normally use the left-hand lane on any dual carriageway, unless you're overtaking or turning right. When overtaking on a dual carriageway, look for vehicles ahead that are turning right. They're likely to be slowing or stopped. You need to see them in good time so that you can take appropriate action.

Learning targets should be realistic and attainable; reaching a learning target will reinforce a pupil's progress. Setting objectives that are too ambitious or too complex is more likely to demotivate pupils.

If there's a bend or other obstruction concealing a level crossing, you won't be able to see the barriers, signals or any waiting traffic. Countdown markers, spaced equally at about 100 yard intervals, give you an early warning that you're approaching a level crossing, so you can be prepared to stop if necessary.

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.

Make sure that you don't swing out into the centre of the road just before turning left. Stay in your normal driving position, so that other road users don't misunderstand your intentions.

When preparing to turn left into a side road, you should be prepared for obstructions or vehicles that may wish to stop and park. This could be before or after the turning.

Automatic transmission sometimes changes up as you approach a bend, due to reduced pressure on the accelerator. To avoid this, slow down before you reach the bend, then accelerate gently as you turn.

In general, the vehicle handbook will recommend higher tyre pressures for continuous high-speed driving; for example, on long motorway trips. Increased tyre pressures may also be recommended when the vehicle is carrying a heavy load or when towing a trailer.

Where there's a hidden dip (dead ground), you should be aware that there could be oncoming vehicles out of sight between you and the road in the distance. Don't start to overtake until you can see into the dip and know the road ahead is clear.

Check the vehicle handbook: this should give you guidance on the correct tyre pressures for your vehicle. There may be recommendations to increase the tyre pressure when carrying heavy loads or when travelling continuously at higher speeds, such as when using a motorway.

Spilled fuel wastes money, damages the environment and makes the road surface slippery. This can be particularly dangerous for motorcyclists. Ensuring that you replace the fuel filler cap securely will prevent fuel spilling from your vehicle's fuel tank.

All-round observation is essential throughout any manoeuvre in the road. A pupil should be trained to look particularly in the direction in which they're moving, to look out for vulnerable road users and to check their blind spots.

Your vehicle's tyres have very little grip on icy roads. Stopping distances can easily be 10 times the normal distance on a dry, firm surface. Anti-lock brakes may prevent the wheels from skidding, but they can't increase the tyres' grip.

The steady amber light will be followed by twin flashing red lights, which mean you must stop. An alarm will also sound to alert you to the fact that a train is approaching.

The lights that control the crossing show to both directions of traffic. If a pedestrian from either side is still crossing when the amber light is flashing, you must wait.

A pedestrian who's carrying a white cane with a red band or bands is both blind and deaf. This makes them very vulnerable, since they can neither see nor hear you approaching.

Look at each sign that you pass on the road, so that you don't miss any warnings, orders or information. The shape of the sign will tell you its purpose: triangular signs warn, circles give orders and rectangles inform.

As you approach left-hand bends, keep to the middle of your lane. Don't move to the centre of the road to improve your view. This could put you too close to oncoming traffic. A vehicle coming the other way might be running close to or over the centre of the road as it comes around the bend.

Anyone supervising a learner driver must be at least 21 years old and must have held (and still hold) a full licence for the category of vehicle being driven for at least three years.