Attitude – All Questions

If people are waiting to use a pedestrian crossing, slow down and be prepared to stop. Don’t wave them across the road, because another driver may not have seen them, may not have seen your signal, and may not be able to stop safely.

‘Tailgating’ is the term used when a driver or rider follows the vehicle in front too closely. It’s dangerous because it restricts your view of the road ahead and leaves no safety margin if the vehicle in front needs to slow down or stop suddenly. Tailgating is often the underlying cause of rear-end collisions or multiple pile- ups.

Staying back will increase your view of the road ahead. This will help you to see any hazards that might occur and give you more time to react.

Water will reduce your tyres’ grip on the road. The safe separation gap of at least two seconds in dry conditions should be doubled, to at least four seconds, in wet weather.

A long lorry with a heavy load will need more time to pass you than a car, especially on an uphill stretch of road. Slow down and allow the lorry to pass.

Emergency vehicles use blue flashing lights. If you see or hear one, move out of its way as soon as it’s safe and legal to do so.

Pull over in a place where the ambulance can pass safely. Check that there are no bollards or obstructions in the road that will prevent it from passing.

A green flashing beacon on a vehicle means the driver or passenger is a doctor on an emergency call. Give way to them if it’s safe to do so. Be aware that the vehicle may be travelling quickly or may stop in a hurry.

These signs apply only to tram drivers, but you should know their meaning so that you’re aware of the priorities and are able to anticipate the actions of the driver.

The narrow wheels of a bicycle can become stuck in the tram rails, causing the cyclist to stop suddenly, wobble or even lose balance altogether. The tramlines are also slippery, which could cause a cyclist to slide or fall off.

You mustn’t use your vehicle’s horn between 11.30 pm and 7 am in a built-up area or when you’re stationary, unless a moving vehicle poses a danger. Its function is to alert other road users to your presence.

When you’re in a one-way street and want to turn right, you should take up a position in the right-hand lane. This will allow other road users, not wishing to turn, to pass on the left. Indicate your intention and take up the correct position in good time.

If you wish to turn right into a side road, take up your position in good time. Move to the centre of the road when it’s safe to do so. This will allow vehicles to pass you on the left. Early planning will show other traffic what you intend to do.

A toucan crossing is designed to allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross at the same time. Look out for cyclists approaching the crossing at speed.

You should only flash your headlights to warn others of your presence. Don’t use them to greet others, show impatience or give priority to other road users, because they could misunderstand your signal.

Be cautious, especially when your view is restricted by hedges, bushes, walls, large vehicles, etc. In the summer months, these junctions can become more difficult to deal with, because growing foliage may further obscure your view.

In good conditions, the ‘two-second rule’ can be used to check the distance between your vehicle and the one in front. This technique works on roads carrying faster traffic. Choose a fixed object, such as a bridge, sign or tree. When the vehicle ahead passes this object, say to yourself ‘Only a fool breaks the two-second rule.’ If you reach the object before you finish saying this, you’re too close.

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.

If the driver behind is following too closely, there’s a danger they’ll collide with the back of your vehicle if you stop suddenly. You can reduce this risk by slowing down and increasing the safety margin in front of you. This reduces the chance that you’ll have to stop suddenly and allows you to spread your braking over a greater distance. This is an example of defensive driving.

Use the full-beam headlights only when you can be sure that you won’t dazzle other road users.

Large, long vehicles need extra room when making turns at junctions. They may move out to the right in order to make a left turn. Keep well back and don’t attempt to pass them on their left.

There are times when other drivers make incorrect or ill-judged decisions. Be tolerant and try not to retaliate or react aggressively. Always consider the safety of other road users, your passengers and yourself.

In queuing traffic, your brake lights can dazzle drivers behind you. If you apply your parking brake, you can take your foot off the footbrake. This will turn off the brake lights so that they can’t dazzle the driver behind you.

Keep a steady course to give the driver behind an opportunity to overtake safely. If necessary, slow down. Reacting incorrectly to another driver’s impatience can lead to danger.

Bus-lane signs show the vehicles allowed to use the lane and its times of operation. Where no times are shown, the bus lane is in operation 24 hours a day.

If someone in charge of animals asks you to stop, you should do so and switch off your engine. Animals are unpredictable and startle easily; they could turn and run into your path or into the path of another moving vehicle.

Horses can be startled by the sound of a car engine or the rush of air caused by a vehicle passing too closely. Keep well back and only pass when it’s safe. Leave them plenty of room; you may have to use the other side of the road to go past safely.

As you approach a zebra crossing, look for pedestrians waiting to cross. Where you can see them, slow down and prepare to stop. Be especially careful of children and older people, who may have difficulty judging when it’s safe to cross.

A sensor will automatically detect that the pedestrians have reached a safe position. Don’t drive on until the green light shows and it’s safe for you to do so.

You should be aware of all the warning lights and visual aids on the vehicle you’re driving. If you’re driving a vehicle for the first time, you should familiarise yourself with all the controls, warning lights and visual aids before you set off.

In good, dry conditions, a driver needs to keep a distance of at least two seconds from the car in front. This should allow enough space for you to stop if the driver in front has to stop suddenly.

If you follow another vehicle with your headlights on full beam, they could dazzle the driver. Leave a safe distance and make sure that the light from your dipped beam falls short of the vehicle in front.

If you’re driving a slow-moving vehicle along a narrow road, try not to hold up faster traffic. If you see vehicles following behind, pull over in a safe place and let the traffic pass before continuing. Don’t wave other traffic past – this could be dangerous if you or they haven’t noticed a hazard ahead.

When learning to drive, it’s a good idea to practise filling your car with fuel. Ask your instructor if you can use a petrol station and fill the fuel tank yourself. You need to know where the filler cap is on the car you’re driving, so you know which side of the pump to park at. Take care not to overfill the tank, and make sure you secure the filler cap correctly so that no fuel leaks onto the road while you’re driving.

Competitive driving increases the risks to everyone and is the opposite of responsible, considerate and defensive driving. Defensive driving is about questioning the actions of other road users and being prepared for the unexpected. Don’t be taken by surprise.