Safety & Your Vehicle flashcards

Front

What is the minimum legal tread depth for a car tyre in the UK?

Back

1.6 mm — Car tyres must have at least 1.6 mm of tread across the central three-quarters of the tyre and around the whole circumference (rule 89).

Front

When should you check your tyre pressures?

Back

When the tyres are cold — Check pressures when tyres are cold for an accurate reading, and increase them for heavy loads or fast driving (rule 89).

Front

What can under-inflated tyres cause?

Back

Increased stopping distances and uneven wear — Under-inflated tyres wear unevenly, overheat and lengthen stopping distances, increasing the risk of a blowout (rule 89).

Front

What should you do if your brakes feel spongy or are not working well?

Back

Stop driving and get them checked before continuing — Faulty brakes are dangerous. Have them checked before you drive — never carry on with a known fault (rule 89).

Front

Which of these reduces the environmental impact of your driving?

Back

Driving smoothly and avoiding harsh acceleration — Smooth driving, correct tyre pressures and removing unused loads or racks all cut fuel use and emissions (rule 123).

Front

Why should you remove a roof rack when you're not using it?

Back

It increases drag and uses more fuel — A roof rack increases wind resistance, raising fuel consumption. Remove it when not needed (rule 123).

Front

How can you reduce fuel consumption?

Back

Anticipate the road and drive smoothly in the right gear — Reading the road ahead, easing off early and using the correct gear all save fuel and reduce wear (rule 123).

Front

What should you do before a long journey?

Back

Check oil, coolant, tyres, lights and fuel — Basic checks of oil, coolant, tyres, lights and fuel before a long trip help avoid a breakdown (rule 97).

Front

What does it mean if your engine oil warning light comes on while driving?

Back

There may be a serious lubrication problem — stop safely and check — An oil pressure warning can mean serious engine damage is imminent. Stop as soon as it's safe and investigate.

Front

How should you adjust your head restraint for safety?

Back

So the top is at least level with the top of your ears — A correctly set head restraint, with its rigid part at least level with the top of your ears, reduces neck injury in a crash (rule 97).

Front

Who is responsible for ensuring a child under 14 wears a seat belt or uses a child seat?

Back

The driver — The driver is legally responsible for making sure children under 14 are properly restrained (rule 99–100).

Front

When must you use an appropriate child restraint?

Back

For children until they're 12 years old or 135 cm tall — Children must use the correct restraint until they are 12 or reach 135 cm tall, whichever comes first (rule 100).

Front

Your car pulls to one side under braking. What's the likely cause?

Back

A brake or tyre fault — Pulling to one side when braking suggests a brake or tyre problem and should be checked promptly.

Front

What's the safest way to carry a heavy load in a car?

Back

Secured and spread so it can't move or affect handling — Loads must be secure and well distributed so they can't shift, fly forward in a crash or upset the car's balance (rule 98).

Front

Why should you keep your windscreen washer reservoir topped up?

Back

So you can clear dirt and improve visibility — Washer fluid lets you clear a dirty windscreen and maintain a clear view, especially in poor weather (rule 229).

Front

Anti-lock brakes (ABS) help you to...

Back

Steer while braking hard in an emergency — ABS helps you keep steering control during hard braking, but it doesn't necessarily shorten stopping distances (rule 120).

Front

How should you use the brakes if your car has ABS in an emergency stop?

Back

Press firmly and keep your foot down — With ABS, apply firm, continuous pressure and let the system prevent the wheels locking (rule 120).

Front

What does excessive or blue smoke from the exhaust suggest?

Back

The engine may be burning oil and needs attention — Blue smoke usually means the engine is burning oil — a fault that should be investigated and will also fail an MOT.

Front

When parking on a hill facing downhill, you should...

Back

Apply the handbrake and turn the wheels towards the kerb — Facing downhill, turn the front wheels towards the kerb and use the handbrake so the car can't roll into the road (rule 252).

Front

When parking facing uphill next to a kerb, you should turn the wheels...

Back

Away from the kerb — Facing uphill, turn the wheels away from the kerb and set the handbrake, so the car rolls into the kerb if it moves (rule 252).

Front

What should you do if a tyre bursts while you're driving?

Back

Hold the wheel firmly, ease off and slow gradually to a stop — Grip the wheel, ease off the accelerator and slow down gently to keep control after a blowout — don't brake harshly (rule 277).

Front

Why is it important that all your lights work?

Back

So you can see and be seen by others — Working lights let you see the road and let others see you. Check them regularly (rule 113).

Front

What should you do if your vehicle catches fire while driving?

Back

Stop, get everyone out and away, and call the fire service — Pull over, get everyone out and well clear, and call 999. Don't open the bonnet, as this feeds the fire with air.

Front

How can a heavy, badly secured load affect your car?

Back

Make steering and braking less predictable — A shifting or excessive load changes the car's balance, making steering and braking unpredictable (rule 98).