Free Safety Margins mock theory test

1. At least two seconds
2. Exactly one car length
3. Half a second
4. Ten seconds at all speeds

Answer: A. Leave at least a two-second gap in dry conditions — double it to four in the wet, and up to ten times the distance in ice and snow. Pick a fixed point and count as the vehicle ahead passes it. Reference: The Highway Code — rule 126

1. 6 metres
2. 14 metres
3. 23 metres — about six car lengths
4. 53 metres

Answer: C. At 30 mph the typical stopping distance is 23 metres: 9 metres thinking distance plus 14 metres braking distance. Speed, tiredness, weather and tyre condition all stretch it further. Reference: The Highway Code — rule 126, Typical stopping distances

1. A puncture — brake hard immediately
2. Aquaplaning — ease off the accelerator and don't brake until grip returns
3. Ice on the road — change up a gear
4. Nothing unusual — continue normally

Answer: B. Light steering in standing water means your tyres are riding on the water's surface. Ease gently off the accelerator, keep the steering straight and avoid braking until the tyres grip again. Reference: The Highway Code — rule 227

1. 53 metres
2. 73 metres
3. 96 metres — about 24 car lengths
4. 120 metres

Answer: C. At 70 mph you typically need 96 metres to stop: 21 metres of thinking distance plus 75 metres of braking distance. That's why motorway following gaps matter so much. Reference: The Highway Code — rule 126, Typical stopping distances

1. No change if you have modern tyres
2. At least double it — leave a four-second gap, because stopping distances at least double in the wet
3. Halve it so you can see past spray
4. Only slow down if you can see standing water

Answer: B. Wet roads at least double stopping distances. Doubling the two-second rule to four seconds restores your safety margin — and eases the spray problem too. Reference: The Highway Code — rules 126 and 227

1. 9 metres
2. 15 metres
3. 24 metres
4. 38 metres

Answer: B. Thinking distance is roughly one foot per mph — 15 metres at 50 mph — before the brakes even begin to work. Add the 38-metre braking distance for a 53-metre total. Reference: The Highway Code — rule 126, Typical stopping distances

1. It wears out the clutch
2. You lose engine braking, the car gathers speed, and steering and braking control are reduced
3. It uses more fuel
4. It's only dangerous above 40 mph

Answer: B. Coasting disconnects the engine's retarding force just when you need it most. Speed builds, the brakes carry the whole load and can fade, and the car is less stable through bends. Reference: The Highway Code — rule 122

1. Overtake to get through quickly
2. Reduce speed, obey the temporary limit, and keep a safe gap from the vehicle ahead
3. Straddle two lanes for a better view
4. Use hazard lights throughout

Answer: B. Contraflows mean narrow lanes, no hard shoulder and opposing traffic close by. Get into the correct lane in good time, observe the temporary limit, and protect your following gap. Reference: The Highway Code — rules 288–290

The DVSA doesn't publish per-topic counts. Your 50 questions are drawn across all 14 official topics, so revise every category.

You need 43 out of 50 multiple-choice questions correct (86%), plus 44 out of 75 on the hazard perception clips. You must pass both parts in the same sitting.

No — these are original practice questions written to the current DVSA syllabus and The Highway Code. Official revision questions are Crown Copyright and only available from licensed providers.