Roads can be a dangerous environment. Drivers need to have their wits about them and their eyes out on stalks even on the briefest trip. From passing parked cars to negotiating zebra crossings, each obstacle represents a hazard that needs to be approached with a certain mindset and technique to ensure drivers, passengers and fellow road users stay safe at all times.
On longer journeys, there are more hazards and greater speeds, which can call for fast decision making. So it pays to brush up on the rules of the road, whether that’s by sitting down with a mug of tea and revisiting the Highway Code, or seeking more general advice and practical tips from expert organisations, such as the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) or Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).
To help drivers stay on their toes, we’ve compiled 10 common hazards that are encountered on the road, and challenge all to see how well they tackle them.
Results
Excellent stuff, you’re a safe driver.
There’s room for improvement to stay safe on the road.
#1. How much room should drivers give a cyclist when overtaking?
Watch out! There’s a hazard about.
#2. What rule applies to pelican crossings with an island in the middle?
Watch out! There’s a hazard about.
#3. What hazard is shown in this road sign?
Watch out! There’s a hazard about.
#4. What is the Highway Code’s advice for a school crossing patrol?
Watch out! There’s a hazard about.
#5. How much room is it advisable to give parked cars?
Watch out! There’s a hazard about.
#6. When bins are next to the road, what should drivers be wary of?
Watch out! There’s a hazard about.
#7. Before overtaking an HGV, what should drivers do?
Watch out! There’s a hazard about.
#8. When you see this sign for a steep hill, how should you descend?
Watch out! There’s a hazard about.
#9. What does this road sign warn of?
Watch out! There’s a hazard about.
#10. When a squirrel runs in front of your car, what should you do?
Watch out! There’s a hazard about.
At end of Safety Quiz would have been more effective if incorrect answers had been identified with correct answer
Please try again, Vicki; we’ve adjusted the way results are shown. Hope that helps.
I just did the test but can’t find out which 2 I got wrong – so no point really as I can’t improve!
When was the quiz adjusted? I’ve just taken the quiz and have failed on two questions but am unable to find out which to and I won’t to learn so that I’m aware of waht to do behind the wheel.
WHICH QUESTIONS DID I ANSWER INCORRECTLY?
I know which ones |I got wrong but it doesn’t tell you which is the right answer, a few are obvious but not all
if you look back on the quiz there is a red or green line underneath the answer green correct red wrong easy
Very interesting
Answers to questions 5 and 9 are incorrect. In both two options are actually correct. Suggest a reading of the Highway Code is required by the compiler..!
Let us know which one we failed on.
Ii can’t find which ones I got wrong. I want to learn!
Please try again, Susan; we’ve adjusted the way results are shown. Hope that helps.
Would like to know the 10pc I failed on.
10 OUT OF 10 WHAT CAN I SAY…
Did the test got 7/10 which did I get wrong
Please try again, John; we’ve adjusted the way results are shown. Hope that helps.
Crossings controlled by an authorised person. Do not cross the road unless you are
signalled to do so by a police officer, traffic warden or school crossing patrol. Always
cross in front of them.
As the sign in the quiz is used by a school crossing patrol, the above extract suggests 2 correct answers to your quiz on this subject.
You have quoted the instructions for pedestrians crossing the road – not for cars.
What were the correct answers?
Would be nice to know the ones (only 2) I got wrong ?
Please try again, Ray; we’ve adjusted the way results are shown. Hope that helps.
Interesting and a good idea. Does stop that little complacency that creeps in.
Question #5 seems to be incorrect. Highway code “Rules for pedestrians (1 to 35)” quote: –
Rule 20
Where there is an island in the middle of a zebra crossing, wait on the island and follow Rule 19 before you cross the second half of the road – it is a separate crossing.
Has there been a change of rule since 1975? I was taught that an island designates two separate crossings and vehicles only have to stop at a Zebra crossing if a pedestrian is about to cross to or from the island on the side of the road the vehicle is traveling on.
Yes, I suppose theoretically you should stop in case the pedestrian keeps going, but in practice we all stop in the middle – don’t we?
You mentioned a zebra crossing with an island – and presumably Belisha beacons on the island. Not a Pelican crossing with lights only on the pavement. If the Pelican crossing is divided, then there will be an area for pedestrians to stand in, and another button to push for the second half of the road. The two parts are usually offset.
informative and made me aware that I do not know everything
are you the mike murphy that taught my son and my husband to drive in mossley
they do not advise which answer/s were incorrect so how can one rectify ?
Interesting what did I het wrong
Please try again, Peter; we’ve adjusted the way results are shown. Hope that helps.
Would like to have seen my 2 wrong answers and what the correct answers should have been.
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Would be nice to know which I failed on.
Would be nice if you actually pointed out which answers were incorrect!
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I got 9/10, but there is no indication of which one I got wrong. I am pretty sure I know which one because after 50+ years on the road, I disagree with the standard advice normally given. It would be useful however to be told which one(s) that were answered incorrectly, How else is one to know where you need to upgrade your knowledge?
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Zebra crossings with an island in tha middle should be treated as two separate crossings therefore motorists are allowed to continue across the crossing if pedestrians on the other side have not reached the island
What is the correct answer to the one I got wrong.
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I would like to know which questions I got wrong.
Brian Fazackerley
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I like to think I am a good driver, not slow ( my wife says I sometimes drive too fast) but I have been driving for 60 years, cars and 2 tonne vans, I`ve probably picked up a few bad habits. One accident when I was 18 years old. Brian F.
On overtaking parked cars give as much room as road allows as with bikes
V good
I have taken the quiz and would like to know which questions I answered incorrectly and why.
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Great to do this when you have been driving a long time. But you need to say witch question we fail on, so we are await of it.
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Very Good Reminders.
it would be helpful to know what questions a participant in the test got wrong
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Enjoyed doing that
Whats the point if you dont give the correct answers anywhere ? People will learn nothing.
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A good overall quiz , but I draw your attention to these two questions to which the answers I give are from the Highway code and the law , you may wish to review the choices you offer before making a correct as wrong !
Q :5 If there’s an island in the middle of a zebra crossing this is treated as two separate crossings. As a driver you do not need to wait until the crossing is clear before you can move off. Pedestrians can wait in the centre island until it is clear to cross the second half of the crossing.
Q : 7 Drivers of vehicles are required by law to stop
when the authorised sign is displayed facing
towards them by a Patrol who is wearing the
approved uniform. FAILURE TO STOP MEANS
THAT THE DRIVER CAN BE PROSECUTED.
Good to keep us up to date and safe and a better driver
8 out of 10
Its a pity you cant see what you failed on
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It would be helpful if, at the end, an indication could be given of the questions answered incorrectly.
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take a look at the highway code
Some of the ‘correct answers’ are rubbish. They don’t make any sense – but, that happens a lot nowadays
Thanks for the feedback, Anne. The correct answers come from the Highway Code. Hope that helps.
9/10 ok got one wrong, not too bad for an 81year old, will try to improve.
Happy with 9/10 but would like to know which answer was incorrect.
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good idea brushing up on highway code
It would be useful to know which answers were wrong
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question #5 highway code says treat it as two separate crossings, see rule 20. Undue courtesy stops only aggravate an already overloaded road system. Continuity of driving and being aware what is happening around you is paramount today. good test though. thank you.
Thanks for the feedback, Barry. We based on on this section of the Highway Code. Hope this helps:
Rule 197
Pelican crossings which go straight across the road are one crossing, even when there is a central island. You MUST wait for pedestrians who are crossing from the other side of the island.
Laws ZPPPCRGD reg 26 & RTRA sect 25(5)
I was sure the original question mentioned “pedestrian crossing”. It now clearly says “Pelican crossing”. In which case the picture needs to be changed to a Pelican crossing, the picture is of a Zebra crossing. Here’s the Highway Code’s Pelican crossing picture: –
http://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/uploads/3/2/9/2/3292309/rule-196-allow-pedestrians-to-cross-when-the-amber-light-is-flashing_orig.jpg
I would like to know if my recollection of the wording for this question is correct and it was, indeed, changed prior to my comment above and before the picture was eventually replaced a few days later.
It would be interested to know why my comment above is still “awaiting moderation”. Is there something unpublishable about it?
Maybe the confusion arises from the question saying pelican crossing but the picture being a zebra crossing…
Seems anomalous but rule 20 applies to pedestrians and 197 for cars.
I am a driving instructor, and question 4 is very ambiguous, it could be answer 1 or 3 depending on your interpretation!
Thanks for the feedback, Douglas. We based it on this part of the Highway Code:
Rule 163 ‘give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car (see Rules 211 to 215).’
Looking at the picture, I’d be cautious about passing that cyclist. Because she’s quite a way out in the road it would be difficult to pass far enough away and, more importantly, there’s a bend ahead and anything could be coming that is obscured by the grass bank.
Are you sure you are looking at the right question Douglas ?
What is the the point of doing the test when your site your site does not advise on the incorrect answer.
Be helpful to know which answers were wrong.
Please try again, Kathryn; we’ve adjusted the way results are shown. Hope that helps.
9 out of 10 but how do I know which one I did not get right
Unfortunately the answer to Q5 regarding zebra crossings is incorrect. The Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions 1997 state that:-
“Where there is a refuge for pedestrians or central reservation on a Zebra crossing, the parts of the crossing situated on each side of the refuge for pedestrians or central reservation shall, for the purposes of this regulation, be treated as separate crossings.”.
Your given answer that the rules say to treat it as a single crossing is therefore wrong.
We based on on this section of the Highway Code, Barry. Hope this helps:
Rule 197
Pelican crossings which go straight across the road are one crossing, even when there is a central island. You MUST wait for pedestrians who are crossing from the other side of the island.
Laws ZPPPCRGD reg 26 & RTRA sect 25(5)
A pelican crossing is controlled by lights , and so you must stop when the lights show red , a better Question for the example you give would be What should you do on approaching a Pedestrian Crossing?
A pelican crossing is NOT a zebra crossing. The rules are different.
I quite agree, the picture is clearly a Zebra crossing with regulation Belisha Beacons – with conspicuity devices.
Elsewhere I have noticed the globes being replaced by a ring of yellow lamps. Apparent these do not conform according to this web site: –
http://mallatite.co.uk/new-guidance-note-belisha-beacons-department-transport/
Even though there is is centre refuge for pedestrians, if it goes straight across without a pedestrian having to turn to the right or the left once in the middle, it is treated as one complete crossing.
Incorrect, I’m afraid.
It would be helpful to know which ones you got wrong.
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This is a very good idea.
Would have been nice to know which two I failed on
Please try again, Vernon; we’ve adjusted the way results are shown. Hope that helps.
How can you improve if you don’t know which answer(s) you got wrong?
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I don’t understand the most recent answers to comments. I have just finished the quiz and there were no answers available!
You claim that you have changed the way results are shown but I cannot see any results.
There are red and green lines that denote whether the question was answered correctly or not.
For example: https://ibb.co/nCnV8Q
The red line is under my incorrect response, while the green line is under the correct answer.
Thanks for that. As for the crossing debate, if your a driver I think you should stop. It’s a crossing! Put yourself in the pedestrians shoes, you would ‘expect’ the vehicle to stop wouldn’t you. People forget that their attitudes and mind set changes when they are driving and when they become the pedestrian, like 2 different people!
Yes. How will I ever know how I failed or contest the point. I’m a cyclist who’s cycled in France and do as they invariably do – put my offside wheels virtually into the opposite grass verge. When it’s safe to do so of course.
Would have liked the answers so I would know which three I got wrong.
Squirrels lives matter!
Isn’t it strange so many people think they know the rules of the road but failed to get 10 out of 10.
I’m a Motorcyclist, Car driver and Van Driver I got 10 out of 10
What to do when confronted with a loose animal on the road depends very much on the speed one is travelling at and the size of the animal. “Continue to drive safely” is close to meaningless.
I would say first check your mirror while braking reasonably, and keep driving in a straight line for any animal up to a domestic dog, including cats and foxes. Brake hard and try to stop for larger animals – badgers, sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys, horses, etc – and only steer around it if it will not result in a skid. Striking trees, lamp posts and other vehicles can cause more injuries than hitting the animal.
If there is time, a series of short hoots on the horn may alert the animal and send it off the road.
In Scotland when driving a Merecedes Sprinter van at night, I was confronted with a stag coming out of the blackness of the roadside. Travelling at around 40-50 mph, I braked hard and gripped the steering wheel tightly. I did not try to swerve around it. Knowing I was going to hit the stag, I pushed my backside hard into the seat and my spine against the seat back. No injury to me, but the stag was killed and the radiator punctured.
Some years ago in Africa, I was driving a Land Rover and caravan when a flock of sheep was driven across the road immediately in front of me. With no way to avoid the sheep, I braked hard and kept in a straight line. Result: the Land Rover and caravan rode over two sheep, killing them. No injuries to those in the Land Rover, or damage to it or the caravan.
And loose dogs were a daily hazard in Africa.
Perhaps a question on double yellow line rules. Many motorist think that if they park partly on the pavement they are exempt from the law even if half the car is actually on double yellow lines. They also think that because they are on the pavement they can double park. Wonder what they would do if they are disabled and have to go onto the road to get past these parked vehicles?
It’s just a matter of common sense that is what safe driving is about.