Alertness

Official DVSA Explanation

Ensure that you can see clearly through the windscreen of your vehicle. Stickers or hanging objects could obstruct your view or draw your attention away from the road.

Official DVSA Explanation

If you feel sleepy, you should leave the motorway at a service area or at the next exit and stop in a safe place to rest. A supply of fresh air can help to keep you alert before you reach the exit, but it isn’t a substitute for stopping and resting.

Official DVSA Explanation

Your headlights and tail lights help others on the road to see you. It may be necessary to turn on your lights during the day if visibility is reduced; for example, due to heavy rain. In these conditions, the light might fade before the street lights are timed to switch on. Be seen to be safe.

Official DVSA Explanation

It’s easy to be distracted. Planning your journey before you set off is important. A few sensible precautions are to tune your radio to stations in your area of travel, take planned breaks, and plan your route. Except for emergencies, it’s illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving. Even using a hands-free kit can severely distract your attention.

Official DVSA Explanation

It’s illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving, except in a genuine emergency. Even using a hands-free kit can distract your attention. Park in a safe and convenient place before receiving or making a call or using text messaging. Then you’ll also be free to take notes or refer to papers

Official DVSA Explanation

As you drive, look well ahead and all around so that you’re ready for any hazards that might develop. If you have to stop in an emergency, react as soon as you can while keeping control of the vehicle. Keep both hands on the steering wheel so you can control the vehicle’s direction of travel.

Official DVSA Explanation

Before moving off, you should use both the interior and exterior mirrors to check that the road is clear. Look around to check the blind spots and, if necessary, give a signal to warn other road users of your intentions.

Official DVSA Explanation

Allow the cyclist plenty of room in case they wobble or swerve around a pothole or raised drain. Look well ahead before you start to overtake, because you’ll need to use all of the road. Look for entrances to fields where tractors or other farm machinery could be waiting to pull out.

Official DVSA Explanation

Never attempt to use a hand-held phone while you’re driving, except in a genuine emergency. It’s illegal and will take your attention away from driving, putting you at greater risk of causing a collision.

Official DVSA Explanation

It’s easy to lose your way in an unfamiliar area. If you need to check a map or ask for directions, first find a safe place to stop

Official DVSA Explanation

Windscreen pillars can obstruct your view, particularly at bends and junctions. Look out for other road users – especially cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians – as they can easily be hidden by this obstruction.

Official DVSA Explanation

If you want to turn your car around, try to find a place where you have good all-round vision. If this isn’t possible, and you’re unable to see clearly, then get someone to guide you.

Official DVSA Explanation

Ensure that you can see clearly through the windscreen of your vehicle. Stickers or hanging objects could obstruct your view or draw your attention away from the road.

Official DVSA Explanation

Talking to someone while you’re driving can distract you and, unlike someone in the car with you, the person on the other end of a mobile phone is unable to see the traffic situations you’re dealing with. They won’t stop speaking to you even if you’re approaching a hazardous situation. You need to concentrate on your driving all of the time, but especially so when dealing with a hazard.

Official DVSA Explanation

Before emerging right onto a dual carriageway, make sure that the central reservation is deep enough to protect your vehicle. If it isn’t, you should treat the dual carriageway as one road and check that it’s clear in both directions before pulling out. Neglecting to do this could place part or all of your vehicle in the path of approaching traffic and cause a collision.

Windscreen pillars can completely block your view of pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists. You should make a particular effort to look for these road users; don’t just rely on a quick glance.

Official DVSA Explanation

Vehicle navigation systems can be useful when driving on unfamiliar routes. However, they can also distract you and cause you to lose control if you look at or adjust them while driving. Pull up in a convenient and safe place before adjusting them.

Official DVSA Explanation

If you have to make a U-turn, slow down and ensure that the road is clear in both directions. Make sure that the road is wide enough for you to carry out the manoeuvre safely.

Official DVSA Explanation

Ensure that you can see clearly through the windscreen of your vehicle. Stickers or hanging objects could obstruct your view or draw your attention away from the road.

Official DVSA Explanation

As you begin to think about overtaking, ask yourself whether it’s really necessary. If you can’t see well ahead, stay back and wait for a safer place to pull out.

Official DVSA Explanation

In this picture, the road marking shows that overtaking drivers or riders need to return to the left before they reach the hatch markings ahead. The hatch markings are designed to separate opposing streams of traffic; for example, approaching some junctions or dual carriageways.

Official DVSA Explanation

It’s illegal to use a hand-held mobile or similar device when driving or riding, except in a genuine emergency. The safest option is to switch off your mobile phone before you set off, and use a message service. If you’ve forgotten to switch your phone off and it rings, you should ignore it. When you’ve stopped in a safe place, you can see who called and return the call if necessary.

Official DVSA Explanation

These lines are often found on the approach to a roundabout or a dangerous junction. They give you extra warning to adjust your speed. Look well ahead and do this in good time.

Official DVSA Explanation

The longer traffic lights have been on green, the sooner they’ll change. Allow for this as you approach traffic lights that you know have been on green for a while. They’re likely to change soon, so you should be prepared to stop.

Official DVSA Explanation

Before pulling up, check the mirrors to see what’s happening behind you. Also assess what’s ahead and make sure you give the correct signal if it will help other road users.

Official DVSA Explanation

If you’re following a large vehicle but are so close to it that you can’t see its exterior mirrors, the driver won’t be able to see you. Keeping well back will also allow you to see the road ahead by looking past on either side of the large vehicle.

Official DVSA Explanation

You should be constantly scanning the road for clues about what’s going to happen next. Check your mirrors regularly, particularly as soon as you spot a hazard. What’s happening behind may affect your response to hazards ahead.

Official DVSA Explanation

At junctions, your view is often restricted by buildings, trees or parked cars. You need to be able to see in order to judge a safe gap. Edge forward slowly and keep looking all the time. Don’t cause other road users to change speed or direction as you emerge.