Questions & Answers

Some Questions the driving tester may ask you .

Q. When should you dip your headlights?
Ans. When meeting oncoming traffic, in built-up areas, in fog or falling snow, when following close behind another vehicle, at the beginning and end of lighting-up hours, in heavy rain and on dull days.

Q.When may you overtake on the left?
Ans. When the driver in front of you has signaled their intention to turn right and it is safe for you to do so. In two lane traffic where the left-hand lane is moving quicker than the traffic in the right-hand lane. When you are turning left. In a one-way street.

Q. What road markings would you expect to see prohibiting you from entering a one way street?
Ans. A continuous white line painted across the width of the road entrance, backed by a broken white line, also a NO ENTRY sign.

Q. What does an amber traffic light mean?
Ans. Stop, if it is safe to do so.

Q. What is the sequence of the normal traffic lights?
Ans. Green, Amber, Red, Green.

Q. What is the sequence of pedestrian traffic lights?
Ans. Green Amber Red, Flashing Amber Green.

Q. What should always be kept clean on your vehicle?
Ans. Lights, Reflectors, Windows, Mirrors and Registration plate.

Q. Can you reverse from a minor road on to a major road?
Ans. NO, (You should only reverse from a major road to a minor road).

Q. What shape is the sign that regulates?
Ans. Regulatory signs are round with red on white background with the exception of two: Stop and Yield.

Q. When should you use your hazard lights?
Ans. When your car is broken down, being towed, if you need to slow quickly, or if your in an accident.

Q. What shape and colour is a warning sign?
Ans. Diamond Shape - Yellow and Black.

Q. What vehicles are prohibited from using a motorway?
Ans. Learner driver vehicles, motorbikes under 50cc, invalid cars or horse drawn vehicles, or any vehicles not capable of attaining 50kph.

Q. When should you not drive?
Ans. While under the influence of alcohol, drugs (prescribed or otherwise), or when tired, drowsy or unwell.

Q. What should a broken white line mean to you?
Ans. A broken white line divides the centre of the road and should only be crossed if it is safe or necessary to do so.

Q. What is the rule on entering a roundabout?
Ans. Give way to traffic on your immediate right and traffic already on the roundabout.

Q. Name some places where you should not overtake?
Ans. Where you cannot see far enough ahead, a humpback bridge, close to junctions corners, pedestrian crossing, hatch markings, continuous white line.

Q. Name some places where you should not park?
Ans. Close to a junction, opposite a stationary vehicle, on a corner, double yellow lines, single yellow lines (within the times stated), opposite a continuous white line.

Q. To keep you'r vehicle in legal condition, what should you pay particular attention to?
Ans. brakes, lights, tyres, steering, indicators, wipers, speedometer, horn and silencer.

Q. What is the hard shoulder used for?
Ans. Emergencies, breakdowns, Pedestrians and Cyclists.

Q. What is the overall stopping distance at:
50km/h Ans. 25 mtrs.
60km/h Ans. 35 mtrs.
80km/h Ans. 55 mtrs.

Q. What are the minimum lighting requirements on your vehicle?
Ans. A motor vehicle (except a motor cycle) must be equipped with (Front): two headlights (white or yellow), two white side lights and amber directional indicators
(Rear): two red rear lights, two red stop lights at rear, two red rear reflectors, no. plate lighting and amber directional indicators.

Q. How should you approach a green light that has been green from the first time you have seen it?
Ans. Approach with caution at a speed which would enable you to stop safely if necessary.

Q. Name two ways of coasting?
Ans. Keeping clutch pressed down while moving, or out of gear while car is still moving (e.g coasting in neutral).

Q. When parked on the left, what should you do before moving off?
Ans. Check your rear and right mirrors, signal and look over you right shoulder to check you blind spot and look forward again before moving off.

Q. Which is the safest way to park your vehicle at night?
Ans. Passenger side to kerb, (reflectors to the following traffic).

Q. What should you do if blinded by oncoming lights at night?
Ans. Look to the left, slow down, move in and if you are still blinded slow down more or stop.

Q. What is the first thing you should do after being involved in an accident?
Ans. Stop your vehicle and check if your passengers are ok.

Q. What side of the road should your passengers alight from, especially children?
Ans. Pavement side.

Q. If a blind person were crossing the road, how would you know that he/she was blind?
Ans. There would be two reflective bands on his/her white stick or guide dog.

Q. What should you do before starting any type of manoeuvre?
Ans. Check mirrors, check blind spots and give the appropriate signals.

Q. What do Zig-Zag lines mean on approach to a Zebra crossing?
Ans. No overtaking, no parking, no stopping (except for traffic reasons).

Q. Give some examples where you should be more aware of pedestrians?
Ans. Corners, traffic lights, junctions, bus stops, when overtaking, parked cars or trucks, around ice-cream vans and near schools.

Q. If you were driving along the road and felt drowsy, what should you do?
Ans. Pull over, stop and open your window. (DO NOT DRIVE WHEN DROWSY).

Q. At a pelican crossing what does a flashing amber light mean?
Ans. Proceed with caution if no pedestrian is crossing.

Q. When should you use your lights during daylight hours?
Ans. During poor visibility, falling snow, fog or rain.

Q. What is the minimum legal thread depth on a car tyre?
Ans. 1.66mm

Q. How many types of pedestrian crossings are there?
Ans. Two, controlled (pedestrian traffic lights) and uncontrolled (flashing amber beacons).

Q. How would you describe an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing?
Ans. Flashing beacons and black & white road markings with zig-zag lines.

Q. What is a controlled pedestrian crossing?
Ans. Pedestrian traffic lights.

Q. What markings are you likely to find at traffic lights?
Ans. Stop line two pedestrian lines two yellow lines continuous white line yellow box directional arrows.

Q. What signs would you expect to see approaching a major road?
Ans. Warning sign major road ahead regulatory sign: yield or stop.

Q. What are chevrons?
Ans. They are directional arrows to indicate sharp change of direction ahead, bad bends etc. You must follow the arrows.

Q. Why is a stop sign or a yield sign so shaped?
Ans. If defaced or covered in any way, the driver recognises the shape.

Q. On your driving test, while doing your turnabout, must the manoeuvre be completed in three movements?
Ans. No it can be done in 3, 5 or 7 movements. The less the better. Most cars can do it in three depending on the size of the road and length of the car.

Q. How many types of road signs are there?
Ans. Three: Informative (information signs), warning (black diamond shape) and regulatory (round).

Q. Where would parking obscure the view of others?
Ans. At junctions, on a bend or brow of a hill, on the approach side of a zebra crossing.

Q. What is the minimum insurance on a vehicle?
Ans. Third party.

Q. Name some conditions that you would need to increase your braking distance?
Ans. Rain (especialy after a dry spell), ice, snow, fallen leaves, loose chippings, worn tyres.

Q. What is the significance if the driver flashes his/her lights at you?
Ans. Take note of his/her presence.

Q. What is the national speed limit?
Ans. 100kph.

Q. What vehicles must you give way to at a junction of equal importance?
Ans. All vehicles approaching from your right and traffic already on the junction.

Q. Name some signs and road markings that would prohibit you from parking?
Ans. No parking signs, clearway signs, bus lane signs, yellow lines or continuous double white lines in centre of road.

Q. When is it particularly dangerous to park on the road at night?
Ans. In heavy fog or in badly lit areas.

Q. What lights should you have on in fog?
Ans. Dipped headlights & fog lights on rear if fitted.

Q. What must you make sure of before starting a reverse?
Ans. That you have a clear view and that no pedestrians, especially children, are crossing behind you. Look out for cyclists and other road user's

Q. How do you approach and take the third exit off an ordinary four exit roundabout?
Ans. You must check your rear and right mirrors signal right and manoeuvre right (just left of centre or as close to the center as is safe) on approach. Maintain your signal until you reach the exit before the one you want to take, then you must check your rear mirror, left mirror and left hand blindspot and change your signal to the left, manoeuvre left and exit if safe to do so.

Q. How should you take the 2nd exit off a roundabout?
Ans. You must check your mirrors, drive in on the left-hand side, no signal until you pass the first exit, check your mirrors, then signal left and exit.

Q. What must you remember before you overtake?
Ans. You must have a clear view ahead and then use the mirror, signal, mirror manoeuvre technique.

Q. What do you do on approaching a junction to turn left/right if there are pedestrians already crossing?
Ans. Slow down allow them to cross, stop if necessary.

Q. What is a bus lane?
Ans. It is for the exclusive use of buses, taxis and cyclists within the specified times.

Q. At a road junction where must you stop?
Ans. You must stop at or before the stop line.

Q. What should you not do when you are being overtaken?
Ans. Accelerate or move to the right.

Q. What position should you adopt when turning right?
Ans. Just left of the centreline of the road, except in cases of emergency.

Q. What is the meaning of a single white line in the centre of the road?
Ans. It divides the road and should not be crossed except in exceptional circumstances e.g. an accident, road works, parked cars, cyclists or other obstructions.

Q. Should you beckon pedestrians across a crossing?
Ans. You should not beckon pedestrians or other road users, as another vehicles may be approaching, they must make the decision for themselves.

Q. What sign prohibits you from entering a one way street?
Ans. A round sign, white within a red circle, and arrow with a slash through it.

Q. What is recommended when carrying a child?
Ans. Child restraints and car seats.

Q. What is the difference between a single yellow line and a double yellow line?
Ans. Single yellow line parking at certain times is allowed, read the sign posts. Double yellow line No parking at any time.

Q. What are the rules for giving hand signals?
Ans. Clearly and in good time, and for long enough to be understood.

Q. If you are asked by a Garda to produce your driving licence and you dont have it with you, what is your position by law?
Ans. You are required to carry your licence while driving but you have 10 days to produce your licence at a Garda Station of your choice.

Q. Describe motorway countdown markers.
Ans. Rectangle blue signs. 3 bars 300 meters, 2 bars 200 meters, 1 bar 100 meters.

Q. How long is the driving test for class (car)?
Ans. 25 45 mins.

Q. What should you not do after overtaking?
Ans. Cut in, slow down or stop.

Q. Name something you should never do on a motorway?
Ans. Enter a motorway as a learner driver, exceed the speed limit, reverse, stop unless orderd to by the garda, walk on a motorway or cross the reservation.

Q. Immediately after parking, what instrument should be operated first?
Ans. Your hand brake.

Q. When driving on country roads, what should you pay particular attention to?
Ans. Wandering animals, slow moving farm machinery, concealed entrances and persons herding animals.

Q. What legal requirements must you have before going to drive a vehicle?
Ans. Valid driving licence, valid tax and insurance, a nct (if the viechle requires one) and a roadworthy vehicle.

Q. When may you drive on the right hand side of the road?
Ans. In a one way street.

Q. What is meant by the word Aquaplaning?
Ans. When bald or warn tyres cant cope with the build-up of water underneath them. This leads to the loss of control of your vehicle.

Q. What type of road should you never reverse into?
Ans. A major road or a one way street.

Q. Where would you see a triangle painted on the road?
Ans. On approach to junctions, roundabouts and yield signs.

Q. What is the rule about passing animals on the road?
Ans. Slow down, give plenty of room, do not sound your horn or rev your engine. Have patience.

Q. What does the rules of the road say about sounding your horn?
Ans. You should not sound your horn between the hours of 11.30pm and 7.00am except in emergencies.

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