A properly adjusted head restraint can help to prevent whiplash injury to the neck and spine. You're most likely to suffer this type of injury if you're hit from behind by another vehicle.

Before you start a motorway journey, make sure that your vehicle can cope with the demands of continuous high-speed travel. To reduce the risk of your vehicle breaking down, check the oil, water and tyres before setting off. If you're travelling a long way, it's also a good idea to plan your rest stops in advance.

Strict controls on exhaust emissions require a catalytic converter to be fitted to the exhaust system of all new vehicles. Catalytic converters remove most of the carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and unburned hydrocarbons from the exhaust gases.

Selecting a low gear will help the engine's resistance, known as engine braking, to control your vehicle's speed. This is especially useful when travelling downhill.

If your front wheels are out of balance, the steering will vibrate. You'll have to take your vehicle to a garage or tyre-fitting firm, where they can balance your wheels; it isn't a fault that will rectify itself.

If your car is fitted with an anti-lock braking system (ABS), this will activate when you brake so hard that the tyres start to lose their grip on the road surface. At this point, the wheels would normally lock up and a skid would start. The ABS senses the wheel locking and releases the brake pressure just enough to avoid the skid. It then cycles through applying and releasing the brake pressure many times per second. This ensures maximum braking for the available grip is constantly applied without the wheels locking.

If the wheels of your vehicle lock, the tyres won't grip the road and then you'll have no control over the steering. The anti-lock braking system will prevent this from happening.

The diesel you use to run a vehicle is a form of oil and, as such, is very slippery when spilt on the road. The usual places to find diesel spillage are near filling stations and on bends or roundabouts. Overfilled fuel tanks and poorly fitting or missing fuel filler caps are often the cause of diesel spillage, so make sure you replace your fuel filler cap securely after refuelling.

Spilled fuel wastes money, damages the environment and makes the road surface slippery. This can be particularly dangerous for motorcyclists. Ensuring that you replace the fuel filler cap securely will prevent fuel spilling from your vehicle's fuel tank.

You're responsible for making sure that anything you carry on your vehicle is fastened securely. The safest way to carry items on the roof is in a specially designed roof box. This will help to keep luggage secure and dry. Roof boxes also have less wind resistance than exposed loads carried on a roof rack, and this helps to reduce fuel consumption.

The steady amber light will be followed by twin flashing red lights, which mean you must stop. An alarm will also sound to alert you to the fact that a train is approaching.

If any warning light shows while you're driving, it indicates a fault that needs prompt attention. If the warning light for the anti-lock brake system shows, have the braking system checked before driving further.

In icy and snowy weather, your stopping distance will be up to 10 times further than in good, dry conditions. To reduce the risk of skidding, take extra care when braking, accelerating and changing direction.

Check all tyres (including the spare) at least once a week. Do it when they're cold and remember to refit the valve caps. The vehicle handbook will tell you if you need different pressures for different conditions. Remember: because it's so dangerous, it's an offence to use a vehicle with an improperly inflated tyre.

This sign on the overhead gantry will be accompanied by flashing amber lights. The arrow directs you to move into the next lane. There might not be any visible signs of a problem ahead, but there might be queuing traffic or another hazard that you can't yet see.

At a ford, the road passes through a stream at a place where the water is normally shallow. When you've gone through the water, you should test your brakes and if necessary dry them out. To do this, first check that you won't cause danger to traffic behind. Then apply a light brake pressure while moving slowly. Make sure your brakes are working properly before resuming normal driving.

If a bus is signalling to move off, give it priority as long as it's safe to do so. Look for pedestrians who have left the bus and may be trying to cross the road.

A toucan crossing is designed to allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross at the same time. Look out for cyclists approaching the crossing at speed.

Diamond-shaped signs apply to tram drivers. You should know their meaning so that you're aware of the priorities and are able to anticipate the actions of the driver.

If you want to turn left and there's a cyclist in front of you, hold back. Wait until the cyclist has passed the junction and then turn left behind them.