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.

When parking at night, park in the direction of the traffic flow. This will enable other road users to see the reflectors on the rear of your vehicle. You must also use parking lights where the speed limit is more than 30 mph.

Cars, light goods vehicles, invalid carriages and motorcycles can be parked at night without lights on roads with a speed limit of 30 mph or less. They must comply with any parking restrictions and face the direction of the traffic flow.

Before taking a learner driver out for their first driving lesson, an approved driving instructor (ADI) or accompanying driver should first check the learner's
- eyesight meets the legal requirements
- driving licence is valid.

When driving a motor car, a learner driver who holds a provisional driving licence must
- display red L plates (or D plates in Wales) to the front and rear of the vehicle
- be insured to drive the vehicle
- be accompanied by someone who's at least 21 years old and who has held for at least three years (and still holds) a full licence for the category of vehicle being driven.

If a driver accumulates 12 or more penalty points within a three-year period, they must be disqualified. This will be for a minimum period of six months and may be longer if the driver has previously been disqualified.

Only use front fog lights when adverse weather conditions mean you can't see more than 100 metres (328 feet). Remember: to avoid dazzling other drivers, turn off your fog lights when the visibility improves.

Car tyres must
- be correctly inflated
- have a tread depth of at least 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tread and around the entire circumference
- be free from certain cuts and other defects.
When checking tyres for cuts and bulges in the side walls, don't forget to check the inner walls (that is, those facing each other under the vehicle).

Before you drive a vehicle on the road, you must hold a driving licence for the class of vehicle being driven. You must also be covered by a minimum of third-party insurance while driving that vehicle.

The minimum distance you should leave your car from a junction is 10 metres (32 feet) - unless you're in an authorised parking space. Parking closer to a junction makes access to it more hazardous because the parked vehicle will block a driver's view. Pedestrians trying to cross the road may also be hidden by such a parked vehicle.

An instructor must normally wear a seat belt during all practical training when there's one fitted to the vehicle, unless they're exempt. However, when a pupil is carrying out a manoeuvre that involves reversing, instructors may release the belt during the exercise; this gives them a little more freedom to teach the exercise safely.

Double white lines along the centre of the road are usually found in places where there's a poor view ahead, usually caused by bends in the road. When the line nearest to you is solid, you may cross it to pass a stationary vehicle, providing that it's safe to do so.

Your safety and that of others may depend on the condition of your tyres. You must check that they're correctly inflated and have sufficient tread depth. The legal minimum tread depth for cars is 1.6 mm. This depth should be across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tyre and around the entire circumference.

Driving instructors who always display L plates on a training vehicle are exempt from having to remove them when a full licence holder is driving the car.

Don't park less than 10 metres (32 feet) from a junction (unless in an authorised parking place). At night, park in the direction of the traffic, so that your car's red reflectors show to passing drivers. You must use your parking lights when parking at night on a road, or in a lay-by on a road, where the speed limit is over 30 mph.

Anyone who accompanies a learner car driver must hold a full EC/EEA licence for the category of vehicle being driven, and they must have held it for at least 3 years. They must also be at least 21 years old. This applies even if they're just helping a friend and no money is exchanged.

Dual accelerators aren't normally fitted to training vehicles. If one is fitted, it must be removed while the vehicle is being used for a driving test.

Don't park within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction (unless in an authorised parking place). This is to allow drivers emerging from, or turning into, the junction a clear view of the road they're joining. It also allows them to see hazards such as pedestrians or cyclists at the junction.

An MOT certificate will normally be valid for one year. The certificate doesn't warrant the condition of the vehicle at a later date, but simply shows that at the time the certificate was issued the vehicle met the MOT requirements. It's the driver's responsibility to ensure that the vehicle is roadworthy whenever it's driven.

Where there are extra hazards such as roadworks, it's often necessary to slow traffic down by imposing a temporary speed limit. The speed-limit sign will be circular and edged with a red ring. This tells you that the sign is an order and you must obey it.