Large, long and heavy vehicles will need more time to pass you than a car, especially uphill. If necessary, be prepared to slow down to let them pass.

Generally, vehicles shouldn't park partially or fully on verges, footpaths or pavements. However, it's becoming more common for this to be allowed on some narrow streets. Special parking signs will show where it's allowed.

If you suspect a casualty has back injuries, talk to them and keep them calm. Don't attempt to move them, as this could cause further injury. Call an ambulance at the first opportunity.

Check there are no objects in the wound and then apply a firm pressure with a pad of clean material, such as a bandage or a length of cloth. Raising the leg will lessen the flow of blood. Avoid tying anything tightly round the leg, as any restriction to blood circulation for more than a short period of time can result in long-term injury.

Stay with the casualty and talk to them confidently to reassure them. Avoid moving them unnecessarily, in case they're injured. Keep them warm, but don't give them anything to eat or drink.

The effects of shock may not be immediately obvious. Keep checking on casualties and talk to them to reassure them. Signs to look for include
- rapid pulse
- pale grey skin
- sweating
rapid, shallow breathing.

Large vehicles can throw up a lot of spray when the roads are wet. This will make it difficult for you to see ahead. Dropping back will move you out of the spray and let you see more of the road ahead.

A security-coded radio can deter thieves, as it's likely to be of little use when removed from the vehicle.

If you feel drowsy while driving on a motorway, find a safe and legal place to park as soon as you can. This will mean either leaving the motorway at the next exit or pulling in at the next service area.

Large vehicles take time to get moving, especially on an uphill gradient. You should keep this in mind and give way, if you can do so safely, so that they can maintain momentum up the hill.

If your vehicle breaks down, use hazard warning lights as well as a warning triangle or other device to warn other drivers. It's even more important to do this in the dark. Warning triangles should be placed at least 45 metres (147 feet) from your vehicle and on the same side of the road. Don't use a warning triangle on a motorway.

If you have to pass an obstruction, such as a parked vehicle on your side of the road, you'll need to cross, either partly or fully, to the other side of the road. This could put you at risk from approaching traffic. You should give way to oncoming traffic if there isn't enough room for you both to continue safely.

If your vehicle breaks down, switch on your hazard warning lights. The lights will draw attention to the position of your vehicle, so other road users can avoid it. Only leave the vehicle when you can safely get clear of the carriageway.

Tyres won't grip the road surface so well in wet weather or on loose road surfaces. On wet roads, it's recommended that you allow at least double the stopping distance you would leave in dry conditions.

Fog lights are brighter than normal dipped headlights. If the weather has improved, turn them off to avoid dazzling other road users.

Take care if a vehicle is approaching from the right and giving a left signal. The driver may have forgotten to cancel the signal or may wish to stop just past the junction. Don't emerge until you're sure of their intentions.

If you have to stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway, you should park as far to the left as you can and leave the vehicle by the nearside door. If you're on a smart motorway you should stop in an emergency refuge area. Don't attempt even simple repairs. Use the emergency telephone and phone for assistance. While waiting for assistance to arrive, wait near your car, keeping well away from the carriageway and hard shoulder.

Before you change lane in a traffic queue, look for motorcyclists who may be filtering between the lanes of traffic. Make sure you look properly, as a motorcycle is small and easy to overlook.

In queuing traffic, motorcyclists and cyclists often filter past the stationary vehicles. Before you turn right in a traffic queue, check your mirrors for passing vehicles. Motorcyclists and cyclists are smaller than other vehicles and can be difficult to see, so look for them before turning.

When parking on a hill, there's a risk of the car rolling if the parking brake fails. To reduce this risk, turn the front wheels towards the kerb. This will allow the kerb to act as a chock, preventing any forward movement of the vehicle.

Don't travel unless you really have to. Making unnecessary journeys will increase the risk of being involved in an incident. If you do decide to use your car, it's important that you can see and be seen. Make sure any snow or ice is cleared from lights, mirrors, number plates and windows.

In icy conditions, it's very important that you take appropriate action in plenty of time. On slippery surfaces, harsh use of the accelerator, brakes or steering is likely to lead to skidding.

In good, dry conditions, an alert driver who's driving a vehicle with tyres and brakes in good condition needs to keep a gap of at least two seconds from the car in front. When the road surface is wet, the gap needs to be increased to four seconds - and if it's icy, then the gap needs to increase to as much as 20 seconds.

You must always remain within the speed limit, but how fast you drive will depend on many other factors. Above all, you should never drive so fast that you can't stop within the distance you can see to be clear.

When driving in traffic, keep within your lane. Driving in the centre of your lane ensures there's as much space as possible between you and the traffic on either side. You should always follow the lane markings, which are there for two reasons: they make the best possible use of road space and they guide the traffic.

Should the parking brake fail, the use of first gear will help to prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards. By turning the front wheels to the right, they'll travel the shortest distance before running against the kerb. This will reduce the potential for the vehicle to move any further.

Before stopping, 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. If you have to stop in an emergency, you may not always have time to use the mirrors.

When following a large vehicle, you need to keep well back to help you to see around it. You can only judge whether it's safe to overtake when you have a clear view of the road ahead. If another vehicle comes past you and fills the gap, drop further back to keep a safe separation distance.

Potholes and bumps in the road can unbalance a motorcyclist. For this reason, a rider may swerve to avoid an uneven road surface. Knowing what motorcyclists may do will help you to make allowances for them.

The hard shoulder of a motorway that's not subject to smart motorway technology is only to be used in an emergency or if you break down. Roadside emergency telephones are placed about one mile apart and they connect directly to a control centre. The control centre will know your exact location from the telephone you're using and will inform the appropriate emergency services for you. Never cross the carriageway to use a telephone on the other side.

Where a motorway has a steep uphill gradient, slow-moving, large vehicles might get in the way of other traffic. An extra lane on the left may be provided for these slow-moving vehicles. It allows faster-moving traffic to flow more easily.

It takes more time to overtake a long vehicle than a small one, such as a car. Before overtaking, you need to be able to see far enough ahead to know that you have the space and time to complete the manoeuvre safely. Hazards to watch for include oncoming traffic, junctions, bends or dips (which could restrict your view), and any signs or road markings prohibiting overtaking.

Large vehicles can hide other vehicles that are overtaking, especially motorcycles. You need to be aware of the possibility of hidden vehicles and not assume that it's safe to emerge.

Signals should be cancelled soon after use. If a driver is unsure of the location of a junction or destination, they may signal earlier than normal while looking for their turn. Don't attempt to overtake, as they may turn suddenly.

It can be worrying if the driver behind hasn't left enough room to stop if you have to brake hard - for example, in an emergency. Driving defensively, you should give yourself a greater safety margin by easing back from the vehicle in front. If an emergency arises, you'll be able to slow down more gradually, giving the driver behind more time to respond.

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

Reflective studs on the motorway are there to help you in poor visibility. Different colours are used so that you'll know which lane you're in. These are
- red on the left-hand side of the road
- white between lanes
- amber on the right-hand edge of the carriageway
- green between the carriageway and slip roads.

These lights warn that children may be crossing the road to a nearby school. Slow down so that you're ready to stop if necessary.

If it's safe to do so, you may cross a solid white line to pass a road maintenance vehicle, pedal cycle or horse, if they're travelling at 10 mph (16 km/h) or less. When safe, you may also cross the solid line to enter a side road, access a property or pass a stationary vehicle.

As you approach traffic lights that have been on green for some time, anticipate that they'll soon change. Check your mirror so that you know what traffic is behind you and how far away it is. If the lights change to steady amber, you should stop behind the stop line. If you're so close to the stop line when the lights change that to stop may cause a collision, you should continue. You'll only know the risk from traffic behind if you use your mirrors as you approach the lights.

Late braking and harsh acceleration waste fuel. To avoid this, scan and look well ahead so that you can recognise hazards and anticipate problems in good time.

In a left-hand-drive vehicle, use of the mirrors and awareness of blind areas is very important. Being seated on the car's left makes the blind area on your right more difficult to overcome. For example, when joining a dual carriageway or motorway from a slip road, traffic on the carriageway will be approaching in the blind area on your right and could easily be overlooked.

An incorrectly adjusted head restraint will offer reduced protection against whiplash injury. When adjusting the head restraint, set it so that it's at least as high as the eyes or top of the ears.

Head restraints are provided to protect against neck and spine injuries, commonly referred to as 'whiplash'. They should be correctly adjusted before the start of every journey. An incorrectly adjusted head restraint will offer reduced protection.

When driving through shallow flood water or fords, drive through slowly, in a low gear, while keeping the engine speed high by slipping the clutch; this should prevent water from entering the exhaust system. Check for traffic behind you and, if it's safe to do so, try your brakes as soon as you're clear of the water. Don't attempt to drive through deep or fast-flowing flood water.

Using a lower gear will allow the engine braking to assist the brakes in keeping the vehicle's speed under control. Avoid coasting with the clutch held down or rolling in neutral, as there will then be no engine braking.

Before you test the brakes, don't forget to check for traffic behind. If it's safe, drive slowly and gently apply the brakes until they dry out and work properly again.

If your tyres show uneven or excessive wear, have the alignment checked. This is often called tracking, and it can be carried out by most garages or tyre-fitting businesses.

This curved arrow on the road indicates the direction that traffic should pass solid double white lines that are coming up. These arrows are also used on the approach to hatch markings and low arched bridges. Sometimes the arrow may curve to the right.

Hatch markings are used to separate traffic and to protect traffic turning right. Where the boundary line is broken, you may enter the area only if necessary and provided you can see that it's safe. A continuous white line defining the hatched area means that you mustn't enter, except in an emergency. All other rules of the road apply as normal.

Loose gravel or chippings can easily be thrown up by vehicles' tyres. At roadworks or on newly surfaced roads, check your speed and keep a good distance away from vehicles ahead to avoid any flying chippings.

You should always do your best to make other road users aware of your intentions. If you think your indicator might not be seen, or your intentions might not be clear, then giving an arm signal as well may be helpful.

A primary route is a road of national or regional importance and is the major route between larger towns and cities. The direction signs on these routes have green backgrounds. Many maps and road atlases show these routes in green.

If you see a vehicle with a flashing green light, allow it to pass when you can do so safely; it will be a doctor on an emergency call. Someone's life could depend on the driver making good progress through the traffic.

The edge of the carriageway is often marked with a continuous white line. This stops at junctions, lay-bys, and entrances and exits from private drives. In conditions of poor visibility, such as when it's foggy, this line can help you see the edge of the road.

Catalytic converters are exhaust-treatment systems that remove most of the harmful compounds from the exhaust gases. These include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons. The converter only deals with toxic, polluting gases; carbon dioxide is still produced.

Driving in neutral or with the clutch down for long periods is known as 'coasting'. If you do this on a steep downhill gradient, there will be no engine braking to help check your speed.

Holding the clutch down or staying in neutral for too long will cause your vehicle to freewheel. This is known as 'coasting' and it's dangerous, because it reduces your control of the vehicle.

If the road surface is loose, it's possible for the loose surfaces to slide over each other. A vehicle's tyres may grip the surface layer but this may slide across a lower layer. An anti-lock braking system would be less effective in this situation.

On vehicles fitted with an anti-lock braking system, it's generally recommended that, once you've applied the brake, you keep your foot firmly on the pedal until you've stopped. Releasing the brake and reapplying it will momentarily disengage the anti-lock braking system and may increase your stopping distance.

A roof rack increases your car's wind resistance. This will cause an increase in fuel consumption, so you should remove it when it isn't being used.

If you don't have your vehicle serviced regularly, the engine will steadily become less efficient. This loss of efficiency will progressively cause an increase in fuel consumption, engine running problems and increased risk of the vehicle breaking down.

Selecting a low gear when travelling downhill will help you to control your speed. The engine will assist the brakes and help prevent your vehicle from gathering speed.

A continuous white line is used on many roads to indicate the edge of the carriageway. This can be useful when visibility is restricted. The line is discontinued at junctions, lay-bys, and entrances and exits from private drives.

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.

At puffin crossings, an infra-red sensor detects when pedestrians are crossing. This controls when the lights change. There's no flashing amber phase as there is with a pelican crossing.

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.

Normally, a driver shouldn't stop or park on a road that has double white lines along the centre. However, you may stop for long enough to set down or pick up passengers, or to load or unload goods.

Over-inflated tyres will cause excessive wear along the centre of the tread. Check your tyre pressures on a regular basis, and when the tyres are cold.

Exterior mirrors are designed to be convex. This gives a wide angle of view and helps to reduce blind areas. However, a vehicle behind will appear smaller and further away in a convex mirror, so it could be closer than you think.

Most motorway signs have a blue background with white lettering, numbers and borders. These signs not only confirm motorway status but are designed to give clear information to drivers travelling at motorway speeds.

The outside mirrors fitted to cars are designed to give the driver the best possible view of the traffic behind. To give a wide angle of view, the mirror is made convex, but this makes everything appear smaller and further away than it really is.

The flashing amber light comes on after the red light, and people may still be crossing. If the crossing is clear and it's safe, you may drive on without waiting for the green light.

Automatic transmission sometimes changes up as you approach a bend, due to reduced pressure on the accelerator. To avoid this, slow down before you reach the bend, then accelerate gently as you turn.

Before you enter a roundabout, you normally give way to any traffic approaching from your immediate right. In a few cases, however, traffic on the roundabout has to give way to traffic entering. Look out for 'give way' signs, road markings and traffic lights on the roundabout.

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.

When traffic lights are out of order, you should treat the junction as an unmarked crossroads. Be cautious, as you may need to give way or stop. Keep a lookout for traffic attempting to cross the junction at speed.

If there's a bend or other obstruction concealing a level crossing, you won't be able to see the barriers, signals or any waiting traffic. Countdown markers, spaced equally at about 100 yard intervals, give you an early warning that you're approaching a level crossing, so you can be prepared to stop if necessary.

The purpose of this road marking is to keep the junction clear of queuing traffic. You may only wait in the marked area when you're turning right and your exit lane is clear but you can't complete the turn because of oncoming traffic.

The reflective studs between the carriageway and the hard shoulder are normally red. These change to green where there's a slip road. They help you identify slip roads when visibility is poor or when it's dark.

Reflective studs are placed along the edges and between the lanes on motorways. The colour of the stud can help you identify your position on the road when visibility is reduced; for example, when it's foggy. Between the lanes, the studs are white. Red studs are used between the left-hand edge of the carriageway and the hard shoulder. Amber studs are used along the right-hand edge of the carriageway, and green studs are used where slip roads enter or leave the motorway.

Give way to buses if you can do so safely, especially when they signal to move off from a bus stop. Look out for people who've just got off the bus, as they may try to cross the road. Don't try to accelerate past before the bus starts moving, and don't flash your headlights; other road users may be misled by this signal.

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.

A candidate must be able to read a modern-style number plate (made after 1 September 2001) from 20 metres. If the candidate's eyesight isn't up to the required standard, the test will go no further and they'll have failed.

If a disabled driver passes their driving test in a specifically adapted motor car, the driving licence issued will restrict them to driving vehicles fitted with the necessary adaptations.

To park at night without lights, you must comply with certain conditions. The road must be subject to a 30 mph speed limit, or less. Parking too close to a junction or facing the flow of traffic could confuse and cause danger for other road users.

Potential driving instructors (PDIs) will have their eyesight tested at the start of their Part 2 examination. A number plate, where the letters and figures are 79 mm tall and 50 mm wide, must be read at a minimum distance of 26.5 metres (87 feet). If a PDI can't pass this test, their Part 2 examination will go no further. This won't, however, affect their licence to drive, as the ADI eyesight test standard exceeds the legal eyesight requirement.

An amber flashing light on a vehicle indicates that it's slow-moving. Mobility scooters used by disabled people are limited to no more than 8 mph. On dual carriageways, they must display an amber flashing light.

Bright fog lights can dazzle other drivers, so you must remember to turn them off when the fog lifts and visibility improves. Be prepared for patchy fog: you may need to turn the fog lights on again.

Only use your fog lights when visibility is seriously reduced. Use dipped headlights at other times when visibility is poor. Your headlights and tail lights help others on the road to see you. It may be necessary to turn them on during the day if visibility is reduced; for example, due to heavy rain.

Where fitted, seat belts must be worn. It's the driver's responsibility to ensure that children under 14 years old wear a seat belt or use a suitable child restraint. Passengers aged 14 or over are responsible for wearing their seat belt. Exceptions to this law are made for people who hold a medical exemption certificate.

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.

At the start of the practical driving test, the examiner will ask the candidate if they wish their instructor or accompanying driver to be present during the test. Anyone who does accompany the candidate must be 16 years or older and must wear a seat belt during the test.

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.

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.

The extended test takes about 70 minutes and is assessed to the same level as the standard driving test for learner drivers.

Vehicles towing trailers are subject to a speed limit of 60 mph on motorways and dual carriageways. In addition, any vehicle towing a trailer may not use the right-hand lane of a motorway that has three or more lanes.

If your vehicle is stationary, only sound the horn if you think there's a risk of danger. Don't use it to attract attention. This causes unnecessary noise and could be misleading to other road users.

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.

It's important that driving faults and errors are dealt with promptly. Learning will also be more effective if the pupil can spot their own errors and come up with their own strategies for ensuring the errors don't happen again. If the pupil doesn't recognise the fault, you'll need to tell them. Even then, the pupil can still work on developing strategies themselves.

At junctions where the view is restricted, you need to make sure your pupil has time to assess the situation. Teach them to approach slowly and get a good look at the traffic situation before making a decision.

At the correct stage in a pupil's development, it's beneficial to practise steering the vehicle with one hand. They should then find it easier to change gear, operate another control or give arm signals as and when appropriate. Any tendency to drive with one hand without good reason should be strongly discouraged.

A pupil needs time to react to an instructor's directions. It's recommended that an instructor uses the Alert - Direct - Identify procedure. For example, 'At the roundabout' (alert them and gain their attention); 'take the road off to the right, it's the third exit' (direct them); 'it's signposted to Bristol' (identify).

The fuel in your vehicle can be a dangerous fire hazard. A strong smell of petrol may indicate a fuel leak and needs investigating. Don't use a naked flame near the vehicle if you can smell fuel, and don't smoke when refuelling your vehicle.

It's important that instructors explain that safety checks aren't just a test requirement but are a vital part of keeping safe on the road. Explaining the reasons behind safety checks should help pupils to think for themselves and become safe drivers.

Everyone learns at a different rate, so you'll need to adapt your teaching to the ability of each pupil. Building confidence is an important part of teaching someone to drive. This can be hard to build but easy to lose, so be realistic in your expectations of a pupil.

Any medical condition that would affect your driving must be reported to the DVLA Drivers Medical Group or, in Northern Ireland, the DVA Drivers Medical Section. If you have any condition or you have to take any medication that you think might affect your driving, it's worth checking the information available on www.gov.uk