As you approach a left turn, maintain your normal driving position on the left. Don't swing out before you turn, and make sure that you've reduced your speed and are in the correct gear. Look into the road before you turn and give way to any pedestrians who are crossing.

Drivers shouldn't try to retrieve anything from a motorway. The danger from, and to, passing traffic caused by someone on the carriageway shouldn't be underestimated. The recommended course of action is to go to the next emergency telephone and report the incident to the control centre.

A signal might not be necessary where there's no-one to benefit from it, or where the signal could confuse other road users. Forward planning and taking an early and steady course will remove the need to routinely signal to pass parked vehicles or obstructions.

Give way to traffic already on the motorway. If you've matched the speed of traffic in the left-hand lane, you should be able to join where there's a suitable gap in the traffic. Try to avoid stopping at the end of the slip road - but you might have to do so if the motorway is very busy and there isn't a safe gap in the traffi

People who appear uninjured may be in shock and need professional treatment. Avoid unnecessary movement, reassure them, and keep them comfortable and warm. Don't leave them on their own and don't give them anything to eat or drink. Make sure the emergency services are called if necessary.

After ensuring the scene is safe, your priorities are to cool the burns with a clean, cool, non-toxic liquid and then to check the casualty for shock. Don't remove anything sticking to the burns, as this could cause further injury and infection.

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.

Diagonal stripes or chevrons are painted on the road to help separate traffic lanes or vehicles turning right. When bordered by a solid white line, you shouldn't enter the area except in an emergency. If the line is broken, you shouldn't enter the area unless it's necessary and you can see that it's safe.

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.

By keeping well back from the large vehicle, you'll increase your view past it. This will allow you to see further down the road and be prepared for any hazards.

Y-junctions can be deceptive because they often call for little change in direction. However, turning right, your view to the left may be restricted. At the mouth of the junction, positioning your vehicle at right angles to the major road will improve your view. This is particularly important if your vehicle has restricted view to the side; for example, a van.

In winter, check the local weather forecast for warnings of icy or snowy weather. Don't drive in these conditions unless your journey is essential. If it is essential, take great care. Carry a spade, warm clothing, a warm drink and emergency food, in case your vehicle breaks down or becomes stuck in snow or traffic.

When there's reduced grip (for example, when there's wet mud, snow or ice on the road), drive in a high gear. The engine then drives the wheels with less torque than if you were using a low gear, and this reduces the likelihood of wheelspin.

If you have to park your vehicle in foggy conditions, it's important that it can be seen by other road users. Try to find a place to park off the road. If this isn't possible, leave it facing in the same direction as the traffic. Make sure that your lights are clean and that you leave your parking lights switched on.

Pedestrians walking on a road with no pavement are advised to walk facing oncoming traffic. With this knowledge, you can anticipate their presence and so give yourself time to react, if necessary, as you negotiate the bend.

Animals can be unpredictable, and horses can be startled by passing traffic. Reducing your speed and leaving as much space as possible will help to minimise the risk.

Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass. Speeding up or driving unpredictably while someone is overtaking you is dangerous. If someone overtakes and pulls into the gap in front of you, drop back to maintain a two-second gap.

Before turning right onto a dual carriageway, make sure that the central reservation is wide enough to protect your vehicle. If it's not, you should treat the dual carriageway as one road and check that it's clear in both directions before pulling out. Otherwise, you could obstruct part of the carriageway and cause a hazard, both for yourself and for other road users.

Before you move out to overtake, you must be sure that it's safe to complete the manoeuvre - and in order to be sure, you must be able to see far enough ahead. If anything is obstructing or restricting your view, you can't know whether the road ahead is clear and, therefore, you shouldn't overtake.

Always stay in the middle of your lane until you need to change course. This is even more important when in narrow lanes; for example, at roadworks. Be aware of large vehicles that may have to straddle more than one lane.

Normally, an overtaking manoeuvre is carried out by passing the slower vehicle on its right. However, on a congested motorway where traffic on your right is moving more slowly than you are, it's acceptable to continue in the same lane and pass vehicles on their left.

Immediately after joining a new road, you should check to see what's happening behind you. This will help you to judge how briskly you need to accelerate to avoid causing any inconvenience to traffic behind.

When leaving a motorway, your judgement of speed may be affected: 40 mph may seem more like 20 mph. Check your speedometer: it will give you an accurate speed. Motorway slip roads and link roads often have sharp curves that require accurate judgement of speed.

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.

If traffic is moving slowly in queues on a motorway, stay in your lane. If the queue on your right is moving more slowly than the queue you're in, you may pass on the left.

You should approach mini-roundabouts in the same way as normal roundabouts. All vehicles must pass around the central markings except vehicles that are physically incapable of doing so, such as long vehicles or vehicles towing trailers.

If you're waiting at a junction and a vehicle is approaching from your right, signalling to turn left into your road, wait until you're sure it's turning before emerging. It may be that the driver intends to stop on the left beyond your road, or they may have forgotten to cancel the signal from a previous manoeuvre.

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.

All motor vehicles are fitted with a horn; its purpose is to warn other road users of the vehicle's presence. You mustn't sound the horn between 11.30 pm and 7.00 am in a built-up area or when you're stationary, except when another road user poses a danger.

On a three-lane motorway, you should travel in the left-hand lane unless you're overtaking. This applies regardless of the speed at which you're travelling.

In some situations, you may feel that your indicators can't be seen by other road users. If you think you need to make your intention more clearly seen, give the appropriate arm signal.

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.

Where street repairs have closed off pavements, proceed carefully and slowly, as pedestrians might have to walk in the road.

raffic-calming measures, such as road humps, chicanes and narrowings, are intended to slow traffic down and to protect vulnerable road users. Maintain a reduced speed until you reach the end of the traffic-calming zone.

There are marker posts at 100 metre intervals along the hard shoulder of a motorway. The markers direct you to the nearest emergency telephone, so follow them if you've broken down.

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.

Sometimes road markings can be obscured by queuing traffic, or you may be unsure which lane you need to be in. If you realise too late that you're in the wrong lane, don't cut across lanes or bully other drivers to let you in. Follow the lane you're in and find somewhere safe to turn around if you need to.

Once you've joined a motorway, you need to stay in the left-hand lane for long enough to give yourself time to judge, and adjust to, the speed of motorway traffic.

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.

A long vehicle, such as a lorry, a coach or a vehicle towing a trailer, may swing out to the right as it approaches a left turn. This allows the rear wheels to clear the kerb. Don't try to filter through if you see a gap on the nearside.

A motorcycle can be lost from sight behind another vehicle. The use of the headlight helps to make it more conspicuous and therefore more easily seen.

You should always give cyclists plenty of room when you're overtaking them. When it's windy, you need to allow enough room in case a sudden gust blows them off course and into your path.

If you wish to turn right into a side road, take up your position in good time. When it's safe to do so, you should position just left of the centre of the road. This will allow following vehicles to pass you on the left. Early positioning will show other traffic what you intend to do.

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.

You may be difficult to see when you're travelling at night, even on a well-lit road. If you use dipped headlights rather than sidelights, other road users will see you more easily.

Knowing the sequence of traffic lights allows you to plan your approach. This can help prevent excessive braking or hesitation at the junction.

All warning signs are triangular, but the 'give way' sign is the only triangular sign that points downwards; this is to give it greater prominence as you approach a junction. When you see this sign, you must give way to traffic on the road that you're about to join.

The 'stop' sign is the only road sign that's octagonal. This is so that it can be recognised and obeyed even if it's obscured; for example, by snow.

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

Slow-moving vehicles, such as a salt spreader or breakdown vehicle, may use a flashing amber beacon. On unrestricted dual carriageways, vehicles with a maximum speed of 25 mph (40 km/h) or less must use a flashing amber beacon.

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.

While the car is in motion, hazard warning lights are only allowed to be used if you're travelling on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway and you want to warn traffic behind of a hazard ahead. Only use them for a short period of time - just long enough to ensure that your warning has been seen.

When brakes are applied on a car moving in a straight line, they slow the rotation of the wheels but the rest of the car tries to continue moving forward. This shifts more of the car's weight onto the front wheels, making steering more difficult. If the car is cornering when the brakes are applied, the weight shifts both forward and towards the outside of the bend, thus the weight is loaded onto one front wheel. In severe cases, this can lead to skidding or even cause the car to roll over.

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.

The approach to and exit from a pedestrian crossing is marked with zigzag lines. You mustn't park in this area, as it would block the view for pedestrians and traffic. Overtaking the leading vehicle on approach to a crossing is also illegal.

At a pelican crossing, there's a phase where the amber light flashes. This will show after the red light and gives pedestrians time to finish crossing safely. For drivers, the flashing amber light means they may drive on if the crossing is completely clear, but they must wait if pedestrians are still on the crossing.

Some junctions have advanced stop lines with an area for cyclists to position themselves ahead of other traffic. You must stop at the first white line you reach. If you're unable to stop safely at the first line, you must stop at the second line, even though you'll be blocking the area reserved for cyclists.

In a crash, the occupants of a vehicle can be thrown violently forward and then back again. The head restraint should be adjusted so that it gives maximum protection to the neck as the occupant is thrown backwards.

Yellow lines can be found on the approach to some roundabouts and dangerous junctions. The lines may be raised, which will change the sound of your car's contact with the road. In this way, you'll have both visible and audible warnings to adjust your speed.

You must always obey red flashing stop lights. If a train passes but the lights continue to flash, another train will be passing soon. Cross only when the lights go off and the barriers open.

Curving direction arrows are often found painted on the road before solid double white lines and hatch markings; they indicate the direction you should pass them. They're also painted on the road on the approach to low arched bridges, to mark the route high vehicles should take.

As you would with an able-bodied person, you should prepare to slow down and stop. Don't wave them across, as other traffic may not stop.

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.

A heavy load on your roof rack will reduce the stability of the vehicle because it moves the centre of gravity away from that intended by the manufacturer. Be aware of this when you drive around bends and corners. If you change direction at speed, your vehicle and/or load could become unstable and you could lose control.

'Coasting' is the term used when the clutch is held down or the gear lever is in neutral and the vehicle is allowed to freewheel. This reduces the driver's control of the vehicle because the engine isn't connected to the driven wheels. This removes the assistance of engine braking and the stability of a powered drive train.

If your tyres don't have enough air in them, they'll drag against the surface of the road. This makes the steering feel heavy. As well as affecting steering, under-inflated tyres can affect braking, cornering and fuel consumption.

Engines burning fossil fuels produce harmful gases. We need to be concerned about the effect this has on our environment. A catalytic converter acts like a filter, removing most of the harmful compounds from the exhaust gas.

On a right-hand bend, cornering forces will transfer more weight to the nearside wheels. If the brakes are also applied, the transfer of weight forward, combined with the cornering forces, puts more weight on the nearside front tyre - and this makes the car less stable.

If you don't keep your tyres inflated to the recommended pressure, they may wear unevenly. Over-inflated tyres will tend to wear heavily in the centre tread area, while under-inflated tyres will tend to wear more on their outer edges. Check your tyres regularly and use a reliable gauge. Follow the manufacturer's guide for the correct tyre pressure; check and adjust the pressure when the tyres are cold.

Long white lines with short gaps mean there's a hazard ahead. Often a warning sign will show you the nature of the hazard. Don't cross the line unless you can see the road is clear well ahead and you wish to overtake or turn off.

If the lights at a level crossing continue to flash after a train has passed, wait, as there might be another train coming. Time seems to pass slowly when you're held up in a queue. Be patient; there's a good safety reason why the barriers have remained down and the lights continue to flash.

You may only stop on the carriageway of a motorway
- when told to do so by the police
- when a red cross with flashing red lights shows above every lane - in a traffic jam
- in an emergency or breakdown.

Use hazard warning lights when your vehicle is stationary, to warn that it's temporarily obstructing traffic. Never use them to excuse dangerous or illegal parking. You may also use hazard warning lights while you're driving on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway if you need to warn traffic behind of a hazard ahead.

Catalytic converters are designed to reduce toxic exhaust emissions by up to 90%. They have a high normal working temperature and for this reason are inefficient when the engine is cold.

You must stop if there's a red cross with red lights flashing above every lane on the motorway. However, if the signs over any of the other lanes don't show this signal, you may move into one of those lanes and continue, if it's safe to do so.

Knowing the sequence of traffic lights allows you to plan your approach. This can help prevent excessive braking or hesitation at the junction.

There's usually a 30 mph speed limit where street lights are less than 185 metres (600 feet) apart.

The speed limit on a dual carriageway or motorway is 70 mph for cars and motorcycles, unless there are signs to indicate otherwise. If your car or motorcycle is towing a trailer, then a lower national speed limit applies. The speed limits for different types of vehicle are listed in The Highway Code.

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.

The lights that control the crossing show to both directions of traffic. If a pedestrian from either side is still crossing when the amber light is flashing, you must wait.

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.

The lights that control the crossing show to both directions of traffic. If a pedestrian from either side is still crossing when the amber light is flashing, you must wait.

There's an eyesight test for the Register of Approved Driving Instructors. The requirement is that an instructor must be able to read a number plate with letters and figures 79 mm high and 50 mm wide at a minimum distance of 26.5 metres (87 feet). This is a greater distance than the minimum legal requirement for car drivers.

You must be medically fit to drive. All issues relating to alcohol, drugs or health have to be reported to the DVLA Drivers Medical Group or, in Northern Ireland, the DVA Drivers Medical Section. If a licence is revoked for any health-related reason, you must reapply to the relevant medical branch and satisfy them that you're now fit to drive before they'll issue the appropriate licence for the category you require.

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).

The maximum permitted speed for a car on a motorway is 70 mph, but if a car is towing a caravan or trailer, the speed limit is reduced to 60 mph. Also, vehicles towing trailers may not use the right-hand lane of a motorway that has more than two lanes.

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.

The national speed limit for a car or motorcycle on a single carriageway is 60 mph. You don't have to drive at the speed limit. Use your judgement and keep within the speed limit while driving at a speed that suits the road, weather and traffic conditions.

A person who's colour-blind will have to take exactly the same practical driving test as any other candidate. No restriction will be placed on their driving licence when they pass their test.

A person with only one eye isn't considered to have a disability for the purpose of driving and will be issued with an unrestricted driving licence.

Parking near a pedestrian crossing creates an obstruction that prevents both drivers and pedestrians from having a clear view. Careless parking is selfish and could endanger other road users.

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.

The lights that control the crossing show to both directions of traffic. If a pedestrian from either side is still crossing when the amber light is flashing, you must wait.

If a pupil isn't responding to a particular part of the learning programme, with a bit of help they'll normally be able to say what's going wrong. In saying what's wrong, they'll often be able to tell you what it will take to get over the problem.

You may need to check your pupil's understanding by asking questions. If they offer a partially correct answer, you should confirm the correct parts and, to complete their understanding, give them feedback on where they went wrong.

If your pupil's driving is below the required test standard, it's your responsibility as a professional instructor to advise them not to take the test. As soon as you become aware of a possible problem, you should discuss this with your pupil and positively encourage them that, in their interest, and for other road users as well, it would be far better to postpone the appointment. If you can't dissuade them, then you should withhold the use of your vehicle. Ultimately, it's the pupil's test and an instructor can't prevent them from taking it in someone else's vehicle.

All your concentration should be on your driving. Any pain you feel will distract you, and you should avoid driving when drowsy. The safest course of action is to wait until you've rested and feel better.

Only drive if you're fit to do so. Some medication can affect your concentration, your ability to stay awake and your judgement when dealing with hazards. Driving while taking such medication is highly dangerous.

If you're taking medication that's likely to affect your driving, don't drive. You mustn't put other road users, your passengers or yourself at risk.

Insurance companies are likely to charge a higher premium for people who have been convicted of driving while unfit through drink or drugs. This is because they've shown that they're a risk to others on the road.

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.

An interested pupil is likely to be well motivated and should retain information better than one who has lost interest. Everyone has different abilities, so instruction needs to be varied to suit the individual.

Regardless of a driver's experience, the Mirrors - Signal - Manoeuvre (MSM) routine should be an integral part of their driving. The Manoeuvre part is broken down into P - Position - Position your vehicle correctly and in good time. S - Speed - Adjust your speed as necessary for the manoeuvre. L - Look - Look for other traffic or road users when you reach a point from which you can see. Assess the situation, then decide whether it's safe to proceed and act accordingly.

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

Simply telling a pupil that they're driving too fast isn't sufficient. Explanations need to be given, highlighting what may occur if they repeat the fault. More importantly, they need to know what to do to prevent it from happening again.

A transfer of knowledge is when links are made between previous experience and the new skills to be learned. For example, a pedestrian who can judge appropriate gaps in the traffic to cross the road can link this skill to turning right into side roads when they learn to drive. A good instructor will identify these links.

If your usual techniques or methods don't appear to be working, you should discuss the matter with your pupil, and explore alternative ways of getting the point across.

Learning isn't always a continuous process. Sometimes pupils simply need time to consolidate learning before moving on. On other occasions there may be something blocking progress. You should work with the learner to understand what's happening and agree how to move on.