---
title: "A friend has given you some cough medicine. Y… | Theory Test"
description: "A friend has given you some cough medicine. You take some and wish to drive your car, what should you do first? The correct answer is “Consult the label to se"
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# A friend has given you some cough medicine. You take some and wish to drive your car, what should you do first?

DVSA-style practice question · Hazard Awareness

## The answer options

-   Ask your friend if their driving was affected by the medicine 
-   Consult the label to see if the medicine will affect your driving**Correct** 
-   Drink a coffee before you drive 
-   Drive a short distance to see if your driving is affected 

## Why that is the answer

Before driving, you must always check the medicine label or package leaflet to see if it causes side effects such as drowsiness or slow reaction times. Different people react to medication in different ways, so asking a friend is not a reliable safety check. Coffee will not counteract the effects of drowsy medicine, and driving to test yourself puts you and other road users in unnecessary danger.

## How this comes up in the real test

Questions from hazard awareness appear throughout the 50-question multiple-choice section, and the wording changes between versions. Learn the rule rather than the sentence: the DVSA can ask the same point from the opposite direction, and a memorised answer falls over the moment the phrasing moves.

The pass mark is 43 out of 50, so seven wrong answers is your entire margin. If a whole category is shaky, run the topic practice below until you are getting every question right for the right reason, then go back to full mocks under the clock.

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## More hazard awareness questions

-   [A motorcyclist has just overtaken you. What should you do if the motorcyclist sharply cuts in front of you?](/theory/questions/a-motorcyclist-has-just-overtaken-you-what-should-you-do-if-the-motorcyclist-sharply-cuts)
-   [A police officer is making this signal to oncoming traffic. What does this mean?](/theory/questions/a-police-officer-is-making-this-signal-to-oncoming-traffic-what-does-this-mean)
-   [Before taking any medicine you should always check the leaflet. Why is this?](/theory/questions/before-taking-any-medicine-you-should-always-check-the-leaflet-why-is-this)
-   [Certain two-way streets have three lanes on them. Why do they pose a special risk?](/theory/questions/certain-two-way-streets-have-three-lanes-on-them-why-do-they-pose-a-special-risk)
-   [Do you need to plan rest stops when you’re planning a long journey?](/theory/questions/do-you-need-to-plan-rest-stops-when-you-re-planning-a-long-journey)
-   [How can drinking alcohol affect your ability to drive?](/theory/questions/how-can-drinking-alcohol-affect-your-ability-to-drive)

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