--- title: "How can you avoid wheelspin when you’re drivi… | Theory Test" description: "How can you avoid wheelspin when you’re driving on an icy road? The correct answer is “Drive at a slow speed in the highest gear possible”. Read the instructo" lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://fasttrackdrivinglessons.co.uk/#organization", "name": "Fast Track Driving Lessons", "url": "https://fasttrackdrivinglessons.co.uk/", "email": "info@fasttrackdrivinglessons.co.uk", "areaServed": "GB", "description": "Intensive driving courses and driving lessons across the UK with DVSA-approved instructors." }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://fasttrackdrivinglessons.co.uk/#website", "url": "https://fasttrackdrivinglessons.co.uk/", "name": "Fast Track Driving Lessons", "publisher": { "@id": "https://fasttrackdrivinglessons.co.uk/#organization" }, "potentialAction": { "@type": "SearchAction", "target": { "@type": "EntryPoint", "urlTemplate": "https://fasttrackdrivinglessons.co.uk/search?q={search_term_string}" }, "query-input": "required name=search_term_string" } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "QAPage", "mainEntity": { "@type": "Question", "name": "How can you avoid wheelspin when you’re driving on an icy road?", "text": "How can you avoid wheelspin when you’re driving on an icy road?", "answerCount": 1, "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Drive at a slow speed in the highest gear possible. When driving on ice, tyre grip is severely reduced. Selecting the highest practical gear reduces the engine torque delivered to the driven wheels. This makes the tyres far less likely to lose traction and spin when you move off or accelerate. Driving in a low gear increases torque, which easily breaks grip and causes wheelspin. Gentle use of all controls, as recommended in the Highway Code, is essential for staying safe in icy conditions." }, "suggestedAnswer": [ { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Drive in a low gear at all times" }, { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Brake gently and repeatedly" }, { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Use the parking brake if the wheels start to slip" } ] } } ] --- Get an exclusive 15% off - Offer ends next week! [![Fast Track Driving Lessons](/__l5e/assets-v1/7414b5e8-6448-43a5-87bf-63be1eb22dca/fasttrack-logo.png)](/) [Log in](/theory/account)[Get me driving](/course-recommender)Menu [Our Courses & Prices](/courses) [Driving Lessons](/driving-lessons) [Areas We Cover](/driving-lessons-in) [Learner Hub](/learn) [Theory Test](/theory) - [Theory hub](/theory) - [Book your test](/theory/book-theory-test) - [Cancellations](/theory/theory-test-cancellations) - [Free practice](/theory/practice) - [Mock tests](/theory/mock-test) - [Hazard perception](/theory/hazard-perception) - [Road signs](/theory/road-signs) - [Highway Code](/theory/highway-code) - [Motorcycle](/theory/motorcycle) - [Pricing](/theory/pricing) [Theory test](/theory)/ [Question bank](/theory/questions)/ Safety Margins # How can you avoid wheelspin when you’re driving on an icy road? DVSA-style practice question · Safety Margins ## The answer options - Drive at a slow speed in the highest gear possible**Correct** - Drive in a low gear at all times - Brake gently and repeatedly - Use the parking brake if the wheels start to slip ## Why that is the answer When driving on ice, tyre grip is severely reduced. Selecting the highest practical gear reduces the engine torque delivered to the driven wheels. This makes the tyres far less likely to lose traction and spin when you move off or accelerate. Driving in a low gear increases torque, which easily breaks grip and causes wheelspin. Gentle use of all controls, as recommended in the Highway Code, is essential for staying safe in icy conditions. ## How this comes up in the real test Questions from safety margins 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. [Practise Safety Margins](/theory/quiz/safety-margins)[Sit a full mock test](/theory/mock-test) ## More safety margins questions - [What circumstances will cause an increase in your total stopping distance?](/theory/questions/what-circumstances-will-cause-an-increase-in-your-total-stopping-distance) - [As you approach a right-hand bend, you should keep well to the left. Why is this?](/theory/questions/as-you-approach-a-right-hand-bend-you-should-keep-well-to-the-left-why-is-this) - [How can the engine of your car be used as a brake?](/theory/questions/how-can-the-engine-of-your-car-be-used-as-a-brake) - [How can you tell if your vehicle's tyres are losing their grip on a wet road surface?](/theory/questions/how-can-you-tell-if-your-vehicle-s-tyres-are-losing-their-grip-on-a-wet-road-surface) - [How should you make sure your brakes are working properly after passing through floodwater?](/theory/questions/how-should-you-make-sure-your-brakes-are-working-properly-after-passing-through-floodwater) - [In very hot weather the road surface can become soft. What will be affected by this?](/theory/questions/in-very-hot-weather-the-road-surface-can-become-soft-what-will-be-affected-by-this) ## Ready to book the real thing? Full Membership is £49 and covers your DVSA booking, one resit with no minimum mark, cancellation checking on theory and practical tests, and the Learning Hub. [Book my theory test](/theory/signup) ## Passed your theory? Get the practical booked Your theory certificate lasts two years. Most learners who use it quickly do it with an intensive course — a block of hours with a DVSA approved instructor and a practical test at the end, instead of one lesson a week for months. [Intensive course prices](/pricing)[All courses](/courses)[Crash courses](/crash-courses)[Automatic lessons](/driving-lessons/automatic)[Areas we cover](/driving-lessons-in)[Driving test centres](/driving-test-centres)[How it works](/how-it-works)[Test pass guarantee](/test-pass-guarantee) ### Book and manage - [Book your theory test](/theory/book-theory-test) - [Theory test cancellations](/theory/theory-test-cancellations) - [Theory test books](/theory/theory-test-books) - [Free resits](/theory/free-resits) - [Change your theory test](/theory/change-theory-test) - [Cancel your theory test](/theory/cancel-theory-test) - [Pricing](/theory/pricing) ### Free revision - [Practice by topic](/theory/practice) - [Mock theory test](/theory/mock-test) - [Question bank](/theory/questions) - [Road signs A–Z](/theory/road-signs) - [Hazard perception](/theory/hazard-perception) - [Highway Code hub](/theory/highway-code) - [Revision plan](/theory/theory-test-revision-plan) - [Your progress](/theory/account) ### Common questions - [Theory test pass mark](/theory/theory-test-pass-mark) - [How much is a theory test?](/theory/how-much-is-a-theory-test) - [When can I take it?](/theory/when-can-you-take-your-theory-test) - [How long is it valid?](/theory/how-long-is-a-theory-test-valid) - [What to take with you](/theory/what-to-take-to-your-theory-test) - [Waiting times](/theory/theory-test-waiting-times) ### Motorcycle and more - [Motorcycle theory test](/theory/motorcycle) - [CBT explained](/theory/motorcycle/cbt-explained) - [Module 1 and 2](/theory/motorcycle/module-1-and-module-2) - [Driving lessons](/driving-lessons) - [Intensive courses](/courses) - [Crash courses](/crash-courses) - [Learner Hub](/learn) © 2026 Fast Track Driving Lessons. Theory tests are set and marked by the DVSA; we handle booking, cancellation checking and revision. [Edit with ](https://lovable.dev/projects/lovp_0c9k10m8tb8fqrn77d2jpgxg8j?utm_source=lovable-badge) ## Cookies on this site We use essential cookies to make the site work. We would also like to set optional analytics cookies to see which guides help learners most. Nothing optional runs until you agree. See our [cookie policy](/cookie-policy). Accept allReject optionalManage cookies