The answer options
- Select a high gear
- Turn on your hazard lights
- Turn on your windscreen wipers
- Select a low gear and proceed slowlyCorrect
Why that is the answer
When driving through a ford or deep water, select a low gear and proceed slowly. Keeping the engine revs high in a low gear prevents water from entering the exhaust pipe and reduces the risk of stalling. Driving slowly stops a wave of water from flooding your engine bay. A high gear increases the chance of stalling, while wipers and hazard lights offer no control. The Highway Code recommends testing your brakes afterwards.
How this comes up in the real test
Questions from vehicle handling 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.
More vehicle handling questions
- A lot of snow has fallen recently. When driving in these conditions, what are some things to think about?
- After fog has cleared, it can be dangerous to leave your rear fog lights switched on. What is the reason for this?
- What colour are the reflective studs along the left-hand edge of the motorway?
- During the day, when should dipped headlight be used?
- How can you regulate your speed with the engine of your car?
- How should you respond when presented with this hazard?