The answer options
- Steering will feel heavier
- The stopping distance will be reduced
- Steering will feel lighter
- Stability will be reducedCorrect
Why that is the answer
Carrying a heavy or bulky load on a roof rack raises your vehicle's centre of gravity, making the car much less stable, particularly when taking corners or driving in strong side winds. This added top weight also increases body roll. Your stopping distance will actually increase due to the extra weight, rather than be reduced. When carrying roof loads, remember that your vehicle will handle differently, requiring lower speeds and smoother steering.
How this comes up in the real test
Questions from vehicle loading 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 loading questions
- A trailer braking system must have a safety device fitted. What is this device?
- A vehicle should never be overloaded. Who is responsible for ensuring this?
- Are passenger allowed to travel in a caravan when been towed?
- Sometimes you may need to increase your tyre pressure to above the normal value. When would this be necessary?
- What is the maximum authorised mass (MAM) you can tow in any trailer, having just passed your driving test?
- What is the minimum tyre tread depth for a trailer?