---
title: "What steps can you take to lessen the harm yo… | Theory Test"
description: "What steps can you take to lessen the harm your car causes to the environment? The correct answer is “Avoid short journeys”. Read the instructor's explanation"
lang: en
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# What steps can you take to lessen the harm your car causes to the environment?

DVSA-style practice question · Safety and your Vehicle

## The answer options

-   Use the gears to slow the vehichle 
-   Avoid short journeys**Correct** 
-   Every time you drive, turn on the air conditioning 
-   Do not use cruise control 

## Why that is the answer

Cold engines use significantly more fuel and produce higher levels of harmful emissions before reaching their normal operating temperature. Avoiding short journeys, or combining errands into one trip, helps protect the environment and reduces vehicle wear. Running air conditioning constantly increases fuel consumption, while using cruise control on open roads can actually help maintain a steady, fuel-efficient speed.

## How this comes up in the real test

Questions from safety and your vehicle 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 and your Vehicle](/theory/quiz/safety-vehicle)[Sit a full mock test](/theory/mock-test)

## More safety and your vehicle questions

-   [A vehicle MOT test will include an exhaust emissions test. What is the reason for this?](/theory/questions/a-vehicle-mot-test-will-include-an-exhaust-emissions-test-what-is-the-reason-for-this)
-   [Before leaving your vehicle unattended, what should you remove from it?](/theory/questions/before-leaving-your-vehicle-unattended-what-should-you-remove-from-it)
-   [How can drivers help the environment?](/theory/questions/how-can-drivers-help-the-environment)
-   [How can driving in a fuel-efficient manner help protect the environment?](/theory/questions/how-can-driving-in-a-fuel-efficient-manner-help-protect-the-environment)
-   [How can the volume of traffic on roads be reduced?](/theory/questions/how-can-the-volume-of-traffic-on-roads-be-reduced)
-   [How can you avoid wasting fuel?](/theory/questions/how-can-you-avoid-wasting-fuel)

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