The answer options
- Only use sidelights
- When braking, press firmly and quickly
- Steer sharply at all times
- When braking, press gently and in plenty of timeCorrect
Why that is the answer
On snow and ice, tyre grip is severely reduced. Braking gently and well in advance helps prevent your wheels from locking, which could cause a dangerous skid. Harsh braking or sharp steering will break traction and lead to a loss of control. The Highway Code advises keeping all actions smooth and leaving up to ten times the normal stopping distance to ensure you can slow down and stop safely.
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.
More safety margins 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?
- How can the engine of your car be used as a brake?
- How can you avoid wheelspin when you’re driving on an icy road?
- 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?