The answer options
- Speed limit
- Time of day
- Street lights
- Tyre conditionsCorrect
Why that is the answer
Tyre condition directly affects how well your vehicle grips the road. Tyres with poor tread depth or incorrect inflation reduce traction, which significantly increases your braking distance and total stopping distance. While your actual speed affects stopping distance, the posted speed limit, street lights, and the time of day do not physically alter your vehicle's ability to stop. The Highway Code stresses the importance of checking your tyres regularly to maintain safe stopping distances.
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 deal with this hazard?