The answer options
- Stay close to the other vehicle
- Overtake safely and pull back in
- Flash your headlights at the orher driver
- Drop back to a safe distance againCorrect
Why that is the answer
On wet roads, stopping distances are at least double those on dry surfaces, requiring a four-second gap. If another vehicle cuts into your space, you must ease off the accelerator to drop back and restore a safe separation distance. Tailgating or flashing your headlights is dangerous and aggressive, while overtaking again increases the risk of an incident. Following Highway Code guidance on safety margins keeps you in control.
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?