The answer options
- Closely follow the car in front to avoid queuing
- Switch lanes to progress forward quicker
- Speed up to pass through quickly
- Choose and stay in an appropriate lane in good timeCorrect
Why that is the answer
When entering a contraflow system, reduced lane widths and oncoming traffic make early preparation vital. You should choose an appropriate lane in good time and stay in it to keep traffic moving safely. Switching lanes or tailgating the vehicle ahead reduces your safety margins, creates hazards, and increases the risk of a collision. Speeding is dangerous through roadworks, as you need extra time to react to hazards or changing traffic conditions.
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?