The answer options
- Do not drive for an hour to allow the brakes to dry.
- Avoid all use of brakes for a few miles.
- Maintain a high speed and acceleration for a while.
- Gently apply the brakes whilst driving slowly.Correct
Why that is the answer
Water reduces the effectiveness of your brakes. As soon as you leave flood water, drive slowly and gently apply the brakes. The friction creates heat, which dries out the moisture and restores your stopping power, while letting you confirm they are working safely. Avoiding the brakes or waiting for them to dry naturally takes too long and is unreliable, whilst driving fast with wet brakes is extremely dangerous.
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?