leaning resources

 You’ll be asked two vehicle safety questions during your car driving test.  The examiner will ask you one ‘tell me’ question (where you explain how you’d carry out a safety task) at the start of your test, before you start driving. Then, one ‘show me’ question will be asked (where you show how you’d carry out a safety task) while you’re driving, You’ll get one driving fault (sometimes called a ‘minor’) if you get one or both questions wrong.  You’ll fail your driving test if your driving is dangerous or potentially dangerous while you answer the ‘show me’ question. 

     ‘Tell me’ questions

  1. Tell me how you’d check that the brakes are working before starting a journey.

 Brakes should not feel spongy or slack. Brakes should be applied gently when moving to check the car does not pull to one side.      

2. Tell me where you’d find the information for the recommended tyre pressures for this car and how tyre pressures should be checked.

 Manufacturer’s guide (hand book), use a reliable pressure gauge. (For your info.. check and adjust pressures when tyres are cold, don’t forget spare tyre, remember to refit valve caps).    

 3. Tell me how you make sure your head restraint is correctly adjusted so it provides the best protection in the event of a crash. 

The head restraint should be adjusted so the middle part of the head restraint is inline with eyes or top of the ears.     

 4. Tell me how you’d check the tyres to ensure that they have sufficient tread depth and that their general condition is safe to use on the road.

 No cuts and bulges, minimum 1.6mm of tread depth (across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tyre, and around the entire outer circumference of the tyre).      

5. Tell me how you’d check that the headlights and tail lights are working. (You don’t need to exit the vehicle). 

Explain you’d operate the switch (turn on ignition if necessary), then walk round the vehicle checking front and rear lights (as this is a ‘tell me’ question, you don’t need to physically check the lights).      

6. Tell me how you’d know if there was a problem with your anti-lock braking system.

 Warning light on dash should illuminate if there is a fault with the anti-lock braking system.      

7. Tell me how you’d check the direction indicators are working. You don’t need to exit the vehicle.

 Explain you’d operate the switch (turn on ignition if necessary), and then walk round the vehicle (as this is a ‘tell me’ question, you don’t need to physically check the lights).      

8. Tell me how you’d check the brake lights are working on this car. 

Explain you’d press the brake pedal, make use of reflections in windows or doors, or ask someone to check.      

9. Tell me how you’d check the power-assisted steering is working before starting a journey.

 when the engine is off steering feels heavy , when the engine is on the steering  should feel light. (If the steering becomes heavy, the system may not be working properly). Before starting the engine pull down on the steering wheel and maintain the pressure with one hand and with the other start the engine, you should feel movement in the steering wheel as the power steering starts to work.    

10. Tell me how you’d switch on the rear fog light(s) and explain when you’d use it/them.

 You don’t need to exit the vehicle. Operate switch (turn on dipped headlights and ignition if necessary). Check warning light is on. Explain use. (when visibility is less the 100 metres use the fog lights)  

11. Tell me how you switch your headlight from dipped to main beam and explain how you’d know the main beam is on.

 Operate switch (with ignition on), check the blue main beam warning light.