01 September 2023 , 12:32
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How do you rate your driving skills? If the answer is that you're not as confident on the road as you'd like, you won't be the only one. Research from Compare the Market has revealed that only 55 per cent of UK drivers reckon they could ace their theory test if they were to sit it this year, and when a group of over 2,000 drivers were presented with common test questions, less than one per cent answered every question correctly.
Of course, you don't need full marks to pass your test. Instead, you need to ace 86 per cent questions to pass a full driving theory test. But only 51 per cent of the given questions were answered correctly, according to the researchers.
"When looking at the multiple-choice questions excluding road signs, on average, only 45% of motorists were able to correctly answer, though this did increase with age, with 50% of drivers aged over 55 getting these questions correct, compared to just 36% of 16- to 24-year-olds giving correct answers," the pros explained. Thankfully, they shared some of the trickiest questions and the answers. You can give them a go below.
1. What should you do if your vehicle catches fire while you're driving through a tunnel? Answer: Drive it out of the tunnel if it is safe to do so.
Only 32 per cent of drivers answered this question correctly, with 41 per cent suggesting they'd pull up and walk to an emergency telephone. "The greatest danger in a tunnel fire is smoke and suffocation, so if it's possible, and you can do so without causing further danger, it may be safer to drive a vehicle that is on fire out of a tunnel," the experts advised.
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2. How can you avoid wheelspin when you're driving on an icy road? Answer: Drive at a slow speed in the highest gear possible.
A whopping 66 per cent of drivers failed this question, with 36 per cent of these people wrongly assuming you should drive in a low gear in this scenario. "If you do find yourself travelling on an icy road, extra caution will be required to avoid loss of control. Keeping your speed down and using the highest gear possible will reduce the risk of the tyres losing their grip on the slippery surface," answered the pros.
3. You're waiting to emerge at a junction. Your view is restricted by parked vehicles. What can help you to see traffic on the road you’re joining? Answer: Reflections of traffic in windows.
Only 36 per cent of drivers correctly answered this question. Meanwhile, 30 per cent suggested checking for traffic in your interior window. Explaining the best answer, the experts said: "It goes without saying you should always use your windows to ensure you're aware of the road. In this instance though, looking for traffic through the windows of the parked cars or in the reflections of windows can help. Make sure you keep looking in all directions as you slowly edge forwards until you can see it's safe."
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