...................   Passing the theory test is the first stage in becoming a safe driver. There's a lot to know, but don't try to learn it all at once. If you think you can learn everything the night before your theory test - you will fail for sure. There are two parts to the Theory Test, the multiple choice questions and the hazard perception test. There is no syllabus as such for the hazard perception element, it's a skill that you must develop. There is however an official syllabus for the multiple choice element. This is reproduced below together with our notes about what each topic includes.....   ALERTNESS  Observation Looking around to make sure you know what other road users there are in your vicinity.  Anticipation Thinking well in advance about what other road users may do next.  Concentration Staying alert when driving and knowing what factors may affect your state of alertness.  Awareness Understanding the actions of other road users.  Distraction Making sure your attention is focused on your driving and not allowing yourself to be distracted. ATTITUDE  Consideration Treating other road users correctly - as you would expect them to treat you.  Positioning Knowing where your vehicle should be positioned on the road - especially safe distances from the vehicle in front.  Courtesy Treating other road users with courtesy and respect and regarding them as your equals.  Priority Knowing the rules about priority (who should go first) and being aware that the rules do get broken. SAFETY AND YOUR VEHICLE  Fault detection Being able to identify problems and potential problems on your vehicle and their implications.  Vehicle defects Knowing how and why unroadworthy vehicles can endanger life.  Safety equipment Understanding what safety equipment vehicles may have and how to use it.  Emissions Being aware of regulations regarding vehicle emissions (exhaust gases) and other pollution issues.  Noise Preventing excessive vehicle noise - including rules about car horns. SAFETY MARGINS  Stopping distances Allowing enough room to stop safely whatever the conditions.  Road surfaces Knowing about different road surfaces and how they can affect your car and other types of vehicle.  Skidding Being able to prevent skidding and knowing what to do if it happens.  Weather conditions Understanding how different weather conditions can affect your vehicle's handling and the significance of weather conditions for other types of road user. HAZARD AWARENESS  Anticipation Planning ahead to avoid hasty decisions at the last second.  Hazard awareness Recognising potential hazards and planning your actions should they occur.  Attention Staying alert and constantly looking for problems ahead.  Speed and distance Knowing the safe and appropriate speed for all situations and being aware of just how much distance you cover in one second.  Reaction time Being aware that you need time to react.  Alcohol and drugs Knowing the ways in which your judgement and reaction times are affected by alcohol, drugs and medicines.  Tiredness Being aware that tiredness causes accidents and how to deal with it. VULNERABLE ROAD USERS  Pedestrians Being aware of pedestrians crossing the road and that older people may have particular difficulties.  Children Expecting children to behave unpredictably and without warning and realising that young children are unaware of dangers.  People with disabilities Recognising that disabled people may not be able to react to danger as quickly or easily as able-bodied people.  Motorcyclists Being aware of motorcyclists and the particular hazards faced by them.  Cyclists Giving cyclists ample room and being aware that they may swerve or wobble at any time.  Horse riders Treating horses on the road with consideration and great care to avoid startling them. OTHER TYPES OF VEHICLE  Motorcycles Knowing the problems faced by motorcyclists, looking out for them, and allowing them plenty of room.  Lorries Being aware of the length of larger vehicles and anticipating the "paths" they have to follow.  Buses Showing consideration to buses and anticipating the presence of alighting passengers - school buses being a particular hazard. VEHICLE HANDLING  Weather conditions Recognising that vehicles behave differently in different weather conditions and adjusting your driving to suit the conditions.  Road conditions Being aware of different road surfaces and how they may affect your vehicle.  Time of day Knowing about different hazards when driving at night.  Speed Understanding that driving at higher speeds makes your vehicle more difficult to control.  Traffic calming Recognising measures used to reduce the speed of traffic where there are pedestrians. MOTORWAY RULES  Speed limits Being aware of the speed restrictions on motorways.  Lane discipline Keeping to the left unless overtaking.  Stopping Knowing when and where you can and can't stop on a motorway.  Lighting Using lights when appropriate to see and be seen.  Parking Knowing that you can only stop on a motorway in an emergency and how to use the telephones and hard shoulder. RULES OF THE ROAD  Speed limits Being aware of the speed limits on different types of road and for different types of vehicle.  Parking Understanding parking restrictions and regulations and parking in a sensible place.  Lighting Using lights to see and be seen and avoiding your vehicle becoming a hazard. ROAD AND TRAFFIC SIGNS  Road signs Recognising the signs and understanding what they tell you.  Speed limits Recognising and planning for speed limit signs.  Road markings Recognising all of the various road markings and understanding what they mean.  Regulations Being aware of the regulations associated with road signs and markings. DOCUMENTS  Licences Knowing what type of licence you and your vehicle are required by law to have.  Insurance Understanding the various types of insurance cover and what you need to drive a vehicle.  MOT certificate Being aware of legal requirements for vehicle testing and what the test covers. ACCIDENTS  First Aid Dealing with emergencies on the road using basic First Aid principles.  Warning devices Knowing how to warn other road users of an accident and other ways of minimising risks.  Reporting procedures Being aware of how and when you should summon the emergency services and knowing when you MUST report accidents.  Safety regulations Understanding the warning signs and dangers for vehicles carrying hazardous loads. VEHICLE LOADING  Stability Knowing about correct loading of vehicles, trailers and caravans and how towing can affect the stability of your vehicle.  Towing Being aware of the effects of towing a trailer and the regulations which apply.     About the test ... In the theory test, some subjects are allocated more questions than others - but it's ALL vitally important information that you should know. [email protected]