48 car theory test questions on incidents, accidents and emergencies. Preview the questions below, or open one to read its answer and continue through the whole topic.
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When are you allowed to use hazard warning lights?
Question 1
1When stopped and temporarily obstructing traffic
2When travelling during darkness without headlights
3When parked on double yellow lines to visit a shop
4When travelling slowly because you're lost
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When stopped and temporarily obstructing trafficRightThis was the right answer
You mustn't use hazard warning lights while moving, except to warn traffic behind when you slow suddenly on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway.
Never use hazard warning lights to excuse dangerous or illegal parking.
What should you do if you have to stop while you're going through a congested tunnel?
Question 2
1Pull up very close to the vehicle in front to save space
2Ignore any message signs, as they're never up to date
3Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front
4Make a U-turn and find another route
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Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in frontRightThis was the right answer
It’s important to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front at all times. This still applies in congested tunnels, even if you're moving very slowly or have stopped. If the vehicle in front breaks down, you may need room to manoeuvre past it.
You arrive at the scene of a crash where someone is bleeding heavily from a wound in their arm. Nothing is embedded in the wound. What could you do to help?
Question 3
1Walk them around and keep them talking
2Dab the wound
3Get them a drink
4Apply pressure over the wound
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Apply pressure over the woundRightThis was the right answer
If possible, lay the casualty down. Protect yourself from exposure to blood and, when you're sure there's nothing in the wound, apply firm pressure using clean material.
You're at an incident. What could you do to help an unconscious casualty?
Question 4
1Take photographs of the scene
2Check that they're breathing normally
3Move them to somewhere more comfortable
4Splash their face with cool water
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Check that they're breathing normallyRightThis was the right answer
Call 999 immediately for an unresponsive adult and assess whether breathing is normal. Gasping, panting or slow, laboured breaths may be signs of cardiac arrest. Follow the call handler’s instructions and begin CPR when breathing is absent or abnormal.
A casualty isn't breathing normally and needs CPR. At what rate should you press down and release on the centre of their chest?
Question 5
110 times per minute
2120 times per minute
360 times per minute
4240 times per minute
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120 times per minuteRightThis was the right answer
For an unresponsive adult, call 999 immediately and assess breathing. If breathing is absent or abnormal, follow the call handler and start CPR. Adult chest compressions should be 100–120 per minute, 5–6 cm deep, allowing full recoil. Of these options, 120 is within that range. Use an AED as soon as available.
An injured person has been placed in the recovery position. They're unconscious but breathing normally. What else should be done?
Question 7
1Press firmly between their shoulders
2Place their arms by their side
3Give them a hot sweet drink
4Check their airway remains open
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Check their airway remains openRightThis was the right answer
After a casualty has been placed in the recovery position, make sure their airway remains open and monitor their condition until medical help arrives. Where possible, don't move a casualty unless there’s further danger.
An injured motorcyclist is lying unconscious in the road. The traffic has stopped and there's no further danger. What could you do to help?
Question 8
1Remove their safety helmet
2Seek medical assistance
3Move the person off the road
4Remove their leather jacket
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Seek medical assistanceRightThis was the right answer
If someone has been injured, the sooner proper medical attention is given the better. Ask someone to phone for help or do it yourself. An injured person should only be moved if they’re in further danger. An injured motorcyclist’s helmet shouldn't be removed unless it's essential.
What should you do if you see a large box fall from a lorry onto the motorway?
Question 9
1Stop in a place of relative safety and call 999
2Catch up with the lorry and try to get the driver's attention
3Stop close to the box until the police arrive
4Pull over to the hard shoulder, then remove the box
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Stop in a place of relative safety and call 999RightThis was the right answer
Do not retrieve an object from a motorway or another high-speed road. Continue to a place of relative safety, stop there and call 999 with the location. Do not stop on the carriageway or hard shoulder to retrieve it. This is the current Highway Code Rule 280 procedure, replacing the archive’s instruction to seek the next emergency telephone.
You're going through a long tunnel. What will warn you of congestion or an incident ahead?
Question 10
1Hazard warning lines
2Other drivers flashing their lights
3Variable message signs
4Areas with hatch markings
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Variable message signsRightThis was the right answer
Follow the instructions given by the signs or by tunnel officials. In congested tunnels, a minor incident can soon turn into a major one, with serious or even fatal results.
An adult casualty isn't breathing. To maintain circulation, CPR should be given. What's the correct depth to press down on their chest?
Question 11
11 to 2 centimetres
25 to 6 centimetres
310 to 15 centimetres
415 to 20 centimetres
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5 to 6 centimetresRightThis was the right answer
An adult casualty isn't breathing normally. To maintain circulation, place two hands on the centre of the chest. Then press down hard and fast – around 5–6 centimetres and about twice a second.
You're the first person to arrive at an incident where people are badly injured. You’ve switched on your hazard warning lights and checked all engines are stopped. What else should you do?
Question 12
1Make sure that an ambulance has been called
2Stop other cars and ask the drivers for help
3Try and get people who are injured to drink something
4Move the people who are injured clear of their vehicles
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Make sure that an ambulance has been calledRightThis was the right answer
If you’re the first to arrive at a crash scene, the first concerns are the risk of further collision and fire. Ensuring that vehicle engines are switched off will reduce the risk of fire. Use hazard warning lights so that other traffic knows there’s a need for caution. Make sure the emergency services are contacted; don’t assume it's already been done.
You arrive at the scene of a motorcycle crash. The rider is injured. When should their helmet be removed?
Question 13
1Only when it's essential
2Always straight away
3Only when the motorcyclist asks
4Always, unless they're in shock
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Only when it's essentialRightThis was the right answer
Call 999 and follow the emergency call handler’s instructions. Do not remove a motorcyclist’s helmet unless it is essential and you are trained to do so: unnecessary removal can worsen injuries. Avoid moving the casualty unless they are in immediate danger.
You arrive at an incident. There's no danger from fire or further collisions and the emergency services have been called. What's your first priority when attending to an unconscious motorcyclist?
Question 14
1Check whether they're breathing normally
2Check whether they're bleeding
3Check whether they have any broken bones
4Check whether they have any bruising
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Check whether they're breathing normallyRightThis was the right answer
At the scene of an incident, always be aware of danger from further collisions or fire. The first priority when dealing with an unconscious person is to ensure they can breathe. This may involve clearing their airway if you can see an obstruction or if they’re having difficulty breathing.
An adult casualty is unresponsive. After checking for danger and calling 999, which of these checks helps you assess their breathing?
Question 15
1Whether their vehicle is insured
2Whether they have any allergies
3Whether they're comfortable
4Whether their airway is open
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Whether their airway is openRightThis was the right answer
Ensure the airway is open so you can assess whether the adult is breathing normally. The emergency call should already be under way; follow the call handler. Abnormal gasping is not normal breathing and may mean CPR is needed.
What could you do to help injured people at an incident?
Question 16
1Keep them warm and comfortable
2Give them something to eat
3Keep them on the move by walking them around
4Give them a warm drink
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Keep them warm and comfortableRightThis was the right answer
There are a number of things you can do to help, even without expert training. Be aware of further danger from other traffic and fire; make sure the area is safe. People may be in shock. Don’t give them anything to eat or drink. Keep them warm and comfortable and reassure them. Don’t move injured people unless there’s a risk of further danger.
There's been a collision. How can you help a driver who's suffering from shock?
Question 17
1Give them a drink
2Reassure them confidently
3Ask who caused the incident
4Offer them a cigarette
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Reassure them confidentlyRightThis was the right answer
A casualty suffering from shock may have injuries that aren't immediately obvious. Call the emergency services, then stay with the person in shock, offering reassurance until the experts arrive.
You arrive at the scene of a motorcycle crash. No other vehicle is involved. The rider is unconscious and lying in the middle of the road. What's the first thing you should do at the scene?
Question 18
1Move the rider out of the road
2Warn other traffic
3Clear the road of debris
4Give the rider reassurance
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Warn other trafficRightThis was the right answer
The motorcyclist is in an extremely vulnerable position, exposed to further danger from traffic. Approaching vehicles need advance warning in order to slow down and safely take avoiding action or stop. Don't put yourself or anyone else at risk. Use the hazard warning lights on your vehicle to alert other road users to the danger.
A child over one year old is unresponsive and is not breathing normally. After calling 999, what should you do?
Question 19
1Find their parents and explain what's happening
2Open their airway and begin CPR
3Put them in the recovery position and slap their back
4Talk to them confidently until an ambulance arrives
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Open their airway and begin CPRRightThis was the right answer
Follow the emergency call handler. Open the airway and give five initial rescue breaths, then CPR. For a member of the public, use 30 compressions followed by two breaths. For a child over one, compress about one-third of the chest depth (about 5 cm), at 100–120 per minute, using one or two hands as needed for their size. Infant technique is different.
At an incident, a casualty isn't breathing. What should you do while helping them to start breathing again?
Question 20
1Put their arms across their chest
2Shake them firmly
3Roll them onto their side
4Open their airway
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Open their airwayRightThis was the right answer
It’s important to ensure that the airway is open before you start CPR. To open the casualty’s airway, place your fingers under their chin and lift it forward.