Hazards, emergencies and breakdowns theory test practice
Free, no accountBased on the Rules of the Road
What you need to know
Bad weather and poor visibility change how you must drive. Use dipped headlights in rain, fog and falling snow, and slow down. Keep at least a two-second gap in dry conditions, double it in the wet, and allow four or five times that in snow, fog or ice. Avoid cruise control in heavy rain, hail, snow, fog and ice. Use fog lights only in dense fog or falling snow, and switch them off when it clears.
If you are dazzled by oncoming headlights or the sun, slow down and stop if necessary, and look towards the verge until the glare passes. At a railway level crossing, obey the signs, slow down and never stop on the tracks. At an unattended crossing, stop at least 2 metres from the line, then look and listen. If your vehicle stalls, get everyone clear and phone the railway controller using the crossing number.
Tunnels need extra care. Switch on dipped headlights, remove sunglasses, keep a safe distance and do not overtake, turn or reverse. A safe gap for a car is 50 metres. If you break down in a tunnel, switch off the engine, turn on hazard lights, listen to the radio for instructions and use the emergency phone to tell the operator.
After a collision you must stop and stay at the scene for a reasonable time and offer help if anyone is hurt. If someone is injured and no Garda is there, report it to the nearest Garda station. Warn other traffic with hazard lights, and call 999 or 112 in an emergency. On a motorway, use the hard shoulder, stay behind the barrier and do not use a triangle. Clear the way safely for emergency vehicles.
Rules of the Road: Lights · Bad weather · Good driving practice · Skidding · Level crossings · Tunnels · Accidents and emergencies · Motorways · Breakdowns · Emergency vehicles
20 practice questions
Pick an answer to see whether it is right and why.
When may you use your front fog lights?
Mark one answer · keys A to D
All the questions with answers
1. When may you use your front fog lights?
Answer: Only in dense fog or falling snow
Fog lights are only for dense fog or falling snow. Turn them off at other times or you may dazzle other drivers.
Rules of the Road: Lights · Bad weather
2. It is raining heavily and the road is wet. How should you change your following distance?
Answer: Double the usual gap
Stopping takes much longer on a wet road. Double the normal two-second gap behind the vehicle in front.
Rules of the Road: Good driving practice · Bad weather
3. What gap should you allow behind the vehicle in front on an icy road?
Answer: Four to five times the normal gap
In snow, fog or ice you may need four or five times the usual two-second gap because the grip is poor and stopping is slow.
Rules of the Road: Good driving practice · Bad weather
4. You are driving on a motorway in heavy rain and your car has cruise control. What is the best advice?
Answer: Avoid using it in heavy rain
Avoid cruise control in heavy rain, hail, snow, fog and icy conditions. It can reduce your control and slow your reaction to a hazard.
Rules of the Road: Good driving practice
5. You are dazzled by the headlights of an oncoming car at night. What should you do?
Answer: Slow down and look towards the verge until the glare passes
Slow down, stop if necessary, and look towards the edge of your side of the road. Watch for pedestrians and cyclists on your side.
Rules of the Road: Lights
6. The low sun is blinding you as you drive. What is the safest action?
Answer: Slow down, and stop if necessary
Slow down and stop if you cannot see. Looking towards the verge helps, and you should watch for pedestrians and cyclists.
Rules of the Road: Lights
7. You drive into patchy fog on a dual carriageway. What should you do?
Answer: Check your mirrors, slow down and use your lights
Fog makes multiple-vehicle pile-ups likely at higher speeds. Slow down, check your mirrors, use dipped lights and keep a safe distance.
Rules of the Road: Bad weather
8. What is aquaplaning?
Answer: When a film of water lifts the tyres from the road surface
Aquaplaning happens when water builds up between the tyres and the road. The car loses contact, so steering and braking are affected.
Rules of the Road: Bad weather · Skidding
9. You approach an unattended level crossing with no barrier. How far from the railway line must you stop?
Answer: At least 2 metres
At an unattended level crossing, stop at least 2 metres from the line. Then look both ways and listen for a train before crossing.
Rules of the Road: Level crossings
10. Traffic ahead is queuing at a level crossing, with no room on the far side. What should you do?
Answer: Wait before the crossing until you can clear it
Never stop on the railway tracks. Do not enter the crossing unless you can clear it without stopping.
Rules of the Road: Level crossings
11. Your car stalls on a level crossing. What should you do?
Answer: Get everyone clear and phone the railway controller
Move everyone well clear, leave the vehicle where it is and phone the railway controller. Give the crossing number shown at the crossing.
Rules of the Road: Level crossings
12. You are about to enter a long road tunnel on a bright day. What should you do?
Answer: Remove sunglasses and switch on dipped headlights
Take off sunglasses and use dipped headlights. Also check you have enough fuel, and keep a safe gap.
Rules of the Road: Tunnels
13. What is the recommended minimum distance from the vehicle in front when driving a car in a tunnel?
Answer: 50 metres
In a tunnel, the recommended minimum safe distance for a car or motorcycle is 50 metres. Tailgating could cause an emergency.
Rules of the Road: Tunnels
14. Your car breaks down inside a road tunnel. What should you do?
Answer: Switch off the engine, switch on hazard lights and use the emergency phone
Switch off the engine, turn on your hazard lights, check the radio for instructions and use the emergency phone to inform the operator.
Rules of the Road: Tunnels
15. You are in a collision and someone is injured. No Garda is at the scene. What must you do?
Answer: Stay, help, and report it to the nearest Garda station
You must stop, remain for a reasonable time and offer assistance. If someone is injured and no Garda is there, report it to the nearest Garda station.
Rules of the Road: Accidents and emergencies
16. You arrive at a crash where a motorcyclist is lying injured. What should you NOT do?
Answer: Remove the motorcyclist's helmet
Do not remove an injured motorcyclist's helmet. Neck injuries are common, and untrained removal could cause serious harm.
Rules of the Road: Accidents and emergencies
17. You are first to arrive at a serious crash on a rural road. What is a sensible first step?
Answer: Switch on hazard lights, park safely and call 999 or 112
Park safely, use hazard lights to warn others and call the emergency services on 999 or 112. Do not move injured people unless there is a risk of fire.
Rules of the Road: Accidents and emergencies
18. Where should you NOT place a reflective warning triangle?
Answer: On a motorway
A warning triangle should not be used on a motorway or anywhere it would be unsafe. Elsewhere, place it far enough back to give early warning.
Rules of the Road: Accidents and emergencies · Motorways
19. Your car breaks down on a motorway. Which action is correct?
Answer: Leave by the left side and wait behind the crash barrier
Park as far left as possible on the hard shoulder with hazard lights on. Leave by the left-hand door and wait behind the barrier. Never attempt repairs.
Rules of the Road: Motorways · Breakdowns
20. You hear a siren and see flashing blue lights behind you. What should you do?
Answer: Pull over safely, indicate and let it pass
Clear the way as soon as it is safe, pulling in where there is space. Do not mount the kerb unless you have to, and never tailgate an emergency vehicle.
Rules of the Road: Emergency vehicles
Questions people ask
- When should I use fog lights in Ireland?
- Only in dense fog or falling snow. You must switch them off in clear weather, because they can dazzle other drivers.
- What should I do if I break down on a motorway in Ireland?
- Move onto the hard shoulder as far left as possible, switch on your hazard lights and wear a high-visibility vest. Leave by the left-hand door, wait behind the crash barrier and use the roadside phone to contact the Gardaí. Do not place a warning triangle on the motorway.
- Do I have to report a crash to the Gardaí?
- If anyone is injured and no Garda is at the scene, you must report it to the nearest Garda station. You must also stop, remain for a reasonable time and give your details to the people involved.
- What should I do if my car stalls on a railway level crossing?
- Get everyone clear of the railway and leave the vehicle where it is. Phone the railway controller using the number displayed at the crossing and give the crossing number shown on the plate.
Other theory test topics
- Learner permits and licences
- Penalty points and offences
- Alcohol, drugs, phones and fatigue
- Vehicle safety and passengers
- Speed limits and stopping distances
- Junctions and right of way
- Roundabouts and turning
- Road signs and markings
- Motorways, overtaking and lanes
- Pedestrians, cyclists and other road users
- Parking and stopping
Rules summarised from the Rules of the Road (© Road Safety Authority). Questions written by PassRank. These are not the official Driver Theory Test questions.