Driving conditions (skills 24 to 26)

24. Driving in the dark

There are many factors that make driving in the dark more hazardous. Judging speed at night can be difficult, so be particularly careful at junctions.

You should be confident driving on:

urban roads
rural roads
single and dual carriageways

You should know:

how darkness limits your visibility and when to adjust your speed, especially in bad weather
when you should use your lights, which lights to use and the importance of keeping them clean
when you can use the horn at night
how to park safely and legally when it’s dark

25. Weather conditions

Aim to get experience in different weather conditions. It’s important to understand the effect conditions like fog and low sun can have on visibility. Other conditions, such as ice, snow and rain, can affect the way that your vehicle handles.

You should be confident in all weather conditions, including:

fog
ice and snow
bright sunshine
wind
rain

You should know:

the way that different weather conditions affect your visibility, speed and stopping distance, and how to respond to these conditions safely
the car’s capabilities and how to use its features
the warning signs and signals that may be used
the causes of skidding and aquaplaning, and how to control them if they do occur
when to use yuour lights and which lights to use in poor daytime visibility

26. Passengers and loads

As a driver, you need to understand your responsibilities to passengers, whether they’re adults or children. You should also know how to secure any items that you’re transporting.

When carrying passengers and loads, you should be aware of:

your responsibility to other adults, children, babies and animals in your car
the safest way to carry loads in and on the car
how to load trailers safely

You should know:

the rules concerning the use of seat belts
the importance of not putting a rear-facing baby seat into a seat that’s protected by an airbag
the importance of checking that all doors are shut properly, and that animals are safely restrained
how to stow luggage or load it securely and the importance of distributing weight evenly