Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumHazard Perception and Anticipation

Driving through a busy town centre, you observe exhaust fumes rising from the tailpipe of a parked car ahead whose front wheels are angled outwards towards your lane. What hazard should you anticipate?

  1. A
    The parked vehicle is inactive and requires no change in your driving approach
  2. The vehicle is preparing to pull out into your lane of trafficAnswer
  3. C
    The driver will flash their headlights to give you right of way
  4. D
    The driver has completed all blind spot checks and will wait for you to pass

Answer

You should anticipate that the parked vehicle is preparing to move off from the kerb into your lane of traffic.
Recognising early clues such as exhaust smoke (showing the engine is running) and wheels turned outward towards the carriageway allows you to anticipate that the vehicle is about to pull away from the kerb. Anticipating this early gives you time to check your mirrors, reduce your speed, and prepare to stop if necessary.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify visual cues from stationary vehicles ahead
Exhaust smoke indicates the engine is running, and angled front wheels show intended steering direction into the road
Early detection of subtle hazard indicators gives you more time to react appropriately
2
Evaluate potential vehicle movements and driver limitations
Recognise that the vehicle may pull out suddenly, potentially without the driver checking their blind spot
Defensive driving requires anticipating potential conflicts before they physically develop into emergencies
3
Formulate a proactive driving response
Check mirrors, ease off the accelerator to reduce speed, and create a safe safety cushion
Adjusting speed and position early prevents the need for sudden, harsh braking

Key Concept

Identifying early visual cues of developing hazards from stationary vehicles
Estimated Time:45s
Rate this question

Topics

Hazard Perception and Anticipation

More questions from this topic