Chapter 5: Critical Situations — theory test questions and answers

Answer B: Speeding. Speeding is considered the principal cause of more than half of all road accidents in the UAE, though the root cause is a lack of road courtesy.

Answer D: A lack of road courtesy. A closer look shows the root cause is a lack of road courtesy: some drivers forget the road is not their private property.

Answer D: Nine. Nine out of 10 persons killed in Abu Dhabi traffic accidents are men, and over 70% of victims are young male Emiratis.

Answer B: Single-vehicle accidents are the most common type and cause the most serious injuries. Single-vehicle accidents (run-off-road, rollovers, hitting debris or animals) are the most common type and account for the most serious injuries.

Answer B: Believing the intersection was clear because the traffic light was green. Crossroad accidents happen when drivers ignore rules, miss signs, drive too fast, assume a green light means clear, or misjudge distance to the junction.

Answer A: Taking an oncoming motorcycle for a moped. Turning collisions are caused by misjudging an oncoming vehicle’s distance, mistaking a motorcycle for a moped, or not watching following traffic.

Answer B: The worst kind: most deaths and injuries, often caused by misjudged overtaking. Accidents between vehicles travelling in opposite directions have the most serious consequences and are very often caused by misjudged overtaking.

Answer D: Cutting across a left-hand bend. Head-on collisions are caused by braking so hard the wheels lock, cutting across a left-hand bend, and driving too fast.

Answer B: Overestimating own acceleration and forgetting the other driver may also accelerate. Overtaking accidents come from a restricted view, misjudging oncoming speed and distance, overestimating acceleration, or meeting a vehicle when passing a long lorry.

Answer D: Always. Remember: it is always permissible to refrain from overtaking.

Answer A: Never drink and drive. The simple rule is never drink and drive; any intoxicant greatly increases the risk of collision and serious injury.

Answer D: Not noticing or ignoring the pedestrian on the other side of the crossing. Common causes: not noticing the pedestrian on the far side, obstructed view by the doorpost, driving too fast, not scanning, or overtaking a vehicle stopped at a crossing.

Answer C: The doorpost or blind spot of the car. The car’s doorpost or blind spot can hide a pedestrian at the side of the crossing.

Answer A: Ignoring the cyclist and misjudging the cyclist’s speed and intention. Cyclist accidents are caused by ignoring the cyclist and misjudging their speed and intention.

Answer D: Not considering the limited ability to see in the dark. Night accidents come from misjudging speed and intention, driving too fast, and not allowing for our limited ability to see in the dark.

Answer B: Inside city limits, especially among taxi drivers. Rear-end collisions come from driving too close and sudden stops (e.g. taxis); they are most common inside city limits and among taxi drivers.

Answer A: They are smaller, approach at unexpected speeds and create their own lane between vehicles. Drivers fail to see motorcycles because they are small and approach at unexpected speeds, and neglect to watch for them filtering between lines of vehicles.

Answer B: A roundabout. A properly designed roundabout is the safest junction: a sharp entrance reduces speed and accidents there are few and rarely severe.

Answer D: They tend to cause very few injuries. Fewer accidents occur at roundabouts and sideswipe accidents there tend to cause very few injuries.

Answer D: Because of the high speeds involved. Traffic lights reduce accident numbers, but crashes that do happen there are often severe because of the high speeds involved.

Answer B: With extreme care and courtesy, since drivers are confused about priority. When lights are not working drivers are confused about who has priority; extreme care and courtesy must be exercised.

Answer A: Pedestrians feel safe on it and become less careful when crossing. Pedestrians get a feeling of safety on a crossing and are less careful; drivers must slow down before entering the crossing.

Answer A: It does not eliminate accidents but greatly reduces their severity. Speed is always the main factor for injuries and fatalities; reducing speed greatly reduces the severity of an accident.

Answer D: Traffic lights ahead. Traffic lights ahead: be ready to stop; remember that even a green light does not guarantee the junction is clear.

Answer D: Slow right down to a crawl, be patient, and warn others with your hazard lights. Slow to a crawling speed and negotiate the hazard patiently; warning other drivers with hazard lights is one of the few acceptable uses of hazard lights while moving.

Answer B: Dawn and dusk. Dawn and dusk are when animals are least visible and most likely to stray; camels may find gaps even in fenced roads.

Answer B: Stay behind it. To avoid a collision, stay behind a camel that has wandered onto the road; keep a broad field of vision and a steady slow pace.

Answer C: Drivers overreact and slam on the brakes in panic. Drivers often overreact to small animals and brake in panic; to avoid injuring people it may occasionally be necessary to run over a small animal.

Answer C: Accompanied horses or ponies may be crossing the road. This warns of accompanied horses or ponies crossing; slow down and pass wide and slow.

Answer C: Take a break every now and then to get out and stretch your legs. Take breaks on long journeys, keep to your lane, do not look at maps or eat while driving — stop at a lay-by instead.

Answer C: Those of the vehicle directly in front and of vehicles further ahead. Look out for braking lights on the vehicle in front and on vehicles further ahead so you can react early.

Answer A: Hazard ahead (other danger), often qualified by a supplementary sign. The exclamation mark warns of a hazard or other danger not covered by a specific sign; slow down and be alert.

Answer A: Better road behaviour, safer roads, safer vehicles. Safer roads, safer vehicles and better road behaviour are all required; if one is missing the system fails, and behaviour is the most important.

Answer B: 999. Move the car out of the way, turn on hazard lights, get passengers behind the barriers, use parking lights if dark, and call 999 for the Road Service Patrol.

Answer A: Out of the vehicle, at a sufficient distance from the road, preferably behind the barriers. Take all passengers out and stand well away from the road, preferably behind the protective barriers.

Answer C: Displaying an advance warning triangle. Warn other traffic by switching on hazard lights, displaying an advance warning triangle, or having someone direct other drivers — further collisions may happen.

Answer A: 998. 998 is for an ambulance, 999 for the police and 997 for the fire brigade.

Answer C: 997. 997 is the fire brigade; 998 ambulance; 999 police.

Answer B: Read the location details on the yellow signs placed at intervals on the hard shoulder. Location details are marked on yellow signs at regular intervals on the hard shoulder; check them before calling.

Answer C: Disqualification from driving and a prison term. Leaving the scene without providing your name and telephone number is a serious offence that can lead to disqualification and prison.

Answer A: Leave a message with your name and phone number, then notify the police. Try to contact the owner; if you cannot, leave your name and telephone number and notify the police.

Answer C: Do not slow down to look; you could cause another accident on your side. Do not slow down to look at an accident on the other carriageway — you may cause another accident or unnecessary congestion.

Answer A: Leave them intact until the police take over. Tracks or anything that may help the inquiry must not be erased or modified; they must remain intact until the police take over.

Answer A: Warn other road users, then notify the police and the responsible authority. Do all you can to restore a damaged sign, light or marking; if impossible, warn others, then notify the police and the maintaining authority.

Answer C: Get well clear of the vehicle and leave it to the fire brigade. A small fire may be put out with an extinguisher; if it appears serious do not tackle it — get everyone out and well clear, as fire spreads with alarming speed.

Answer D: Only if they could be run over by other vehicles or there is a risk of fire or explosion. Casualties should not be moved unless in danger from traffic, fire or explosion; do not remove a motorcyclist’s helmet unless essential.

Answer C: Not unless it is essential to do so. Do not remove a motorcyclist’s helmet unless it is essential; casualties should be moved as little as possible.

Answer C: As many facts as you can, but no assumptions or diagnoses. Give the crew as many facts as possible, but no assumptions or diagnoses; try to remain calm.

Answer D: Be prepared to give first aid; it could save someone’s life. Perhaps a quarter of accident victims could have been saved by fellow road users giving first aid; if certified, be prepared to help.