Highway Code: Operator Requirements
Drivers & Motorcyclists – Rules 89–102 Practice Test
Master Vehicle Roadworthiness, Medical Alertness Thresholds & Occupant Restraint Laws
Test Coverage
Rules 89–102 of The Highway Code
Core Focus
Fitness to drive & vision metrics
Key Value
Seat belts & child restraint laws
💡 Driver & Fitment Security Blueprint:
Safely controlling a motor vehicle relies on complete physical readiness and rigorous payload security before departure. This module verifies your operational legal obligations:
🔧 Statutory maintenance duties
👁️ 20-Metre vision alignment
⚖️ Towing & load balance rules
🛑 Airbag safety restrictions
- Practice questions on ensuring your vehicle is roadworthy and well-maintained. (Covers rule 89 – Vehicle Condition).
- Practice questions on driver alertness, fatigue, illness, and vision requirements. (Covers rules 90–94 – Fitness to Drive).
- Practice questions about the effects of alcohol and drugs on driving ability, including legal limits and penalties. (Covers rules 95–96 – Alcohol and Drugs).
- Practice questions on safety checks and planning before you begin your journey. (Covers rule 97 – Before Setting Off).
- Practice questions on towing trailers and loading vehicles safely. (Covers rule 98 – Vehicle Towing and Loading).
- Practice questions on using seat belts, child car seats, and restraints correctly and legally. (Covers rules 99–102 – Seat Belts and Child Restraints).
When feeling sleepy while driving, what must you do to stay safe?
Keep going with loud music
Stop on the hard shoulder
Open a window and keep driving
Stop in a safe place
If you feel sleepy while driving, you must stop in a safe place—never on the hard shoulder or in an emergency area. Continuing to drive drowsy puts you and others at serious risk. Alertness drops sharply when tired, especially during early morning hours. (Highway Code Rule 91)
What is the legal alcohol limit for drivers in England and Wales?
22 microgrammes/100ml breath, 50mg blood
25 microgrammes/100ml breath, 60mg blood
35 microgrammes/100ml breath, 80mg blood
30 microgrammes/100ml breath, 70mg blood
In England and Wales, the legal alcohol limit is 35 microgrammes per 100ml of breath or 80mg per 100ml of blood. Driving above these limits is a criminal offence. Even below these limits, your ability to drive safely may be reduced. Highway Code Rule 95: England & Wales limits—Stay below the limit, but avoid alcohol entirely if driving.
What should you do if you are dazzled by bright sunlight?
Slow down, and if necessary, stop
Keep driving and squint your eyes
Speed up to get through the glare faster
Turn on your headlights to reduce glare
If you are dazzled by bright sunlight, you should slow down and, if needed, stop in a safe place. This allows you to regain visibility and avoid dangerous situations. Continuing to drive at normal speed in these conditions can lead to accidents. Highway Code Rule 93: Dazzling sunlight—Slow down or stop if dazzled by bright sunlight.
What documents must you have before driving any vehicle?
Only the vehicle’s logbook
Just a recent MOT certificate
A valid licence and insurance
Proof of address and ID
You must legally hold a valid driving licence and insurance before using any vehicle. These confirm you're authorised to drive and financially covered for any damage. A logbook, MOT, or ID doesn’t replace this requirement. Driving without proper documentation risks legal penalties, invalidates cover, and endangers road users. Highway Code Rule 97: Before setting off—Ensure documents are valid.
How should you distribute the load in a trailer for stability while towing?
Keep weight evenly spread over the axles
Keep heavy items at the rear
Keep all heavy items at the front
Keep all light items near the axle
For stability, weight should be evenly spread over the axles. Placing heavy items improperly can lead to swaying or snaking, risking loss of control. A proper downward load on the tow ball ensures better control and stability while towing, helping prevent dangerous situations. Highway Code Rule 98: Before towing—Stable loading is crucial.
What happens if you are found driving with illegal drugs in your blood?
You can drive as long as you're not impaired
You may be given a warning or fine
You can only be penalized if you're speeding
You could face criminal charges and penalties
Driving with illegal drugs in your blood, even in small amounts, is a serious offence. It can lead to criminal charges, penalties, and loss of driving privileges. The effects of illegal drugs on driving are unpredictable and extremely dangerous. (Highway Code Rule 96)
How should you manage eyewear when driving at night or in poor visibility?
Avoid anything that restricts your vision
Wear any visor if headlights dazzle you
Use lightly tinted glasses for clearer focus
Use dark lenses to reduce glare
In poor visibility or at night, wearing tinted glasses, lenses, or visors can dangerously reduce what you see. Even light tints impair your ability to detect hazards, pedestrians, or signs in time. You must keep your vision as clear as possible to drive safely. (Highway Code Rule 94)
What should you do if you plan to drink alcohol?
Drive slowly and stay cautious
Limit yourself to one glass
Only drive if you feel sober
Avoid driving altogether
Even small amounts of alcohol affect driving ability. If you intend to drink, arrange an alternative way to get home—use a taxi, public transport, or designate a sober driver. Relying on how you 'feel' isn’t safe, as alcohol impairs judgment. Highway Code Rule 95: Alcohol and judgement—Don’t drive at all if you plan to drink.
What should you do if your vehicle breaks down while towing?
Tow the broken vehicle using a solid tow bar
Consider using a tow rope for recovery
Drive at a reduced speed to the nearest service station
Attempt to repair the trailer and continue towing
Towing a vehicle with a rope can be dangerous, especially at high speeds. Using a solid tow bar or professional recovery services is much safer, as it provides controlled towing and reduces the risk of further damage. Always avoid makeshift solutions and opt for proper recovery methods to ensure safety. Highway Code Rule 98: Proper recovery methods must be used in the event of a breakdown.
Who is responsible for ensuring a child aged 3 to 12 years uses the correct child restraint?
The child
The driver
Both the child and the driver
The vehicle owner
The driver is responsible for ensuring that children aged 3 to 12 years use the correct child restraint. While children should be encouraged to comply, it is the driver's legal duty to ensure the safety of all passengers. If no suitable restraint is available in a taxi, the child may travel unrestrained. (Highway Code Rule 99)
If a medical condition may impact your driving, what action must you take?
Inform the DVLA immediately
Take shorter trips
Drive only during daylight
Wait until symptoms worsen
If you develop a medical condition that could affect your driving, you must report it to the DVLA without delay. Continuing to drive without informing them is illegal and dangerous. Early reporting protects you and others on the road. Highway Code Rule 90 / Law RTA 1988 sect 94: Medical conditions affecting driving must be declared.
How can you best prepare for a long journey to reduce tiredness risk?
Drink energy drinks while driving
Sleep during the trip at short stops
Get proper sleep beforehand
Keep windows open for fresh air
Driving when tired seriously increases crash risk. To prevent this, you must get sufficient rest before a long journey. Short naps or energy drinks may help temporarily but don’t replace real sleep. Fresh air won’t eliminate fatigue. Highway Code Rule 91: Always ensure you’re well-rested and fit to drive, especially before lengthy trips.
How does alcohol affect your driving even if you're under the legal limit?
It reduces your driving ability
It sharpens your reflexes temporarily
It makes you hyper-focused
It only affects long-distance driving
Even if you're below the legal alcohol limit, your coordination, judgement, and reaction times are impaired. You may misjudge speed, distance, or risk—making you a danger on the road. Alcohol always compromises safe driving. Highway Code Rule 95: Alcohol—Any amount can reduce driving ability, even if legally under the limit.
What type of seat must a child under 1.35 metres use in a vehicle?
Rear seat with no restraint
Booster seat or booster cushion
Standard adult car seat
Reclining seat with padding
Children under 1.35 metres must use an appropriate child seat, booster seat, or booster cushion that matches their weight. This ensures proper seat belt positioning and effective protection. Adult seats or reclining padded seats do not offer the necessary safety. Highway Code Rule 100 clearly requires a suitable child restraint to be properly fitted and used.
What must you do when carrying a child under 3 years old in a car?
Use a booster seat in the front
Secure them with your seat belt
Use the correct child restraint at all times
Restraint needed only on long journeys
Children under 3 must always use an appropriate child restraint in any vehicle. Adult seat belts are not suitable or legal for their size. Holding the child or using a booster seat is not permitted. Highway Code Rule 99 allows an exception only in licensed taxis if no restraint is available. This ensures maximum protection in the event of a crash.
Before setting off, what must you confirm about your vehicle’s condition?
That lights and mirrors look fine
That it meets construction and lighting laws
That it passed its last MOT
That tyres seem inflated
Before setting off, you must ensure your vehicle complies with Construction and Use and Lighting Regulations. This includes brakes, tyres, emissions, steering, and lights. A previous MOT or basic checks isn’t enough—your vehicle must be roadworthy now. Highway Code Rule 89: Your vehicle and trailer must fully meet legal standards before driving.
If your doctor advises that a medicine may impair your driving, what should you do?
Ignore it if you feel fine
Drive but take extra caution
Drive only in daylight
Avoid driving and use alternative transport
Medicines can impair alertness, coordination, and reaction time—even if you feel normal. If a doctor or pharmacist warns you about driving impairment, it’s vital to take the advice seriously. Driving while impaired by medication is both dangerous and illegal. Highway Code Rule 96: Drugs and medicine—Never drive if your medicine affects your ability.
How far must you be able to read a number plate in good daylight?
10 metres
15 metres
20 metres
25 metres
To drive legally, you must be able to read a vehicle number plate from 20 metres in good daylight. This ensures your vision is sharp enough to respond to road hazards, identify vehicles, and comply with legal standards. If you cannot meet this requirement, you must wear corrective lenses. Highway Code Rule 92: Vision—You must meet the eyesight standard to drive legally.
Why is it important to adjust your head restraint properly before driving?
To support your head during long journeys
To prevent discomfort while reversing
To improve visibility of the rear window
To reduce neck and spine injury in a collision
Proper head restraint adjustment helps prevent whiplash and serious neck or spinal injuries during rear-end collisions. It’s a critical safety feature, not just for comfort. Visibility and reversing convenience are secondary—protection in an impact is its primary function. Highway Code Rule 97: Before setting off—Adjust head restraints for collision protection, not comfort alone.
Which of the following is an exemption from the seat belt law?
A person driving more than 50 meters
A person with a medical exemption certificate
A driver of a vehicle with no seat belt
A person making short deliveries under 200 meters
Individuals with a valid medical exemption certificate are allowed to be exempt from the seat belt law. This applies to those advised by a doctor not to wear a seat belt for medical reasons. The exemption does not apply to other scenarios such as short deliveries. Highway Code Rule 99: Medical exemptions and specific seat belt rules.
When towing a trailer, what lane must you avoid on a three-lane motorway?
Left hand lane
Right hand lane
Middle lane
Emergency lane
When towing a trailer on a motorway with three or more lanes, you must avoid the right-hand lane. This lane is meant for faster-moving vehicles. Towing often reduces your speed, so using the right-hand lane could create a hazard for faster vehicles, risking accidents. Stick to the left or middle lanes. Highway Code Rule 98: Always avoid the right-hand lane when towing on multi-lane motorways.
What is the best way to ensure children get into the vehicle safely?
They should get in from the driver’s side
They should get in through the door nearest the kerb
They should always enter from the back of the vehicle
They should enter through the front passenger door
Children should enter the vehicle through the door closest to the kerb to prevent stepping into traffic. This simple measure reduces the risk of accidents by ensuring they are safely positioned away from moving vehicles. Highway Code Rule 102 stresses the importance of using the safest entry point for children.
What must you do if you need glasses or contact lenses to meet the eyesight standard?
Wear them only at night
Wear them only in daytime
Wear them only for short trips
Wear them whenever you drive
If you need glasses or contact lenses to read a vehicle number plate at 20 metres, you must wear them whenever you drive. Failing to do so is illegal and could lead to penalties. Ensuring your vision is corrected helps maintain safety on the road. Highway Code Rule 92: Vision—You must wear corrective lenses if needed while driving.
What towing restriction applies if you passed your car driving test on or after 1 January 1997?
You can only tow lightweight trailers with L plates
You can tow any trailer if driving below 50 mph
You must not tow more than your licence allows
You may tow any trailer during daylight hours
If you passed your car driving test on or after 1 January 1997, you are restricted in the weight of trailer you can tow. Towing beyond your licence entitlement is illegal and unsafe. You must check your licence category to ensure you’re legally permitted to tow a specific trailer or caravan. (Highway Code Rule 98)
Why must you not fit a rear-facing baby seat in front of an active airbag?
It may block the driver's view
It reduces seatbelt effectiveness
It may interfere with dashboard controls
It can cause serious injury in a crash
Fitting a rear-facing baby seat in front of an active airbag is dangerous. In the event of a crash, the airbag can deploy with significant force, causing severe injury or even death to the child. Always ensure the airbag is deactivated or place the child in the back seat for safety. Highway Code Rule 101 emphasizes that rear-facing baby seats must never be placed in front of active airbags for safety.