Rules and safe driving
Road markings, stopping distance, overtaking, speed and safe decisions.
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My Driving Test— mydrivingtest.netIrish Driving Test Verbal Questions & Answers — Pre-Test Cheat Sheet
Top 47 examiner verbal questions & short answer frameworks for the Irish practical driving test.
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58 questions
Irish driving test questions with answers you can actually remember.
Practise concise answers for Rules of the Road, road signs, safety and vehicle controls. Read each answer, say it aloud, then use the quiz to find what still needs work.
Signs and signals
Road signs, hand signals, traffic lights and instructions you must recognise.
Vehicle knowledge
Tyres, lights, controls, basic maintenance and under-the-bonnet checks.
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Answered Questions
Common RSA-style verbal questions with answers.
When can you overtake on the left?
When you want to go straight ahead & the driver in front of you has moved out & signalled that they intend to turn right.
What is meant by a solid white line in the centre of the road?
You must stay to the left & must not cross the line unless it is for access or in an emergency.
What does a broken yellow line mean?
The road contains a hard shoulder which is normally only for pedestrians & cyclists but may be used briefly to allow faster traffic to overtake if it safe to do so.
What does double broken white lines along the centre of the road mean?
These alert the driver to continuous white lines a short distance ahead. You must not cross them unless it is safe to do so.
At a stop sign that has no white line, where should you stop?
You must stop at the sign.
Where there is a continuous & a broken white line along the centre of the road, which one do you obey?
You must obey the line that is nearest you.
Who has priority at a roundabout?
You must give right of way to traffic already on a roundabout.
When driving, when should you dip your headlights?
When meeting other traffic.
What should you do if you are dazzled by another vehicle’s headlights?
Slow down & stop if necessary.
What restrictions are there in relation to the use of the horn?
Do not use a horn in a built-up area between 11.30pm & 7.00 am, unless there is a traffic emergency.
Within what distance from the kerb should you park?
45cm
Where should you not overtake?
Near a bend, the brow of a hill, a hump back bridge, a continuous white line, where your vehicle would obstruct a sign, at an entrance, opposite another vehicle on a narrow road, a taxi rank.
What is the sequence of traffic lights?
Green, Amber, Red.
What does a clearway mean?
No parking during specified times or stopping unless you are waiting in a line of traffic.
What rules apply to a box junction?
You must not enter a yellow box junction unless you can clear it without stopping. An exception is when you want to turn right. You may enter while waiting for a gap in traffic coming from the opposite direction as long to do so would not block other traffic that has priority.
What is the difference between a pelican crossing & a zebra crossing?
A pelican crossing is controlled by lights. A zebra crossing has flashing orange beacons & is controlled by the presence of pedestrians.
What does an island in the centre of a pedestrian crossing mean?
Zebra crossings with a central island should be treated as two separate crossings. Pelican crossings that go straight across the road count as one crossing even if there is a central island.
What do the white zig-zag lines at a zebra crossing mean?
No overtaking or parking.
What is the speed limit on a) national roads (primary & secondary) & on b) motorways?
a) 100km/h
What are the speed limits in built up areas?
Usually 50km/h unless special speed limits apply to designated roads and zones. Special speed limits are generally 30km/h or 60km/h.
What is the minimum tread depth on tyres?
Most vehicles on the road must have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm over their main treads.
What are the rules regarding bus lanes?
A with-flow bus lane runs in the same direction as the traffic beside it & can be used by bicyclists & taxis as well as buses & is reserved during the times shown on the information plate.
How far away should you park from a junction?
Over 5 metres.
What position would you take up for a right turn in a one-way street?
When turning right from a one-way street, drive as close as you can to the right-hand side.
What are hatched markings?
Hatched markings are diagonal or chevron markings on the road that can be used for merging traffic, for diverging traffic & for separating traffic travelling in opposite directions (central median islands). If you see these markings on the road you must not enter the area they cover.
What does a yield sign mean?
If you see a Yield sign on the road, usually near a junction or roundabout, you must give way to traffic on a major road ahead or on the roundabout & you must not proceed unless it is safe to do so.
What is a filter light?
An arrow light, green or amber, you may proceed in the direction of the arrow if it is safe to do so.
You are approaching traffic lights & they change to amber, what action should you take?
Stop unless it is unsafe to do so.
What does a flashing amber traffic light mean?
Proceed if the crossing is clear but pedestrians have priority.
What do flashing red traffic lights mean?
Stop, train approaching
What does a continuous yellow line at the side of a road mean?
No parking during certain hours.
What do double continuous yellow lines at the side of the road mean?
No parking at any time.
Give examples of where you would not park
Near a bend, the brow of a hill, a hump back bridge, opposite a single or continuous white line, where your vehicle would obstruct a sign, at an entrance, opposite another vehicle on a narrow road, a taxi rank, near a junction, at a bus stop, on a footpath.
Within what distance from a pedestrian crossing, should you not park?
15 metres before or 5 metres after.
What procedure must you adopt if crossing a dual carriageway with a narrow central median?
If the median is too narrow for your vehicle, you must wait until you can complete the crossing.
What are the differences between a motorway and a dual carriageway?
On motorways, exits to left only, no traffic lights, no junctions, no roundabouts, 120Kph speed limits may apply.
Who has priority at a unmarked crossroads with roads of equal importance?
Give priority to traffic on the junction & traffic approaching from your right.
What are the road markings for no entry?
A continuous & a broken white line with the words “NO ENTRY”
What would you look out for on country roads?
Pedestrians, animals, muddy surfaces, concealed entrances, slow moving farm machinery.
When being overtaken, what must you not do?
Increase your speed.
Where would you never make a U-turn?
In a one-way street, where there is a continuous white line or lines, where a sign directs you not to.
What is meant by tailgating?
Driving too close to a vehicle in front, not keeping a safe distance.
What human factors can affect your driving?
Alcohol, drugs (prescription and non-prescription), tiredness & fatigue, road rage, attitude.
What is coasting & why is it potentially dangerous?
Coasting is when the vehicle is not being driven by the engine i.e. the clutch pedal is held down or the gear lever is in neutral. It is dangerous because it reduces the driver’s control of the vehicle.
Who is responsible for seat belts?
For passengers under 17 years of age, the driver is responsible
When following the road ahead on a multi-lane dual carriageway, which lane would you normally use?
You would normally use lane 1 or the left-hand driving lane, unless road markings indicate otherwise.
What is the “2 second rule”?
Used as a measure of a safe following distance of at least 2 seconds in dry conditions, doubled in the
Open Practice Prompts
Practice prompts without provided answers from the source page.
Practice prompt
How would you test if your handbrake is working properly?
Practice prompt
How would you test if your brakes are working properly when stationary & when on the move?
Practice prompt
How would you test if your brake lights are working?
Practice prompt
How would you know if you had a problem with your steering?
Practice prompt
How would you check to ensure that your tyres are in good working order?
Practice prompt
How would you check your tyre thread depth?
Practice prompt
How would you check your engine oil level?
Practice prompt
If your brake fluid level is low, what might the reason(s)?
Practice prompt
How would know if your coolant level is low?
Practice prompt
How would you ensure that your head restraint is correctly adjusted?
Practice prompt
What warning light(s) will remain on after turning on the ignition?
How to revise these questions
- 1. Answer before openingRecall the meaning in your own words first.
- 2. Say it aloudKeep the response clear, short and accurate.
- 3. Test the weak setRepeat questions you could not answer without a prompt.
The RSA states that the practical test includes questions on the Rules of the Road and identifying road signs. Use the current Rules of the Road as the official reference.
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