Questions

A. It will improve the road holding

B. It will make the steering lighter

C. It will reduce the stopping distance

D. It will reduce stability


A heavy load on your roof rack will make your vehicle less stable. If you change direction too quickly you could lose control.

A. The driver of the vehicle

B. The owner of the items being carried

C. The person who loaded the vehicle

D. The licensing authority

 

 

Carrying heavy loads will affect control and the vehicle's handling. If the vehicle you're driving is overloaded, you'll be held responsible.

A. Yes, if they're over 14

B. No, not at any time

C. Only if all the seats in the towing vehicle are full

D. Only if a stabiliser is fitted


Riding in a towed caravan is highly dangerous.  Moving passengers would make the caravan unstable and could cause loss of control.

 

 

A. Securely fastened with suitable restraints

B. Loaded towards the rear of the vehicle

C. Visible in your exterior mirror

D.  Covered with plastic sheeting


 

Any load must be securely fastened to the vehicle. The safest way to carry items on the roof is in a specially designed roof box. This will help to keep your luggage secure and dry, and it also has less wind resistance than loads carried exposed on a roof rack.

 

A. Ease off the accelerator to reduce your speed

B. Let go of the steering wheel and let it correct itself

C. Brake hard and hold the pedal down

D. Accelerate until it stabilises


Strong winds from large vehicles can cause a trailer or caravan to swing from side to side ('snake'). If this happens, ease off the accelerator. Don’t brake harshly, steer sharply or increase your speed.

 

 

 

 

A. When the roads are slippery

B. When the vehicle is fitted with anti-lock brakes

C. When the tyre tread is worn below 2 mm

D. When carrying a heavy load


 

Check the vehicle handbook. This should give you guidance on the correct tyre pressures for your vehicle and when you may need to adjust them. If you’re carrying a heavy load, you may need to adjust the headlights as well. Most cars have a switch on the dashboard to do this.

 

 

A. The vehicle's gearbox

B. The vehicle's ventilation

C. The vehicle's handling

D. The vehicle's battery


Any load will have an effect on the handling of your vehicle, and this becomes worse as you increase the load. You need to be aware of this when carrying passengers or heavy loads, fitting a roof rack or towing a trailer.

 

 

A. A jockey wheel fitted to the tow bar

B. Power steering fitted to the towing vehicle

C. Anti-lock brakes fitted to the towing vehicle

D. A stabiliser fitted to the tow bar


 

 

Towing a caravan or trailer affects the way the towing vehicle handles. A stabiliser device isn't designed to overcome instability caused by incorrect loading but it can give added security in side winds and from buffeting caused by large vehicles.

 

 

 

 

A. Stabiliser

B. Jockey wheel

C. Corner steadies

D. Breakaway cable 


In the event that the trailer becomes detached from the towing vehicle, the breakaway cable activates the trailer brakes before snapping. This allows the towing vehicle to get free of the trailer and out of danger.

 

 

A. In the vehicle handbook

B. In The Highway Code

C. In your vehicle registration certificate 

D. In your licence documents


You must know how to load your trailer or caravan so that the hitch exerts an appropriate downward force on the tow ball. Information about the maximum permitted noseweight can be found in your vehicle handbook or obtained from your vehicle manufacturer’s agent.