Controls of a Vehicle
Core concepts
Control questions test whether you understand what each control does and how to use it smoothly. Know the primary controls: steering wheel, accelerator, brake, clutch (in a manual), and gear lever. Understand secondary controls: indicators, headlights, hazard lights, wipers, demister, and horn. Learn the correct seating and mirror setup, the purpose of the parking brake, and how ABS changes braking behaviour. You should know when to use low gears for control on hills, how to hold the wheel, and the sequence for moving off and stopping safely: mirrors, signal, manoeuvre. Understand the meaning of dashboard warning lights, tyre condition, and basic checks before driving.
Traps in questions
Questions often test the order of actions or a misunderstood control. For example, the handbrake is for parking and hill starts, not for normal stopping. ABS prevents wheel lock and lets you steer while braking hard, but it does not shorten stopping distance on all surfaces. Fog lights are for visibility, not for signalling. Another trap is coasting in neutral, which reduces control; the correct answer keeps the vehicle in gear. Watch for questions about which control to use first in an emergency; firm braking with both hands on the wheel is usually correct.
Worked example
You are driving downhill and the road is wet. A question asks how to control speed. The best answer is to select a lower gear and brake gently and progressively, keeping both hands on the wheel, rather than coasting in neutral or relying on the parking brake. Rule of thumb: gears control speed on descents, brakes control stopping, and the parking brake is for holding still.