Vehicle Controls and Safe Driving Technique
Safe control begins before the engine starts: adjust the seat so the clutch pedal can be pressed fully with a slight knee bend, set mirrors to show a sliver of your own vehicle, and fasten the seat belt. Know the pedal order - clutch on the left, brake in the middle, accelerator on the right - and the gear pattern of the vehicle you are driving. A manual car starts in first gear; reverse requires the vehicle to be stationary.
Steering should be smooth and progressive, with hands at roughly nine and three o'clock. Brake early and gently; in a manual vehicle, brake before depressing the clutch so engine braking assists. On a slope, use the handbrake to prevent rollback. Look where you want to go, not at the bonnet - target fixation is a real cause of crashes. Signal before every manoeuvre, check mirrors, and check the blind spot by turning your head before changing lanes.
Question traps: candidates confuse the clutch with the brake, or assume the handbrake is only for parking. Another common trap is thinking a signal gives you the right to move - signalling announces intention, it does not create priority. In wet conditions, increase following distance and avoid sudden steering or braking, which cause skids. If a skid begins, ease off the accelerator and steer gently in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go, without slamming the brakes.
Worked example: A question asks what to do first when the car starts to skid on a wet road. Answer: ease off the accelerator, avoid harsh braking, and steer smoothly to correct.