Vehicle Controls, Lights and Basic Maintenance
Knowing your controls
Before moving off, know where the steering, brakes, accelerator, clutch (if fitted), gears, indicators, wipers, lights and horn are without looking. On a motorcycle or scooter, know the front and rear brakes, throttle, indicators, horn and kill switch. Fumbling for a control while moving is a hazard.
Lights
Use headlights at night and in poor visibility. Dipped beam avoids dazzling oncoming traffic; main beam is for unlit roads with no oncoming vehicles. Indicators signal intention, not permission; cancel them after use. Brake lights warn following traffic; check they work. Hazard lights are for marking a stationary hazard, not for parking illegally.
Pre-drive checks
A simple routine: tyres (pressure and tread), lights and indicators, brakes, oil and coolant levels, mirrors and windscreen. On a scooter, check tyre pressure, brakes, lights and the stand before riding. A soft tyre or a failed brake light can turn a routine trip into a collision.
Maintenance and breakdowns
Keep tyres correctly inflated; under-inflation harms grip and fuel economy. Replace worn brake pads and check brake fluid. If a warning light appears, investigate rather than ignore it. If you break down, move off the carriageway, switch on hazard lights and place a warning triangle if you have one.
Traps in questions
- Indicators show intention; they do not give you the right to move.
- Main beam dazzles; dip it for oncoming traffic.
- Hazard lights do not make illegal parking legal.
Rule of thumb
If you would not trust a control in an emergency, practise it before you drive.