BTT chapter guide
BTT safe driving and hazards explained
27 BTT practice questions in this chapter · unofficial practice, not the official question bank
Safe-driving questions in the BTT are mostly about space and grip. You will be asked about the three-second following distance and how to count it, how stopping distance splits into thinking distance and braking distance, how much longer a wet road takes to stop on, and what to do when the steering goes light in heavy rain or the rear of the car starts to slide.
The chapter also covers sharing the road with cyclists and pedestrians, driving through heavy rain, floods, strong wind and loose road surfaces, and your own fitness to drive when you are tired or have been prescribed a new medicine. The numbers are few and easy to learn; the harder part is choosing the response that leaves you the most room.
Sample questions, explained
12 of the 27 questions in this chapter, with the reasoning behind each answer.
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1. Using the Traffic Police's rule of thumb, how much time gap should you keep behind the vehicle in front?
- AAt least 1 second
- BAt least 2 seconds
- CAt least 3 seconds (correct answer)
- DAt least 10 seconds
Why: Singapore now teaches a three-second rule, replacing the older two-second rule. When the car ahead passes a fixed point, you should not reach that point for at least three seconds.
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2. Compared with a dry road, roughly how far does a vehicle take to stop on a wet road?
- AAbout the same distance
- BAbout twice the distance (correct answer)
- CAbout half the distance
- DAbout ten times the distance
Why: Wet roads give the tyres less grip, so stopping distance can roughly double. Slow down and leave a bigger gap whenever it rains.
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3. Driving fast through heavy rain, your steering suddenly feels light as the tyres ride on a film of water. How should you regain control?
- AStamp hard on the brake
- BAccelerate to push through the water
- CTurn the steering wheel sharply
- DEase off and slow down with gentle on-off braking until the tyres grip again (correct answer)
Why: This is aquaplaning, and it takes away both steering and braking. Slow down gradually with intermittent braking; locking the wheels would make things worse.
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4. The rear of your car starts sliding sideways. What is the correct response?
- ATake your foot off the accelerator and steer in the direction of the skid, without braking (correct answer)
- BBrake hard and hold the steering straight
- CAccelerate and steer away from the skid
- DPull the handbrake
Why: In a rear-wheel skid, lift off the accelerator straight away and steer into the skid. Braking during the correction can make the skid worse.
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5. How should you check the blind spot before changing lanes?
- ALook in the interior mirror only
- BRely on your wing mirrors
- CTurn your head and look over your shoulder (correct answer)
- DWait for drivers behind to flash their lights
Why: Blind spots are the areas your mirrors cannot show. A quick look over the shoulder is the only reliable way to spot a motorcyclist or car there before you move across.
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6. At night, the headlights of an oncoming car dazzle you. What should you do?
- AFlash your high beam back at them
- BLook towards the left edge of the road, slow down, and stop if you can't see (correct answer)
- CClose your eyes briefly until the car passes
- DSpeed up to get past the glare quickly
Why: Shift your gaze to the left side of the road and use the road edge as a guide. If the glare is blinding, slow down and stop at the side.
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7. Where practicable, what minimum side gap should you leave when passing a cyclist?
- A1.5 metres (correct answer)
- B0.5 metres
- C1 metre
- D3 metres
Why: Give cyclists at least 1.5 metres, as you would another vehicle. If there isn't room, slow down and wait behind until it is safe to pass.
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8. A pedestrian is walking along a road with no footpath, with their back to traffic. What is the minimum gap to leave as you pass?
- A0.5 metres
- B1 metre
- C1.5 metres (correct answer)
- DNo minimum; just sound your horn
Why: Allow at least 1.5 metres for pedestrians facing away from you, because they cannot see you coming. For pedestrians facing the traffic, the minimum is 1 metre.
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9. You have just driven through a flooded stretch of road. What should you do next?
- ASpeed up to dry the tyres
- BPress the brake pedal gently several times to dry the brakes (correct answer)
- CSwitch off the engine and wait
- DNothing, because brakes are unaffected by water
Why: Wet brakes work poorly. Pump the brake pedal repeatedly until normal braking returns, and avoid driving through floods in the first place where you can.
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10. Where may e-scooters be ridden in Singapore?
- AOn roads, keeping to the left
- BOnly on cycling paths, not on footpaths or roads (correct answer)
- COn footpaths and roads
- DAnywhere, if the rider wears a helmet
Why: E-scooters are banned from roads and footpaths and may only use cycling paths. If you see one on the road, the rider is breaking the law, so give them plenty of room.
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11. You feel tired and drowsy before a drive. What should you do?
- ADrive faster to finish the trip sooner
- BOpen the window and turn up the music
- CDrink a strong coffee and set off straight away
- DNot drive until you have rested (correct answer)
Why: Tiredness and feeling unwell reduce concentration and slow your reactions. The official advice is simple: if you are tired, don't drive.
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12. As the car ahead passes a lamp post, you count to yourself: 'one-thousand-and-one, one-thousand-and-two, one-thousand-and-three'. You reach the lamp post before you finish. What does that mean?
- AYou are at exactly the right distance
- BYou are too far back and should close the gap
- CYou are following too closely and should slow down (correct answer)
- DThe car in front is speeding
Why: Counting those words takes about three seconds. Reaching the same point before you finish shows your gap is less than three seconds, so drop back.
Practise all 27 BTT safe driving & hazards questions
Unofficial practice questions written by coeprice.com. We are not affiliated with the Singapore Police Force, the LTA or any driving centre. Study the official handbook for your test.
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