Expressway Driving
41 practice questions for the BTT, FTT & RTT
Expressway questions are mostly a Final Theory Test topic, because they test judgement at speed rather than simple rule recall. Learner drivers are not allowed on expressways at all, so the theory test is where you prove you understand them before your first solo drive on the PIE or CTE.
Expect questions on building up speed on the slip road before merging, keeping left unless overtaking, what the road shoulder may and may not be used for, and what to do if you miss your exit. Breakdown procedure is a favourite: hazard lights, get off the carriageway, a warning triangle at least 20 metres behind, and passengers waiting behind the guardrail.
Singapore's long road tunnels, including the KPE, MCE and the CTE tunnels, have their own rules. You must not overtake inside them, and you must obey the overhead lane signs, where a green arrow means go, a flashing amber cross means caution and a red cross means the lane is closed. Learn the emergency steps too: if you cannot drive on, switch off, leave the car and walk to the nearest exit.
Expressway Driving quiz
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. Read the official BTT handbook › Read the official FTT handbook › Read the official RTT handbook ›
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All expressway driving questions and answers
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What speed limits apply on most of Singapore's expressways?
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80 or 90 km/h
Most expressways are signposted at 80 or 90 km/h. Always keep to the posted limit or your vehicle's own limit, whichever is lower.
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Which speed limits apply on the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE)?
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70 or 80 km/h
The KPE, much of which runs underground, has a 70 or 80 km/h limit. Its tunnels also use variable speed signs, and a limit shown inside a red ring must be obeyed.
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Which of these is NOT permitted to use an expressway?
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A car being driven by a learner driver
Learner drivers are on the list of prohibited expressway users, along with bicycles, e-bikes, trishaws, motorcycles with sidecars and slow construction vehicles. Pedestrians are also banned.
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Vehicles whose own speed limit is 60 km/h or less must use which lane of an expressway?
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The left-hand lane
Slower vehicles such as lorries limited to 60 km/h must stay in the left lane, so faster traffic can pass safely on the right.
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When may you stop on the shoulder of an expressway?
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Only in a breakdown, accident or emergency
The shoulder is for emergencies only. Driving along it, or stopping on it without a breakdown, accident or emergency, are offences that carry demerit points.
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Your car breaks down on an expressway. Where should you place the warning triangle?
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At least 20 metres behind the vehicle
Put the breakdown triangle at least 20 metres behind your vehicle so approaching drivers have time to react. Switch on your hazard lights too, even in daylight.
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After pulling onto the shoulder with a breakdown, where should you and your passengers wait for help?
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Behind the guardrail, well away from the carriageway
Everyone should get clear of traffic and wait behind the impact guardrail until the recovery vehicle arrives. Never step out into the expressway lanes.
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You realise you have just driven past your expressway exit. What should you do?
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Continue to the next exit
Never reverse or make sudden moves on an expressway. Unnecessary reversing there is itself a demerit-point offence, so just carry on to the next exit.
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What is the correct way to join an expressway?
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Signal on the slip road and build up to the speed of expressway traffic so you can merge smoothly
Signal once you are on the slip road and use it to match the speed of traffic already on the expressway. Merging at a similar speed is far safer than squeezing in slowly.
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An electronic expressway sign warns of an obstruction in 'Lane 1'. Which lane is that?
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The right-most (fast) lane
On EMAS signs, lanes are numbered upwards from the fast lane to the slow lane, and the shoulder is not counted. So Lane 1 is the right-most lane.
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Which of these is prohibited inside a road tunnel such as the MCE or KPE, even when traffic is light?
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Overtaking
Overtaking, tailgating, speeding, sounding your horn except in an emergency, and changing a tyre are all banned in tunnels. You should turn your headlights and radio on before entering.
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Inside a tunnel, an overhead lane-use sign above your lane shows a red cross. What does it mean?
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The lane is closed and you must not continue past the sign in it
Tunnel lane signs work like traffic lights for each lane. A green down-arrow means the lane is open, a flashing amber cross means caution, and a red cross means the lane is closed.
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A flashing amber cross appears on the lane-use sign over your lane in a tunnel. What should you do?
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Slow down and be ready to change lanes, because there may be an obstruction ahead
A flashing amber cross means the lane is still open but something may be blocking it further on. Reduce speed and prepare to move into another lane.
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There is a fire in the tunnel ahead and traffic cannot move. What should you do?
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Switch off the engine, leave the car and walk to the nearest emergency exit
If you cannot drive on, do not try to reverse. Turn off the engine, get out, and head to the nearest marked exit or escape staircase, listening to the radio for instructions.
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Your exit is coming up on the expressway. How should you prepare to leave?
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Plan the exit early, signal left and move into the left inner lane
Leaving an expressway calls for early planning: signal left and get into the left inner lane well before the exit, so following traffic is not surprised.
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You have moved onto the deceleration lane of an expressway exit. What should you do now?
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Slow down to a speed that suits the road you are about to join
The deceleration lane is where you shed speed, so that you arrive on the slower road you are joining at a safe speed.
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In normal traffic on an expressway, how should you drive?
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At a steady speed close to the speed limit (or your vehicle's own limit), keeping a safe following distance
Expressways are built for smooth, unimpeded flow. A steady speed near the limit, with a safe gap ahead, fits that flow without holding anyone up.
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On an expressway, when should you drive in the right outermost lane?
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Only to overtake, then move back to an inner lane once it is safe
The right outermost lane is meant for overtaking and for emergency vehicles. Staying in it after overtaking blocks faster traffic and emergency vehicles.
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A slow vehicle stays in the centre lane of an expressway instead of keeping left. What danger does this create?
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Faster vehicles may overtake it dangerously on the left
Slower vehicles should keep left. Hogging the centre lanes slows the traffic flow and tempts faster drivers to overtake on the left, which is dangerous.
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Traffic on the expressway has slowed to a crawl. May you drive along the road shoulder to reach the next exit?
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No, driving on the expressway road shoulder is an offence
The road shoulder is kept clear for breakdowns, accidents and emergencies. Driving along it is an offence, however slow the traffic is.
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A passenger asks you to drop them off on the expressway, close to their home. What should you do?
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Refuse, and drop them off only after you have left the expressway
You must not let down or pick up passengers anywhere on an expressway, including the shoulder. Wait until you have left it.
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Which of these may NOT be ridden or driven on an expressway?
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An electric bicycle (e-bike)
E-bikes are on the list of vehicles banned from expressways because they cannot keep up with the fast traffic flow.
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Your car breaks down while you are driving on an expressway. What should you do first?
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Switch on the hazard lights and, if you can, move off the carriageway onto the road shoulder
Hazard lights warn traffic behind, and getting onto the shoulder takes the car out of the fast-moving lanes. Then keep everyone clear of the carriageway.
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Where would you see an EMAS Travel Time Display, and what does it show?
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At entrances leading to expressways, showing estimated travel times to selected exits
Travel Time Displays sit where you enter an expressway. They estimate how long it will take to reach selected exits, and can also carry incident messages.
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On an EMAS Travel Time Display, the time to an exit is shown in green. What does that tell you?
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The journey is taking no more than about 50% longer than normal
The colours grade the delay: green is up to 50% longer than normal, yellow is a bigger delay, and red is the worst.
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A large EMAS Traffic Information Display on the expressway shows a flashing red bar. What does it mean?
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A road closure lies ahead
On a Traffic Information Display, a flashing red bar draws attention to a closure ahead, so you can plan to leave or take another route.
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On an EMAS Traffic Information Display, what does a red cross show?
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Where an incident is, relative to the expressway exits or roads named on the display
A red cross on these displays marks the location of a problem, referenced to the exits or road names shown, so you can react in good time.
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An EMAS sign shows the 'Must Exit' symbol. What should you do?
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Leave the expressway, because it is closed ahead
'Must Exit' means the expressway is closed further on, so every vehicle has to leave it.
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An EMAS sign warns 'Exit Closed Ahead'. What does it mean for you?
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The exit ahead is shut, so use another exit
This symbol refers only to an exit. The expressway stays open, but you will need to leave by an alternative exit.
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An EMAS sign shows a Lane Reduction symbol warning of an obstruction in one lane. What should you do?
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Slow down, drive carefully and be ready to change lane if needed
The sign gives you early warning that a lane is blocked further on, so you can slow down and move out of that lane safely if you are in it.
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On EMAS signs, what does the abbreviation 'SH' stand for?
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Shoulder
EMAS signs use short forms such as LN (lane), BEF (before), AFT (after) and VEH (vehicle). 'SH' refers to the road shoulder.
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An EMAS sign on the expressway shows an ambulance symbol. What should you do?
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Look out for the ambulance and give way to it
The ambulance symbol warns that one is on the way. Watch for it in your mirrors and make room for it to pass.
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Why is it a good habit to tune in to an FM radio channel before driving into a road tunnel?
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So the tunnel control centre can break in with instructions during an emergency
The tunnel Operations Control Centre can break into radio broadcasts to tell motorists what to do in an emergency, which only helps if your radio is on.
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Where are the emergency (SOS) telephones in expressway tunnels such as the MCE and KPE?
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Next to the slow lane, roughly every 100 metres
Emergency phones line the slow-lane side of the tunnel at about 100 m intervals and connect you to the tunnel Operations Control Centre.
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In the MCE, KPE and CTE tunnels, where do the cross-passage doors next to the fast lanes lead?
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Into the tunnel carrying traffic in the opposite direction
Cross-passage doors beside the fast lanes link to the opposite-bound tunnel, giving another escape route. Doors beside the slow lanes lead to escape staircases.
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You have a minor collision in a road tunnel. No one is hurt and both cars can still be driven. What should you do?
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Drive out of the tunnel and sort out the details somewhere safe, such as a car park
When there is no injury or serious damage, the advice is to drive out of the tunnel and settle the details at a safe place such as a public car park, rather than stopping inside.
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You are approaching a road tunnel when an emergency is announced inside it. What should you do?
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Do not enter, watch the variable message signs, and take an alternative road
If you have not yet entered, stay out. The variable message signs will give information, and another route will get you to your destination.
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One of your tyres goes flat while you are driving through the CTE tunnel. What should you do?
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Switch on the hazard lights, stop on the shoulder if possible, and call for help using the SOS phone or LTA's hotline
Changing a tyre or repairing a vehicle in a tunnel is not allowed. Get your car out of the traffic lanes if you can, then call for help.
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Which of these vehicles is NOT allowed into Singapore's road tunnels?
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A vehicle that does not have enough fuel in its tank
The tunnel rules bar vehicles that are not carrying sufficient fuel, because a car that runs dry would stall inside the tunnel.
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Orange signs warn that a lane ahead is closed for road works and traffic is queuing. What should you do?
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Get into the correct lane in good time and stay in the queue
In a work zone, get into the correct lane in good time and stay in the queue. Switching lanes to overtake queuing traffic, or driving through an area marked off by cones or barriers, is not allowed.
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A work zone has a temporary speed limit sign lower than the road's normal limit. Which statement is correct?
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You must not exceed the temporary limit
You must not exceed a temporary maximum speed limit posted at a work zone; it is there for your safety while the road layout is changed.
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