RTT hazards and safe riding explained

Sample questions, explained

12 of the 24 questions in this chapter, with the reasoning behind each answer.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 3. 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.

4. 4. 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.

5. 5. 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.

6. 6. 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.

7. 7. A long lorry ahead is signalling left but first swings slightly to the right. What should you do?

   • APass it on the left while there is a gap
   • BSound your horn and overtake on the right
   • CClose up behind it to stop other cars cutting in
   • DHang back and don't try to pass on the side it is turning towards (correct answer)✓

   Why: Long vehicles often need to swing out the opposite way before turning. Stay back and give them room; trying to pass on the turning side can leave you trapped against the kerb.

8. 8. According to the official guidance, how far ahead should you be looking while driving?

   • AJust past the bonnet
   • BOnly as far as the vehicle in front
   • CAt least three times your speed: in metres for each km/h, for example 150 m at 50 km/h (correct answer)✓
   • DA fixed 20 metres at any speed

   Why: Looking further ahead gives you time to spot hazards. The FTT handbook suggests scanning at least three times your speed in km/h, measured in metres.

9. 9. 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.

10. 10. 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.

11. 11. Does the three-second following-distance rule change with the type of vehicle or your speed?

    • AYes, cars need only two seconds below 50 km/h
    • BYes, it applies only on expressways
    • CNo, it applies to all types of vehicles at any speed (correct answer)✓
    • DYes, it applies only to heavy vehicles

    Why: Because the gap is measured in time, it grows on its own as speed rises. The official guidance applies it to every vehicle at every speed.

12. 12. The rain is so heavy that you cannot see the road clearly. What should you do?

    • ADrive on at the same speed, following the tail lights in front
    • BMove to a safe spot, stop at the side of the road with hazard lights on, and wait until it clears (correct answer)✓
    • CSwitch to high beam and keep going
    • DStop in your lane until the rain eases

    Why: Never drive further than you can see clearly. If visibility is too poor, pull over safely with your hazard lights on and continue when conditions improve.

Keep going

• All 43 safe driving & hazards questions (BTT, FTT & RTT) ›
• BTT safe driving and hazards explained ›
• FTT hazard perception and safe driving explained ›
• Riding Theory Test (RTT) practice by chapter, with the RTT mock test ›