How good a driver are you? He also believes that the driving test should be much more rigorous, covering more driving on country roads, dual carriageways and motorways, and that drivers should be incentivised to take an advanced driving course. Lyon has prepared 20 tough questions based on his extensive knowledge. Questions: According to the Transport Research Laboratory, what is the primary cause of crashes when overtaking? How can you check if you have missed a safe opportunity to pass? What offence is committed by resting your arm on the doorframe? Apart from excessive speed, what is the suspension component that may cause the car to understeer on a dry road? On modern automatic transmissions, electronics will synchronise engine speed when changing down. Even with a torque converter, what component in the transmission is potentially damaged if you do not synchronise engine, gear and road speed? What must you do to avoid this? With an automatic transmission, should you stay in Drive in all road conditions? What does the term "tyre trade-off" mean? The "limit point" is not moving. What does that indicate? What is meant by proactive steering technique? What gearchanging technique will help you to match engine speed when you change down? Which paragraph in The Highway Code deals with advice relating to the warning line painted in the centre of the road? What does it say? When skidding, would you apply ABS anti-lock braking? If a front-wheel-drive car oversteers, would you accelerate rather thantake your foot off the throttle? Name the three road users you can pass across a solid central marking line. What maximum speed must they be travelling when you must not pass and cross the line? What are the three warning sounds of a car horn? With a centre button, which hand would you use to sound the horn? Would you sound the horn before taking other precautions? Define the proper use of speed in any given situation. Define anticipation in relation to driving. Define concentration in terms of its impact on your driving. Define the quality of a driving commentary in terms of desired outcome. Answers: Passing on the approach to a blind entrance or junction on the right hand side of a two-way road. Look in the mirror at the time and place where you would have completed a safe overtake. Road Vehicles (construction and use) Regulation 1986, being under proper control. The Highway Code advice is rule 160. The front anti-roll bar might affect understeer. Excessive friction to the brake bands that change the gear ratios at high engine speed, causing them to overheat and potentially fail. Use light pressure on the accelerator, after manually using the gear selector. You would use a manual overdrive a) To maintain your position in a safe following distance in a traffic stream; b) To vary road speed with acceleration (and gearbox) through a series of bends, or to negotiate a roundabout, for example; c) To overtake more than one vehicle in a traffic stream and fit in safely with the best car control, without unnecessary braking; d) Prior to descending a steep hill, before the warning sign reading "low gear now." You can alter the grip of the tyres front to rear, by altering the pitch (tip and tilt) front to rear, to load and grow a tyre contact patch, to give greater grip, and conversely, reduce grip, with skilful and delicate use of acceleration and braking. The skill can trade off the grip of tyres, one against the other. An acute, sharp blind bend. Do not accelerate while the sight line is the same length. You are thinking in advance, in anticipation, and you know the steering requirements. You prepare your hand high first, corresponding to the anticipated turn of the wheel, passing the wheel through alternate hands, making large sweeps before changing grip. The objective is to have your hands on the wheel at a quarter to three when in a danger zone or hazardous area, so that you have something in reserve, to deal with an emergency and avoid the airbag. Double declutching. Match engine speed to gear and road speed, to avoid mechanical stress and skidding. Rule 127: "When this line lengthens and the gaps shorten it means that there is a hazard ahead. Do not cross it unless you can see the road is clear and wish to overtake or turn off. Yes, instantly, along with other systems such as pre-safe system (PSS) and electronic stability control (ESC). Yes, lightly, while keeping the front wheels pointing where you wish to go. The Highway Code paragraph 129: "You may cross the line if necessary, provided the road is clear to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10mph or less." Tap, medium warning or long continuous note. Use your left hand, to hold the steering steady, with your thumb on the horn button. Mirror, signal (if necessary) four seconds before you select your road position or course, brake early (once) to a safe appropriate speed. Separately select the correct gear, only then give one warning note with time to react. Give an acknowledgement courtesy signal, with the left hand. If the courtesy signal is too late, so is the driving plan. To give you and others plenty of time to react in the ever-changing road scene. To be able to foresee what you reasonably expect is most likely to occur. The complete application of the mind to the exclusion of anything irrelevant. It is not the quantity, or content; it is the correct assessment of the value of what you see and your judgment to take the appropriate action in good time. This involves basing your judgment not only on what you can see, but also what you cannot yet see but reasonably expect might occur. 15-20: Outstanding. You show excellent knowledge of car mechanicals, driving skills and awareness, but remember that there's no room for complacency. 10-15: Well done. You are likely to have reasonable competence and confidence behind the wheel but greater knowledge and anticipation is required. 5-10: Poor knowledge of the rules of the road and the finer points of car control. You might think you're good, but the test doesn't lie. 0-5: Take an advanced driving course immediately. Advanced Driving by John Lyon (Haynes Publishing) is available from Telegraph Books for £16.99 (plus £1.25 p&p).