Driving test “tell me” questions
Millions of motorists cannot complete basic car safety checks or pass the “show me tell me” part of the new, tougher, practical driving test that launched December 4th 2017, the Automobile Association revealed - but can you? The 2017 AA Populus Poll confirmed that 4% of motorists cannot open the bonnet, for example.
The practical test exposes such limitations as the “tell me” section requires you to answer 1 of 14 questions. Among other things, you might have to explain how to open the car’s bonnet then check it has enough brake fluid. The survey proved this is beyond 38% of motorists. The complete list of “tell me” questions follows:
- “Tell me how you’d check that the brakes are working before starting a journey
- Tell me where you’d find the information for the recommended tyre pressures for this car and how tyre pressures should be checked
- Tell me how you make sure your head restraint is correctly adjusted so it provides the best protection in the event of a crash
- Tell me how you’d check the tyres to ensure that they have sufficient tread depth and that their general condition is safe to use on the road
- Tell me how you’d check that the headlights and tail lights are working.
- Tell me how you’d know if there was a problem with your anti-lock braking system
- Tell me how you’d check the direction indicators are working
- Tell me how you’d check the brake lights are working on this car
- Tell me how you’d check the power-assisted steering is working before starting a journey
- Tell me how you’d switch on the rear fog light(s) and explain when you’d use it/them
- Tell me how you switch your headlight from dipped to main beam and explain how you’d know the main beam is on
- Open the bonnet and tell me how you’d check that the engine has sufficient oil
- Open the bonnet and tell me how you’d check that the engine has sufficient coolant
- Open the bonnet and tell me how you’d check that you have a safe level of hydraulic brake fluid”
Driving test “show me” questions
The “show me” section of the practical test requires you to demonstrate 1 of 7 skills. How to clean the windscreen while in motion, for example. Naturally the car requires washer fluid beforehand, but the poll showed 5% of drivers do not know how to fill the reservoir. A complete list of “show me” questions follows:
- “When it’s safe to do so, can you show me how you wash and clean the rear windscreen?
- When it’s safe to do so, can you show me how you wash and clean the front windscreen?
- When it’s safe to do so, can you show me how you’d switch on your dipped headlights?
- When it’s safe to do so, can you show me how you’d set the rear demister?
- When it’s safe to do so, can you show me how you’d operate the horn?
- When it’s safe to do so, can you show me how you’d demist the front windscreen?
- When it’s safe to do so, can you show me how you’d open and close the side window?”
AA survey results and comment
AA Garage Guide Director, Olli Astley, said: “Nowadays, people don’t want to get their hands dirty and aren’t confident carrying out basic safety checks – even those that are required by the driving test.” The following table reveals further survey findings.
| Task | Percentage of motorists unsure how to complete task |
| Change engine oil and filter | 68% |
| Confirm power steering works | 53% |
| Check level of brake fluid | 38% |
| Fit the spare wheel | 35% |
| Top-up cooling system | 26% |
| Change windscreen wiper blade | 26% |
| Check level of coolant/antifreeze | 22% |
| Check tyre tread depth | 21% |
| Top-up engine oil | 16% |
| Check tyre pressures | 9% |
| Check level of engine oil | 8% |
| Top-up windscreen washer fluid | 5% |
| Open the bonnet | 4% |