Key numbers for the car theory test
The figures the test loves to ask about, on one page: stopping distances, speed limits, gaps and legal limits.
Stopping distances (typical, dry road)
| 20 mph | 12 m (40 ft) |
|---|---|
| 30 mph | 23 m (75 ft): 9 m thinking + 14 m braking |
| 40 mph | 36 m (118 ft) |
| 50 mph | 53 m (175 ft) |
| 60 mph | 73 m (240 ft) |
| 70 mph | 96 m (315 ft): 21 m thinking + 75 m braking |
| Wet road | At least double: leave a 4-second gap |
| Icy road | Up to 10 times longer |
Speed limits for cars
| Built-up area | 30 mph (20 mph default in Wales) |
|---|---|
| Single carriageway | 60 mph |
| Dual carriageway | 70 mph |
| Motorway | 70 mph |
| Towing: single carriageway | 50 mph |
| Towing: dual carriageway or motorway | 60 mph |
| Passing a horse | No more than 10 mph |
| Mobility scooters | Class 2: 4 mph; class 3: 8 mph on the road |
Gaps and distances
| Following gap, dry | At least 2 seconds |
|---|---|
| Overtaking a cyclist up to 30 mph | At least 1.5 m |
| Passing a horse or a pedestrian in the road | At least 2 m |
| Parking near a junction | Not within 10 m |
| Warning triangle | At least 45 m behind (never on a motorway) |
| Eyesight check | Read a number plate at 20 m |
| Fog lights | When you can see less than 100 m |
| Motorway countdown markers | Each bar is about 100 yards |
The law
| Tyre tread | At least 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters |
|---|---|
| Drink-drive limit (England, Wales, NI) | 80 mg per 100 ml of blood; 35 µg per 100 ml of breath |
| Drink-drive limit (Scotland) | 50 mg per 100 ml of blood; 22 µg per 100 ml of breath |
| New drivers | Licence revoked at 6 points within 2 years of passing |
| Everyone | 12 points in 3 years usually means a ban |
| Supervising a learner | Aged 21+, with a full licence for 3 years |
| Theory test pass | Valid for 2 years |
| First MOT | When the car is 3 years old |
| Photocard licence | Renew every 10 years |
| Child restraints | Until 12 years old or 135 cm tall |
| Horn in built-up areas | Not between 11.30 pm and 7 am |
| Reporting a collision | To the police within 24 hours, if you couldn't exchange details |
| Car licence towing | Trailers up to 3,500 kg |
Breaks and first aid
| Long journeys | A break of at least 15 minutes every 2 hours |
|---|---|
| CPR | 100 to 120 compressions a minute, 5 to 6 cm deep |
| Burns | Cool with water for at least 10 minutes |
Motorway studs
| Red | Left edge of the carriageway |
|---|---|
| Amber | Next to the central reservation |
| Green | Slip roads and lay-bys |
| Green/yellow | Roadworks and contraflows |