UK Driving Theory Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

When a vehicle in front of you performs a brake check—suddenly applying their brakes to force you to slow down—or if their brake lights activate unexpectedly, the best response is to keep a safe distance to avoid a collision. This approach allows you to assess the situation without getting too close to the vehicle in front, which could lead to an accident.

Maintaining distance provides you with the necessary time and space to react appropriately. In scenarios where the driver in front is behaving erratically, like performing a brake check, keeping a safe distance helps prevent a rear-end collision, which is a common consequence of not allowing enough stopping space.

While braking immediately might seem like a logical first step, doing so could create a chain reaction if the vehicles behind you are not prepared. Similarly, maintaining your speed might mean you don't have adequate time to stop if the situation escalates. Honking your horn may alert the other driver, but it doesn't address the immediate need for safety and distance. Hence, maintaining a safe distance is the most prudent strategy in such scenarios.