Vehicle technology & safety checks
Tyres, brakes, warning lights, driver assistance, EVs
Before driving: a quick check
You are responsible for your vehicle being roadworthy (§ 23 StVO). A quick walk around pays off: tyres, lights, windows, mirrors and warning lights after starting. The practical exam also begins with a safety check – where you explain what you are checking.
Tyres
- Minimum tread 1.6 mm – recommended: summer 3 mm, winter 4 mm
- Check pressure cold, about every two weeks and before long trips
- With a load: increase pressure as per the table
- Too little pressure: vague handling, more fuel, tyre damage
- Bulges or cracks: replace the tyre immediately
- DOT code shows the age, e.g. 2423 = week 24 of 2023
- Tyre pressure monitoring (TPMS) warns of pressure loss
Brakes and ABS
ABS stops the wheels from locking – the car stays steerable. In an emergency stop: press the pedal fully and keep it pressed, the pulsing is normal, and steer around the obstacle. The brake servo only works with the engine running. Brake fluid absorbs water – change it as the manufacturer specifies.
Driver assistance systems
- ESP: brakes individual wheels to prevent skidding
- Emergency braking assist: detects obstacles and brakes itself
- Lane keeping assist: warns or steers when leaving the lane
- Adaptive cruise control (ACC): keeps distance to the car ahead
- All new cars since July 2024: e.g. emergency braking and speed assist
- Drowsiness warning: recommends a break
Assistance is not an autopilot
You always remain responsible – hands on the wheel, eyes on the road. Cameras and radar can fail in snow, rain, dirt or with poor road markings. Keep sensors clean and never rely blindly on the technology.
Warning lights: red or yellow?
Red
- Stop as soon as it is safe
- e.g. oil pressure, brake system
- e.g. coolant temperature, charging
- Don't just keep driving
Yellow
- Have it checked soon
- e.g. engine management, ABS, ESP
- e.g. tyre pressure
- Usually you can continue carefully
Checking the oil level
- Park on level ground, engine off, wait a few minutes
- Pull out the dipstick, wipe it, push it fully back in
- Pull it out again and read the level
- The oil level must be between min and max
- Top up with the right oil if needed – never above max
- Never open the coolant reservoir when the engine is hot
Jump‑starting
- Both engines off, check same voltage (12 V)
- Red cable: plus of the flat battery to plus of the good one
- Black cable: minus of the good battery
- … to bare metal in the dead car's engine bay, not its battery
- Start the donor car, then start the dead car
- Remove the cables in reverse order
Electric and hybrid cars
EVs are quiet – pedestrians can barely hear them. New ones therefore emit a warning sound up to about 20 km/h. When you lift off, they regenerate: the motor brakes and charges the battery. EVs accelerate strongly and are heavy. Never touch orange high‑voltage cables – and after a crash, tell rescuers it is an EV.
Red means stop
The red oil pressure light means: stop as soon as it is safe and switch off the engine. Yellow: have it checked soon.
This source question references an image or scene that is not yet supplied. Do not use it for scored practice.
While driving, the red oil pressure warning light comes on. What do you do?
- I stop as soon as it is safe and switch off the engine
- I drive on to the next garage
- I just drive a little slower
Check answer
I stop as soon as it is safe and switch off the engine
Without oil pressure, the engine can be badly damaged within a short time. Red warning lights mean: stop.
You need to make an emergency stop with ABS. What is correct?
- Press the brake pedal hard and keep it pressed
- The car remains steerable
- Brake in short repeated bursts (cadence braking)
Check answer
Press the brake pedal hard and keep it pressed
The car remains steerable
With ABS, brake fully and hold the pedal – the system prevents locking and you can steer around. Cadence braking lengthens the distance.