Car ‘Show Me, Tell Me’ Safety Questions – Explained Simply
When you take your driving test, the examiner will ask you two vehicle safety questions to check your knowledge and confidence with basic car controls:
- A “Tell Me” question — asked before you start driving. You’ll need to explain how you’d carry out a safety check.
- A “Show Me” question — asked while driving. You’ll need to physically demonstrate a safety task.
If you answer them incorrectly, you’ll only get a minor fault, but if your driving becomes unsafe while showing a task, you could fail the test.
Examples of “Tell Me” Questions
These are asked before driving and only require an explanation:
- How to check brakes before a journey.
- Where to find the recommended tyre pressures and how to check them.
- How to adjust the head restraint for maximum safety.
- How to make sure tyres have the correct tread depth and are safe.
- How to check headlights, tail lights, indicators, and brake lights.
- How to know if the anti-lock braking system isn’t working.
- How to check engine oil, coolant, and brake fluid levels under the bonnet.
Examples of “Show Me” Questions
These are asked while driving and require a demonstration when it’s safe to do so:
- Show how to wash and clean the windscreen (front or rear).
- Demonstrate turning on dipped headlights or rear fog lights.
- Show how to set the demister for the front or rear screen.
- Demonstrate how to use the horn safely.
- Show how to open or close the side window.
At Glow Driving School, we make sure you practice all these questions during your lessons so you feel fully prepared and confident on test day. Understanding these tasks isn’t just about passing the exam — it’s about keeping yourself and others safe on the road.
