Motorway Driving: practice questions

Correct answer: Build up speed on the acceleration lane and merge into a safe gap

Use the acceleration lane to reach a speed close to the motorway traffic, then merge smoothly into a gap. Joining too slowly or stopping forces fast traffic to brake suddenly and is dangerous.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, joining a motorway (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: Keep to the right-hand lanes

Keep right except when overtaking, leaving the left lanes clear for passing. Hogging the left lane on a motorway blocks faster traffic and can be penalised.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, motorway lane discipline (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: True

The hard shoulder must stay clear so emergency vehicles and broken-down cars can use it. Driving or overtaking on it is a serious offence and blocks help from reaching incidents.

Reference: UAE Government portal — new traffic laws and fines, hard shoulder (https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/justice-safety-and-the-law/road-safety/new-traffic-laws-and-fines, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: Larger than on slower roads, because stopping takes longer

At motorway speeds you cover a lot of ground every second and need much more distance to stop. Keep a bigger gap (at least two seconds, more in poor conditions) so you can react safely.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, motorway distance (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: Move to the right in good time, signal and use the deceleration lane to slow

Plan ahead: move into the right-hand lane early, signal, and reduce your speed in the deceleration (exit) lane, not on the main carriageway. Last-second lane cuts and braking in live lanes cause crashes.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, leaving a motorway (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: True

Never stop, reverse or cross back for a missed exit on a motorway — it is extremely dangerous at speed. Carry on to the next exit and turn around there safely.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, missed exit on motorway (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: Get the car onto the hard shoulder and switch on hazard lights

Get fully onto the hard shoulder if you can, turn on hazard lights, and keep occupants away from the live lanes (out the side away from traffic). Then call for help; do not stand in or work on the car in a running lane.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, motorway breakdown (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: True

A car on the hard shoulder can be hit by passing traffic, so it is safer to wait away from it, behind a safety barrier if there is one, while you wait for recovery. Do not sit inside near live lanes if you can avoid it.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, waiting after breakdown (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: Lane status, variable speed limits, directions and warnings

Gantry signs give live information — which lanes are open or closed, reduced speed limits, exits and hazard warnings. Watch them and follow them, as they reflect conditions ahead you cannot yet see.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, gantry signs (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: That lane is closed ahead; move out of it safely

A red X means the lane is closed ahead, usually for a breakdown, crash or roadworks. Merge out of it in good time and never drive under a red X.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, red X lane closure (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: True

Motorways are for fast through traffic, so pedestrians, bicycles and vehicles that cannot keep up a safe speed are not permitted. If you see anyone on foot on a motorway, slow down and be ready to avoid them.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, who may use motorways (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: Constant high speed makes you feel slower than you are (speed adaptation)

After a long time at high speed your sense of speed adapts, so you feel slower than you really are and may creep over the limit or arrive too fast at an exit. Check the speedometer regularly to stay accurate.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, speed adaptation (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: True

Long, monotonous motorway driving makes drowsiness more likely. Plan stops to rest roughly every couple of hours, and if you feel sleepy, leave at a rest area and sleep before continuing.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, motorway fatigue (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: Ease off early and, if safe, briefly use hazard lights to warn those behind

Slow down smoothly as early as you can and watch your mirrors. Briefly flashing the hazard lights warns drivers behind that traffic is stopping ahead, helping prevent a high-speed rear-end pile-up.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, sudden slowdown (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: True

At motorway speeds a vehicle can be in your blind spot in seconds. Always check mirrors, signal, then look over your shoulder to the target lane before moving, and change only one lane at a time.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, motorway lane changes (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: Where safe, adjust speed or move over to let it merge smoothly

Help merging traffic blend in: where it is safe, ease off slightly or move to the next lane so they have room. Cooperative merging keeps the flow smooth and avoids sudden braking and conflicts.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, helping merging traffic (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: True

Going the wrong way, reversing or U-turning on a motorway creates a head-on crash risk at high speed. It is one of the most serious offences; always continue to the next exit instead.

Reference: UAE Government portal — new traffic laws and fines, wrong-way driving (https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/justice-safety-and-the-law/road-safety/new-traffic-laws-and-fines, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: Creates a big speed difference that others must react to

A slow car in a fast lane forces others to brake hard and pull around it, creating dangerous speed differences. Keep right unless overtaking, and match a safe, legal speed to the lane and the flow.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, slow driving in fast lanes (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: True

Motorway exits come up fast. Reading the advance direction signs lets you move into the right lane early and signal in time, avoiding a dangerous last-moment cut across lanes.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, advance signs (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: Higher speed means more energy in an impact and less time to react

At motorway speeds, an impact releases far more energy, and you have less time to see and react to a hazard. That is why keeping to the limit and a safe distance matters most on fast roads.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, speed and severity (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: True

People may be standing near a stopped vehicle or incident. Slow down and, where it is safe, move into the next lane to give them room, just as you would for emergency workers.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, passing incidents (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: Check fuel, tyres, fluids and that you are rested

A breakdown on a motorway is dangerous, so prevent it: start with enough fuel, check tyres, oil and coolant, and make sure you are well rested. Good preparation reduces the chance of stopping in a risky place.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, pre-trip checks (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: True

At motorway speed, stopping distances are long, so following too closely leaves no margin if the car ahead brakes. Keep a generous gap; a high-speed rear-end crash is often severe.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, tailgating on motorways (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: Hold the wheel firmly, ease off and steer gently to the shoulder

A blowout pulls the car to one side. Grip the wheel firmly, take your foot off the accelerator and let the car slow gradually, steering gently onto the hard shoulder. Hard braking can cause loss of control.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, tyre blowout (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)

Correct answer: Plan ahead, keep your distance, lane discipline and steady speed

Safe motorway driving comes down to looking far ahead, keeping a good gap, staying in lane and holding a steady legal speed, moving over only to overtake. Calm, predictable driving is the safest at high speed.

Reference: RTA — Driving Safely in Dubai handbook, motorway safety summary (https://licensing.rta.ae/handbook/DrivingSafelyInDubaiEN.pdf, verified 2026-06)