FTT Cheat Sheet

The essentials of the Final Theory of Driving handbook (2026) on two pages. The test: 50 questions in 50 minutes, pass with 45 correct.

Key numbers

3pedals in a manual car: clutch, brake, acceleratorp.5

>70 km/h5th gear ("overdrive") for cruisingp.8

3× speedlook ahead in metres: 150 m at 50 km/hp.25

76 mshortest stopping distance at 80 km/hp.70

2×stopping distance on a wet roadp.76

3 sminimum following gap, any speed; more in rainp.86

100 mhigh beam range: do not out-drive itp.79

80 mgblood alcohol limit per 100 mlp.75

0.5 / 1.5 mgap from fixed obstacles / moving vehiclesp.91

1 / 1.5 mgap from pedestrians facing you / with backs to youp.96

1 fistmax space between chest and a non-retractable beltp.21

45°parallel parking: straighten up, reverse straightp.67

20 mwarning triangle behind an expressway breakdownp.103

6 pointsand a fine for driving on the road shoulderp.102

18most penalty points to still pass the driving testp.108

2 yrsto pass the practical test after the FTTBTT p.4

Pedals, gears and handbrake

Typical 5-speed gear lever, with Neutral in the middle; where reverse sits varies by car.

Accelerator: the most sensitive pedal. Ball of the right foot, heel on the floor. p.10
Brake: all 4 wheels; brake firmly, then ease off. Heel off the floor. Handbrake: rear wheels only. p.9-11
Clutch down: engine power cut from the gearbox. Rest the left foot on the floor, not on the clutch. p.11-12
Gears: 1st moving off, 2nd steep slopes, 3rd gentle slopes and bends, 5th above 70 km/h. Lower gear = more power, less speed. p.7-8
Automatic: P, R, N, D; start in P with the handbrake on. L holds a low gear; kick-down for quick acceleration. p.13-15

Warning lights and gauges

Brake light stays on	after the handbrake is off: brake fluid low
Oil pressure light	stays on after starting: oil low. While driving: stop safely
Battery light	stays on: charging system faulty
Temperature in the red	engine overheating: stop, let it cool
Both indicators flash	hazard lights are on
Tachometer / odometer	engine rpm / total distance (trip meter resets)

Ignition ON: brake, oil and battery lights come on; oil and battery go off once the engine runs. p.18-20

Moving off, changing gear, stopping

Before starting: Neutral (P in an automatic), handbrake on. Seat, seat belt, then mirrors. p.15, 21-25
Biting point: engine revs drop slightly; hold half-clutch. Not for long: it wears the clutch. p.25, 60
Engine vibrates: too little accelerator or clutch over-released. Jumps: too much accelerator or sudden clutch. Stalls: too little accelerator or clutch released too fast. p.27
Changing up: clutch down and ease off the accelerator, change, release the clutch smoothly. Eyes on the road. p.29
Stopping: brake first, clutch just before the engine vibrates. Too early: free-wheeling. Too late: stall. p.27
Engine braking: off the accelerator in gear; stronger in lower gears; cancelled by the clutch. Use it down long slopes to stop brake fade. p.32-33

Slopes, bends and parking

Stopping on a slope: press the brake harder; handbrake on before releasing the brake. Stalled uphill? Brake, handbrake, Neutral, restart. p.60-61
Steep hill: change down to 2nd or 1st before the climb. Short steep descent: 1st gear plus footbrake. p.33, 82
Bends: brake before, not in the bend; accelerate as the wheels straighten. Right bend: keep left; left bend: near the centre line. p.35-36
Park facing uphill: wheels outward, 1st gear. Downhill: wheels inward, reverse gear. Handbrake fully on. p.84
Parallel parking: stop 0.5-1 m from the kerb. Vertical lot on the left: half a car length ahead, 1.5 m from the kerb. p.64-67
Reversing: steer the way you want to go; it reacts less than forward. Never reverse onto a main road. p.6-7, 66

Driving in traffic

Changing lanes: mirrors, signal (3 s), blind spot; hardest to judge is traffic behind you. p.37
Large vehicles: keep well back. A lorry signalling left may swing right first: let it turn. p.100
Cyclists looking back may change direction; motorcyclists are fast and hard to see: let them pass before pulling out. p.97-98
Junctions: amber with room to stop, stop. Green but the road ahead is jammed: wait. Turning left: give way to crossing pedestrians. p.45-47
Overtaking: one vehicle at a time; not near junctions, bends or crossings. Move back when you see it in your mirror. Being overtaken: slow down. p.53-59
Centrifugal force pushes you out on bends and grows with speed: slow down before the bend. p.80

Expressways

Join: signal on the slip road and match the traffic speed. Lanes: left slower, centre most traffic, right only to overtake. p.101-102
No learners, bicycles, mobile cranes or excavators. No picking up or dropping off. Missed exit: carry on. p.101-102
Breakdown: hazard lights, onto the shoulder, everyone behind the guardrail, warning triangle 20 m or more behind. p.103

Weather, night and skids

Aquaplaning: tyres glide on water, no steering or braking. Slow down by braking on and off. p.77
Wheels locked on a wet road: release the brake, then brake on and off. Rear skid: off the accelerator, steer into the skid. p.76, 79
Floods: low gear through passable water, pump the brakes after. Unsure of the depth (at night especially): take another route. p.77
Night: slower; dip for oncoming traffic and when following. Dazzled: look left, slow down or stop. p.78-79

Emergencies and accidents

Footbrake fails	hazard lights, handbrake, change down to 2nd, stop at the side
Accelerator stuck	lift it with your toe; else hazard lights, stop, ignition off
Tyre blow-out	grip firmly, steer against the pull, brake gently
Overheating	stop safely; open the radiator only when cool
Windscreen shatters	stop at the side, clear the glass with a cloth
Loose wheel	wobbles with noise, heavy steering: stop and tighten
Accident	always stop. Injury: police and ambulance. None: settle it, tell your insurer

p.103-107

The driving test

Two parts: circuit skills, then a road test. A serious mistake fails at once; 20 penalty points fails. p.108
Not allowed to take it with 13 or more demerit points. Bring your valid PDL. p.108
Learners may never drive in public car parks, government hospital grounds or listed parks. p.109

Page numbers refer to the Final Theory of Driving handbook (2026), free from the Traffic Police Online Learning Portal.
Practise questions, mock tests and flash cards at www.sgdriving.net

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