The Official Highway Code - 14-09-2021
The Official Highway Code - 14-09-2021
www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk
Updated14/09/2021
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Contents
Introduction 3
Rulesforpedestrians(1to35)
5
Rulesforusersofpoweredwheelchairsandmobilityscooters(36to46) 19
Rulesaboutanimals(47to58) 23
Rulesforcyclists(59to82) 28
Rulesformotorcyclists(83to88) 38
Rulesfordriversandmotorcyclists(89to102) 44
Generalrules,techniquesandadviceforalldriversandriders(103to158) 59
Usingtheroad(159to203) 84
Roadusersrequiringextracare(204to225) 110
Drivinginadverseweatherconditions(226to237) 119
Waitingandparking(238to252) 125
Motorways(253to273) 132
Breakdownsandincidents(274to287) 140
Roadworks,levelcrossingsandtramways(288to307) 147
Directionsignsonroadsandmotorways 155
Informationsigns 155
Lightsignalscontrollingtraffic 15 5
Roadmarkings 15 5
Roadsignsgivingorders 156
Roadworkssigns 15 6
Signalsbyauthorisedpersons 15 6
Signalstootherroadusers 15 6
Trafficsigns 157
Knowyourtrafficsigns 15 7
Vehiclemarkings 15 7
Warningsignsontheroad 15 7
Annexes 158
Rulesforcyclists 15 8
Rulesformotorcyclists 160
Rulesfordriversandmotorcyclists 163
Usingtheroad 168
Penalties 171
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Vehiclemaintenance,safetyandsecurity 178
Firstaidontheroad 183
Safetycodefornewdrivers 186
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Introduction
ThisHighwayCodeappliestoEngland,ScotlandandWales.TheHighway
Codeisessentialreadingforeveryone.
Themostvulnerableroadusersarepedestrians,particularlychildren,
olderordisabledpeople,cyclists,motorcyclistsandhorseriders.Itis
importantthatallroadusersareawareofTheHighwayCodeandare
consideratetowardseachother.Thisappliestopedestriansasmuchasto
driversandriders.ManyoftherulesinTheHighwayCodearelegal
requirements,andifyoudisobeytheserulesyouarecommittinga
criminaloffence.Youmaybefined,givenpenaltypointsonyourlicenceor
bedisqualifiedfromdriving.Inthemostseriouscasesyoumaybesentto
prison.Suchrulesareidentifiedbytheuseofthewords ‘MUST/MUST
NOT’.Inaddition,theruleincludesanabbreviatedreferencetothe
legislationwhichcreatestheoffence.Seean explanationofthe
abbreviations.
AlthoughfailuretocomplywiththeotherrulesofTheHighwayCodewill
not,initself,causeapersontobeprosecuted,TheHighwayCodemaybe
usedinevidenceinanycourtproceedingsundertheTrafficActsto
establishliability.Thisincludesruleswhichuseadvisorywordingsuchas
‘should/shouldnot’or‘do/donot’.Knowingandapplyingtherules
containedinTheHighwayCodecouldsignificantlyreduceroadcasualties.
Cuttingthenumberofdeathsandinjuriesthatoccuronourroadsevery
dayisaresponsibilityweallshare.TheHighwayCodecanhelpus
dischargethatresponsibility.Furtherinformationondriving/riding
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techniquescanbefoundin‘ TheOfficialDSAGuidetoDriving–the
essentialskills’and‘ TheOfficialDSAGuidetoRiding–theessentialskills’.
ReadTheHighwayCodeOnline
DownloadTheHighwayCodeAudiobook
DownloadTheHighwayCodeApplication
TryfreeTheoryTest
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Rulesf orp
edestrians
1.Generalguidance
1. Pavements (includinganypathalongthesideofaroad)shouldbe
usedifprovided.Wherepossible,avoidbeingnexttothekerbwith
yourbacktothetraffic.Ifyouhavetostepintotheroad,lookboth
waysfirst.Alwaysshowduecareandconsiderationforothers.
2. Ifthereisnopavement, keeptotheright-handsideoftheroadso
thatyoucanseeoncomingtraffic.Youshouldtakeextracareand
● bepreparedtowalkinsinglefile,especiallyonnarrowroads
orinpoorlight
● keepclosetothesideoftheroad.
Itmaybesafertocrosstheroadwellbeforeasharpright-hand
bendsothatoncomingtraffichasabetterchanceofseeingyou.
Crossbackafterthebend.
3. Helpotherroaduserstoseeyou. Wearorcarrysomething
light-coloured,brightorfluorescentinpoordaylightconditions.
Whenitisdark,usereflectivematerials(e.g.armbands,sashes,
waistcoats,jackets,footwear),whichcanbeseenbydriversusing
headlightsuptothreetimesasfarawayasnon-reflective
materials.
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4. Youngchildren shouldnotbeoutaloneonthepavementorroad
(seeR ule7) .Whentakingchildrenout,keepbetweenthemand
thetrafficandholdtheirhandsfirmly.Strapveryyoungchildren
intopush-chairsorusereins.Whenpushingayoungchildina
buggy,donotpushthebuggyintotheroadwhencheckingtoseeif
itiscleartocross,particularlyfrombetweenparkedvehicles.
5. Organisedwalks. Largegroupsofpeoplewalkingtogethershould
useapavementifavailable;ifoneisnot,theyshouldkeeptothe
left.Look-outsshouldbepositionedatthefrontandbackofthe
group,andtheyshouldwearfluorescentclothesindaylightand
reflectiveclothesinthedark.Atnight,thelook-outinfrontshould
showawhitelightandtheoneatthebackaredlight.Peopleon
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theoutsideoflargegroupsshouldalsocarrylightsandwear
reflectiveclothing.
6. Motorways. Pedestrians MUSTNOT beonmotorwaysorsliproads
exceptinanemergency(see Rule271 and Rule275).
LawsRTRAsect17,MT(E&W)R1982asamended,reg15(1)(b)&
MT(S)Rreg13
2.Crossingtheroad
7. TheGreenCrossCode. Theadvicegivenbelowoncrossingthe
roadisforallpedestrians.ChildrenshouldbetaughttheCodeand
shouldnotbeallowedoutaloneuntiltheycanunderstandanduse
itproperly.Theagewhentheycandothisisdifferentforeach
child.Manychildrencannotjudgehowfastvehiclesaregoingor
howfarawaytheyare.Childrenlearnbyexample,soparentsand
carersshouldalwaysusetheCodeinfullwhenoutwiththeir
children.Theyareresponsiblefordecidingatwhatagechildren
canuseitsafelybythemselves.
A. Firstfindasafeplacetocross andwherethereisspaceto
reachthepavementontheotherside.Wherethereisa
crossingnearby,useit.Itissafertocrossusingasubway,a
footbridge,anisland,azebra,pelican,toucanorpuffin
crossing,orwherethereisacrossingpointcontrolledbya
policeofficer,aschoolcrossingpatroloratrafficwarden.
Otherwisechooseaplacewhereyoucanseeclearlyinall
directions.Trytoavoidcrossingbetweenparkedcars
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(see Rule14),onablindbend,orclosetothebrowofahill.
Movetoaspacewheredriversandriderscanseeyouclearly.
Donotcrosstheroaddiagonally.
B. Stopjustbeforeyougettothekerb, whereyoucanseeif
anythingiscoming.Donotgettooclosetothetraffic.If
there’snopavement,keepbackfromtheedgeoftheroad
butmakesureyoucanstillseeapproachingtraffic.
C. Lookallaroundfortrafficandlisten. Trafficcouldcomefrom
anydirection.Listenaswell,becauseyoucansometimeshear
trafficbeforeyouseeit.
D. Iftrafficiscoming,letitpass. Lookallaroundagainand
listen.Donotcrossuntilthereisasafegapinthetrafficand
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youarecertainthatthereisplentyoftime.Remember,even
iftrafficisalongwayoff,itmaybeapproachingveryquickly.
E. Whenitissafe,gostraightacrosstheroad–donot
run. Keeplookingandlisteningfortrafficwhileyoucross,in
casethereisanytrafficyoudidnotsee,orincaseother
trafficappearssuddenly.Lookoutforcyclistsand
motorcycliststravellingbetweenlanesoftraffic.Donotwalk
diagonallyacrosstheroad.
8. Atajunction. Whencrossingtheroad,lookoutfortrafficturning
intotheroad,especiallyfrombehindyou.Ifyouhavestarted
crossingandtrafficwantstoturnintotheroad,youhavepriority
andtheyshouldgiveway(see Rule170).
9. PedestrianSafetyBarriers. Wheretherearebarriers,crossthe
roadonlyatthegapsprovidedforpedestrians.Donotclimbover
thebarriersorwalkbetweenthemandtheroad.
10. Tactilepaving. Raisedsurfacesthatcanbefeltunderfootprovide
warningandguidancetoblindorpartiallysightedpeople.The
mostcommonsurfacesareaseriesofraisedstuds,whichareused
atcrossingpointswithadroppedkerb,oraseriesofrounded
raisedbarswhichareusedatlevelcrossings,atthetopandbottom
ofstepsandatsomeotherhazards.
11. One-waystreets. Checkwhichwaythetrafficismoving.Donot
crossuntilitissafetodosowithoutstopping.Busandcyclelanes
mayoperateintheoppositedirectiontotherestofthetraffic.
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12. Busandcyclelanes. Takecarewhencrossingtheselanesastraffic
maybemovingfasterthanintheotherlanes,oragainsttheflowof
traffic.
13. Routessharedwithcyclists. Somecycletracksrunalongside
footpathsorpavements,usingasegregatingfeaturetoseparate
cyclistsfrompeopleonfoot.Segregatedroutesmayalso
incorporateshortlengthsoftactilepavingtohelpvisuallyimpaired
peoplestayonthecorrectside.Onthepedestriansidethiswill
compriseaseriesofflat-toppedbarsrunningacrossthedirection
oftravel(ladderpattern).Onthecyclistsidethesamebarsare
orientatedinthedirectionoftravel(tramlinepattern).Notall
routeswhicharesharedwithcyclistsaresegregated.Takeextra
carewherethisisso(see Rule62).
14. Parkedvehicles. Ifyouhavetocrossbetweenparkedvehicles,use
theoutsideedgesofthevehiclesasiftheywerethekerb.Stop
thereandmakesureyoucanseeallaroundandthatthetrafficcan
seeyou.Makesurethereisagapbetweenanyparkedvehicleson
theotherside,soyoucanreachthepavement.Nevercrossthe
roadinfrontof,orbehind,anyvehiclewithitsenginerunning,
especiallyalargevehicle,asthedrivermaynotbeabletoseeyou.
15. Reversingvehicles. Nevercrossbehindavehiclewhichisreversing,
showingwhitereversinglightsorsoundingawarning.
16. Movingvehicles. You MUSTNOT getontoorholdontoamoving
vehicle.
LawRTA1988sect26
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17. Atnight. Wearsomethingreflectivetomakeiteasierforothersto
seeyou(see Rule3) .Ifthereisnopedestriancrossingnearby,cross
theroadnearastreetlightsothattrafficcanseeyoumoreeasily.
3.Crossings
18. Atallcrossings. Whenusinganytypeofcrossingyoushould
● alwayscheckthatthetraffichasstoppedbeforeyoustartto
crossorpushapramontoacrossing
● alwayscrossbetweenthestudsoroverthezebramarkings.
Donotcrossatthesideofthecrossingoronthezig-zag
lines,asitcanbedangerous.
You MUSTNOT loiteronanytypeofcrossing.
LawsZPPPCRGDreg19&RTRAsect25(5)
19. Zebracrossings. Givetrafficplentyoftimetoseeyouandtostop
beforeyoustarttocross.Vehicleswillneedmoretimewhenthe
roadisslippery.Waituntiltraffichasstoppedfrombothdirections
ortheroadisclearbeforecrossing.Rememberthattrafficdoesnot
havetostopuntilsomeonehasmovedontothecrossing.Keep
lookingbothways,andlistening,incaseadriverorriderhasnot
seenyouandattemptstoovertakeavehiclethathasstopped.
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20. Wherethereisanislandinthemiddleofazebracrossing,waiton
theislandandfollowRule19beforeyoucrossthesecondhalfof
theroad–itisaseparatecrossing.
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21. Attrafficlights. Theremaybespecialsignalsforpedestrians.You
shouldonlystarttocrosstheroadwhenthegreenfigureshows.If
youhavestartedtocrosstheroadandthegreenfiguregoesout,
youshouldstillhavetimetoreachtheotherside,butdonotdelay.
Ifnopedestriansignalshavebeenprovided,watchcarefullyanddo
notcrossuntilthetrafficlightsareredandthetraffichasstopped.
Keeplookingandcheckfortrafficthatmaybeturningthecorner.
Rememberthattrafficlightsmaylettrafficmoveinsomelanes
whiletrafficinotherlaneshasstopped.
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*Atp
elicanc rossingso
nly
22. Pelicancrossings. Thesearesignal-controlledcrossingsoperated
bypedestrians.Pushthecontrolbuttontoactivatethetraffic
signals.Whentheredfigureshows,donotcross.Whenasteady
greenfigureshows,checkthetraffichasstoppedthencrosswith
care.Whenthegreenfigurebeginstoflashyoushouldnotstartto
cross.Ifyouhavealreadystartedyoushouldhavetimetofinish
crossingsafely.
23. Puffincrossings differfrompelicancrossingsastheredandgreen
figuresareabovethecontrolboxonyoursideoftheroadand
thereisnoflashinggreenfigurephase.Pressthebuttonandwait
forthegreenfiguretoshow.
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24. Whentheroadiscongested,trafficonyoursideoftheroadmay
beforcedtostopeventhoughtheirlightsaregreen.Trafficmay
stillbemovingontheothersideoftheroad,sopressthebutton
andwaitforthesignaltocross.
25. Toucancrossings arelight-controlledcrossingswhichallowcyclists
andpedestrianstosharecrossingspaceandcrossatthesame
time.Theyarepush-buttonoperated.Pedestriansandcyclistswill
seethegreensignaltogether.Cyclistsarepermittedtorideacross.
26. Atsomecrossingsthereisableepingsoundorvoicesignalto
indicatetoblindorpartiallysightedpeoplewhenthesteadygreen
figureisshowing,andtheremaybeatactilesignaltohelp
deafblindpeople.
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27. Equestriancrossings areforhorseriders.Theyhavepavement
barriers,widercrossingspaces,horseandriderfiguresinthelight
panelsandeithertwosetsofcontrols(onehigher),orjustone
highercontrolpanel.
Thereisoftenaparallelcrossing.
28. ‘Staggered’pelicanorpuffincrossings. Whenthecrossingsoneach
sideofthecentralrefugearenotinlinetheyaretwoseparatecrossings.
Onreachingthecentralisland,pressthebuttonagainandwaitfora
steadygreenfigure.
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Rule28:Staggeredcrossings(withanislandinthemiddle)aretwo
separateCrossings
29. Crossingscontrolledbyanauthorisedperson. Donotcrossthe
roadunlessyouaresignalledtodosobyapoliceofficer,traffic
wardenorschoolcrossingpatrol.Alwayscrossinfrontofthem.
30. Wheretherearenocontrolledcrossingpointsavailableitis
advisabletocrosswherethereisanislandinthemiddleofthe
road.UsetheGreenCrossCode(see Rule7) tocrosstotheisland
andthenstopanduseitagaintocrossthesecondhalfoftheroad.
4.Situationsneedingextracare
31. Emergencyvehicles. Ifanambulance,fireengine,policeorother
emergencyvehicleapproachesusingflashingbluelights,headlights
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and/orsirens,keepofftheroad.
32. Buses. Getonoroffabusonlywhenithasstoppedtoallowyouto
doso.Watchoutforcyclistswhenyouaregettingoff.Nevercross
theroaddirectlybehindorinfrontofabus.Waituntilithas
movedoffandyoucanseeclearlyinbothdirections.
33. Tramways. Thesemayrunthroughpedestrianareas.Theirpath
willbemarkedoutbyshallowkerbs,changesinthepavingorother
roadsurface,whitelinesoryellowdots.Crossatdesignated
crossingswhereprovided.Elsewheretreattramsasyouwould
otherroadvehiclesandlookbothwaysalongthetrackbefore
crossing.Donotwalkalongthetrackastramsmaycomeupbehind
you.Tramsmovequietlyandcannotsteertoavoidyou.
34. Railwaylevelcrossings. You MUSTNOT crossorpassastopline
whentheredlightsshow,(includingaredpedestrianfigure).Also
donotcrossifanalarmissoundingorthebarriersarebeing
lowered.Thetoneofthealarmmaychangeifanothertrainis
approaching.Iftherearenolights,alarmsorbarriers,stop,look
bothwaysandlistenbeforecrossing.Atactilesurfacecomprising
roundedbarsrunningacrossthedirectionofpedestriantravelmay
beinstalledonthefootpathapproachingalevelcrossingtowarn
visuallyimpairedpeopleofitspresence.Thetactilesurfaceshould
extendacrossthefullwidthofthefootwayandshouldbelocated
atanappropriatedistancefromthebarrierorprojectedlineofthe
barrier.
LawTSRGD,reg52
35. Streetandpavementrepairs. Apavementmaybeclosed
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temporarilybecauseitisnotsafetouse.Takeextracareifyouare
directedtowalkinortocrosstheroad.
Rulesf oru
serso
fp
owered
wheelchairsa ndm obility
scooters
1.Poweredwheelchairsand
mobilityscooters
36. Thereisoneclassofmanualwheelchair(calledaClass1invalid
carriage)andtwoclassesofpoweredwheelchairsandpowered
mobilityscooters.ManualwheelchairsandClass2vehiclesare
thosewithanupperspeedlimitof4mph(6km/h)andare
designedtobeusedonpavements.Class3vehiclesarethosewith
anupperspeedlimitof8mph(12km/h)andareequippedtobe
usedontheroadaswellasthepavement.
37. Whenyouareontheroadyoushouldobeytheguidanceandrules
forothervehicles;whenonthepavementyoushouldfollowthe
guidanceandrulesforpedestrians.
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2.Onpavements
38. Pavementsaresaferthanroadsandshouldbeusedwhen
available.Youshouldgivepedestrianspriorityandshow
considerationforotherpavementusers,particularlythosewitha
hearingorvisualimpairmentwhomaynotbeawarethatyouare
there.
40. Whenmovingoffthepavementontotheroad,youshouldtake
specialcare.Beforemovingoff,alwayslookroundandmakesure
it’ssafetojointhetraffic.Alwaystrytousedroppedkerbswhen
movingoffthepavement,evenifthismeanstravellingfurtherto
locateone.Ifyouhavetoclimbordescendakerb,alwaysapproach
itatrightanglesanddon’ttrytonegotiateakerbhigherthanthe
vehiclemanufacturer’srecommendations.
3.Ontheroad
41. Youshouldtakecarewhentravellingontheroadasyoumaybe
travellingmoreslowlythanothertraffic(yourmachineisrestricted
to8mph(12km/h)andmaybelessvisible).
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42. Whenontheroad,Class3vehiclesshouldtravelinthedirectionof
thetraffic.Class2usersshouldalwaysusethepavementwhenitis
available.Whenthereisnopavement,youshouldusecaution
whenontheroad.Class2usersshould,wherepossible,travelin
thedirectionofthetraffic.Ifyouaretravellingatnightwhen
lights M
UST b eused,youshouldtravelinthedirectionofthe
traffictoavoidconfusingotherroadusers.
LawUICHR1988reg9
43. You M
UST f ollowthesamerulesaboutusinglights,indicatorsand
hornsasforotherroadvehicles,ifyourvehicleisfittedwiththem.
Atnight,lights M
UST b
eused.Beawarethatotherroadusersmay
notseeyouandyoushouldmakeyourselfmorevisible-evenin
thedaytimeandalsoatdusk-by,forinstance,wearingareflective
jacketorreflectivestripsonthebackofthevehicle.
LawUICHR1988reg9
44. Takeextracareatroadjunctions.Whengoingstraightahead,check
tomakesuretherearenovehiclesabouttocrossyourpathfrom
theleft,theright,orovertakingyouandturningleft.Thereare
severaloptionsfordealingwithrightturns,especiallyturningfrom
amajorroad.Ifmovingintothemiddleoftheroadisdifficultor
dangerous,youcan-stopontheleft-handsideoftheroadand
waitforasafegapinthetraffic-negotiatetheturnasa
pedestrian,i.e.travelalongthepavementandcrosstheroad
betweenpavementswhereitissafetodoso.Class3usersshould
switchthevehicletothelowerspeedlimitwhenonpavements.
Ifthejunctionistoohazardous,itmaybeworthconsideringan
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alternativeroute.Similarly,whennegotiatingmajorroundabouts
(i.e.withtwoormorelanes)itmaybesaferforyoutousethe
pavementorfindaroutewhichavoidstheroundaboutaltogether.
45. Allnormalparkingrestrictionsshouldbeobserved.Yourvehicle
shouldnotbeleftunattendedifitcausesanobstructiontoother
pedestrians-especiallythoseinwheelchairs.Parkingconcessions
providedundertheBlueBadgescheme(see F urtherReadingand
Conversions)willapplytothosevehiclesdisplayingavalidbadge.
46. Thesevehicles M
USTNOT b eusedonmotorways(see R ule253).
Theyshouldnotbeusedonunrestricteddualcarriagewayswhere
thespeedlimitexceeds50mph(80km/h)butiftheyareusedon
thesedualcarriageways,they M UST h
aveaflashingamberbeacon.
Aflashingamberbeaconshouldbeusedonallotherdual
carriageways(see R ule220).
LawsRTRAsect17(2)&(3),&RVLRreg17(1)&26
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2.Horseriders
49. Safetyequipment.Childrenundertheageof14 M UST w
eara
helmetwhichcomplieswiththeRegulations.ItMUSTbefastened
securely.Otherridersshouldalsofollowtheserequirements.These
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requirementsdonotapplytoachildwhoisafolloweroftheSikh
religionwhilewearingaturban.
LawsH(PHYR)Act1990,sect1&H(PHYR)Regulations1992,reg3
51. Atnight. Itissafernottorideontheroadatnightorinpoor
visibility,butifyoudo,makesureyouwearreflectiveclothingand
yourhorsehasreflectivebandsabovethefetlockjoints.Alight
whichshowswhitetothefrontandredtotherearshouldbe
fitted,withaband,totherider’srightarmand/orleg/ridingboot.
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Ifyouareleadingahorseatnight,carryalightinyourrighthand,
showingwhitetothefrontandredtotherear,andwearreflective
clothingonbothyouandyourhorse.Itisstronglyrecommended
thatafluorescent/reflectivetailguardisalsowornbyyourhorse.
Riding
52. Beforeyoutakeahorseontoaroad,youshould
● ensurealltackfitswellandisingoodcondition
● makesureyoucancontrolthehorse.
Alwaysridewithother,lessnervoushorsesifyouthinkthatyour
horsewillbenervousoftraffic.Neverrideahorsewithoutbotha
saddleandbridle.
53. Beforeridingofforturning,lookbehindyoutomakesureitissafe,
thengiveacleararmsignal.
Whenridingontheroadyoushould
● keeptotheleft
● keepbothhandsonthereinsunlessyouaresignalling
● keepbothfeetinthestirrups
● notcarryanotherperson
● notcarryanythingwhichmightaffectyourbalanceorget
tangledupwiththereins
● keepahorseyouareleadingtoyourleft
● moveinthedirectionofthetrafficflowinaone-waystreet
● Neverridemorethantwoabreast,andrideinsinglefileon
narroworbusyroadsandwhenridingroundbends.
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54. You MUSTNOT takeahorseontoafootpathorpavement,andyou
shouldnottakeahorseontoacycletrack.Useabridlewaywhere
possible.Equestriancrossingsmaybeprovidedforhorseridersto
crosstheroadandyoushouldusethesewhereavailable(see
Crossings).Youshoulddismountatlevelcrossingswherea‘horse
riderdismount’signisdisplayed.
LawsHA1835sect72,R(S)A1984,sect129(5)
55. Avoidroundaboutswhereverpossible.Ifyouusethemyoushould
-keeptotheleftandwatchoutforvehiclescrossingyourpathto
leaveorjointheroundabout-signalrightwhenridingacrossexits
toshowyouarenotleaving-signalleftjustbeforeyouleavethe
roundabout.
3.Otheranimals
56. Dogs. Donotletadogoutontheroadonitsown.Keepitona
shortleadwhenwalkingonthepavement,roadorpathshared
withcyclistsorhorseriders.
57. Wheninavehiclemakesuredogsorotheranimalsaresuitably
restrainedsotheycannotdistractyouwhileyouaredrivingor
injureyou,orthemselves,ifyoustopquickly.Aseatbeltharness,
petcarrier,dogcageordogguardarewaysofrestraininganimals
incars.
58. Animalsbeingherded. Theseshouldbekeptundercontrolatall
times.Youshould,ifpossible,sendanotherpersonalongtheroad
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infronttowarnotherroadusers,especiallyatabendorthebrow
ofahill.Itissafernottomoveanimalsafterdark,butifyoudo,
thenwearreflectiveclothingandensurethatlightsarecarried
(whiteatthefrontandredattherearoftheherd).
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59. Clothing. Youshouldwear
● acyclehelmetwhichconformstocurrentregulations,isthe
correctsizeandsecurelyfastened
● appropriateclothesforcycling.Avoidclotheswhichmayget
tangledinthechain,orinawheelormayobscureyourlights
● light-colouredorfluorescentclothingwhichhelpsotherroad
userstoseeyouindaylightandpoorlight
● reflectiveclothingand/oraccessories(belt,armorankle
bands)inthedark.
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60. Atnight yourcycle MUST havewhitefrontandredrearlightslit.It
MUST alsobefittedwitharedrearreflector(andamberpedal
reflectors,ifmanufacturedafter1/10/85).Whitefrontreflectors
andspokereflectorswillalsohelpyoutobeseen.Flashinglights
arepermittedbutitisrecommendedthatcyclistswhoareridingin
areaswithoutstreetlightinguseasteadyfrontlamp.
LawRVLRregs13,18&24
61. CycleRoutesandOtherFacilities. Usecycleroutes,advancedstop
lines,cycleboxesandtoucancrossingsunlessatthetimeitis
unsafetodoso.Useofthesefacilitiesisnotcompulsoryandwill
dependonyourexperienceandskills,buttheycanmakeyour
journeysafer.
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62. CycleTracks. Thesearenormallylocatedawayfromtheroad,but
mayoccasionallybefoundalongsidefootpathsorpavements.
Cyclistsandpedestriansmaybesegregatedortheymaysharethe
samespace(unsegregated).Whenusingsegregatedtracks
you MUST keeptothesideintendedforcyclistsasthepedestrian
sideremainsapavementorfootpath.Takecarewhenpassing
pedestrians,especiallychildren,olderordisabledpeople,and
allowthemplentyofroom.Alwaysbepreparedtoslowdownand
stopifnecessary.Takecarenearroadjunctionsasyoumayhave
difficultyseeingotherroadusers,whomightnotnoticeyou.
LawHA1835sect72
63. CycleLanes. Thesearemarkedbyawhiteline(whichmaybe
broken)alongthecarriageway(see Rule140).Keepwithinthelane
whenpracticable.Whenleavingacyclelanecheckbeforepulling
outthatitissafetodosoandsignalyourintentionclearlytoother
roadusers.Useofcyclelanesisnotcompulsoryandwilldependon
yourexperienceandskills,buttheycanmakeyourjourneysafer.
64. You MUSTNOT cycleonapavement.
LawsHA1835sect72&R(S)A1984,sect129
65. BusLanes. Mostbuslanesmaybeusedbycyclistsasindicatedon
signs.Watchoutforpeoplegettingonoroffabus.Beverycareful
whenovertakingabusorleavingabuslaneasyouwillbeentering
abusiertrafficflow.Donotpassbetweenthekerbandabuswhen
itisatastop.
66. Youshould
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● keepbothhandsonthehandlebarsexceptwhensignalling
orchanginggear
● keepbothfeetonthepedals
● neverridemorethantwoabreast,andrideinsinglefileon
narroworbusyroadsandwhenridingroundbends
● notrideclosebehindanothervehicle
● notcarryanythingwhichwillaffectyourbalanceormayget
tangledupwithyourwheelsorchain
● beconsiderateofotherroadusers,particularlyblindand
partiallysightedpedestrians.Letthemknowyouarethere
whennecessary,forexample,byringingyourbellifyouhave
one.Itisrecommendedthatabellbefitted.
67. Youshould
● lookallaroundbeforemovingawayfromthekerb,turning
ormanoeuvring,tomakesureitissafetodoso.Giveaclear
signaltoshowotherroaduserswhatyouintendtodo
(download‘Signalstootherroadusers’)
● Lookwellaheadforobstructionsintheroad,suchasdrains,
pot-holesandparkedvehiclessothatyoudonothaveto
swervesuddenlytoavoidthem.Leaveplentyofroomwhen
passingparkedvehiclesandwatchoutfordoorsbeing
openedorpedestrianssteppingintoyourpath
● beawareoftrafficcomingupbehindyou
● takeextracarenearroadhumps,narrowingsandother
trafficcalmingfeatures
● Takecarewhenovertaking(see R ules162to169).
68. You MUSTNOT
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● carryapassengerunlessyourcyclehasbeenbuiltor
adaptedtocarryone
● holdontoamovingvehicleortrailer
● rideinadangerous,carelessorinconsideratemanner
● ridewhenundertheinfluenceofdrinkordrugs,including
medicine.
LawRTA1988sects24,26,28,29&30asamendedbyRTA1991
69. You MUST obeyalltrafficsignsandtrafficlightsignals.
LawsRTA1988sect36&TSRGDreg10(1)
70. Whenparkingyourcycle
● findaconspicuouslocationwhereitcanbeseenby
passers-by
● usecyclestandsorothercycleparkingfacilitieswherever
possible
● donotleaveitwhereitwouldcauseanobstructionor
hazardtootherroadusers
● secureitwellsothatitwillnotfalloverandbecomean
obstructionorhazard.
71. You MUSTNOT crossthestoplinewhenthetrafficlightsarered.
Somejunctionshaveanadvancedstoplinetoenableyoutowait
andpositionyourselfaheadofothertraffic(see Rule178).
LawsRTA1988sect36&TSRGDregs10&36(1)
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2.Roadjunctions
72. Ontheleft. Whenapproachingajunctionontheleft,watchoutfor
vehiclesturninginfrontofyou,outoforintothesideroad.Just
beforeyouturn,checkforundertakingcyclistsormotorcyclists.Do
notrideontheinsideofvehiclessignallingorslowingdowntoturn
left.
73. Payparticularattentiontolongvehicleswhichneedalotofroom
tomanoeuvreatcorners.Beawarethatdriversmaynotseeyou.
Theymayhavetomoveovertotherightbeforeturningleft.Wait
untiltheyhavecompletedthemanoeuvrebecausetherearwheels
comeveryclosetothekerbwhileturning.Donotbetemptedto
rideinthespacebetweenthemandthekerb.
74. Ontheright. Ifyouareturningright,checkthetraffictoensureit
issafe,thensignalandmovetothecentreoftheroad.Waituntil
thereisasafegapintheoncomingtrafficandgiveafinallook
beforecompletingtheturn.Itmaybesafertowaitontheleftuntil
thereisasafegaportodismountandpushyourcycleacrossthe
road.
75. Dualcarriageways. Rememberthattrafficonmostdual
carriagewaysmovesquickly.Whencrossingwaitforasafegapand
crosseachcarriagewayinturn.Takeextracarewhencrossingslip
roads.
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3.Roundabouts
76. Fulldetailsaboutthecorrectprocedureatroundaboutsare
containedin(see Rules184to190).Roundaboutscanbe
hazardousandshouldbeapproachedwithcare.
77. Youmayfeelsaferwalkingyourcycleroundonthepavementor
verge.Ifyoudecidetorideroundkeepingtotheleft-handlaneyou
should
● beawarethatdriversmaynoteasilyseeyou
● takeextracarewhencyclingacrossexits.Youmayneedto
signalrighttoshowyouarenotleavingtheroundabout
● watchoutforvehiclescrossingyourpathtoleaveorjointhe
roundabout.
78. Giveplentyofroomtolongvehiclesontheroundaboutasthey
needmorespacetomanoeuvre.Donotrideinthespacethey
needtogetroundtheroundabout.Itmaybesafertowaituntil
theyhaveclearedtheroundabout.
4.Crossingtheroad
79. Donotrideacrossequestriancrossings,astheyareforhorseriders
only.Donotrideacrossapelican,puffinorzebracrossing.
Dismountandwheelyourcycleacross.
80. Toucancrossings. Thesearelight-controlledcrossingswhichallow
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cyclistsandpedestrianstosharecrossingspaceandcrossatthe
sametime.Theyarepush-buttonoperated.Pedestriansand
cyclistswillseethegreensignaltogether.Cyclistsarepermittedto
rideacross.
81. Cycle-onlycrossings. Cycletracksonoppositesidesoftheroad
maybelinkedbysignalledcrossings.Youmayrideacrossbut
you MUSTNOT crossuntilthegreencyclesymbolisshowing.
LawTSRGDregs33(2)&36(1)
82. Levelcrossings/Tramways. Takeextracarewhencrossingthe
tracks(see Rule306).Youshoulddismountatlevelcrossingswhere
a‘cyclistdismount’signisdisplayed.
5.Youandyourbicycle
Makesurethatyoufeelconfidentofyourabilitytoridesafely
ontheroad.Besurethat
● youchoosetherightsizeandtypeofcycleforcomfortand
safety
● lightsandreflectorsarekeptcleanandingoodworking
order
● tyresareingoodconditionandinflatedtothepressure
shownonthetyre
● gearsareworkingcorrectly
● thechainisproperlyadjustedandoiled
● thesaddleandhandlebarsareadjustedtothecorrect
height.
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● Itisrecommendedthatyoufitabelltoyourcycle.
You MUST
● ensureyourbrakesareefficient
● atnight,uselitfrontandrearlightsandhavearedrear
reflector.
LawsPCURregs6&10&RVLRreg18
Cycletrainingcanhelpbothchildrenandadults,especiallythoseadults
returningtocyclingtodeveloptheskillsneededtocyclesafelyontoday’s
roads.Anewnationalcycletrainingstandardhasbeendevelopedwhich
theGovernmentispromotingandmakingfundingavailablefordeliveryin
schools.
Allcyclistsshouldconsiderthebenefitsofundertakingcycletraining.For
information,contactyourlocalauthority.
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Rulesf orm
otorcyclists
1.Generalguidance
TheseRulesareinadditiontothoseinthefollowingsectionswhichapply
toallvehicles.See Motorcyclelicencerequirements).
83. Onalljourneys,theriderandpillionpassengeronamotorcycle,
scooterormoped MUST wearaprotectivehelmet.Thisdoesnot
applytoafolloweroftheSikhreligionwhilewearingaturban.
Helmets MUSTc omplywiththeRegulationsandthey MUST be
fastenedsecurely.Ridersandpassengersofmotortricyclesand
quadricycles,alsocalledquadbikes,shouldalsowearaprotective
helmet.Beforeeachjourneycheckthatyourhelmetvisorisclean
andingoodcondition.
LawsRTA1988sects16&17&MC(PH)Rasamendedreg4
84. Itisalsoadvisabletoweareyeprotectors,which MUST comply
withtheRegulations.Scratchedorpoorlyfittingeyeprotectorscan
limityourviewwhenriding,particularlyinbrightsunshineandthe
hoursofdarkness.Considerwearingearprotection.Strongboots,
glovesandsuitableclothingmayhelptoprotectyouifyouare
involvedinacollision.
LawsRTAsect18&MC(EP)Rasamendedreg4
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85. You MUSTNOT carrymorethanonepillionpassenger
who MUST sitastridethemachineonaproperseat.Theyshould
faceforwardwithbothfeetonthefootrests.You MUSTNOT carry
apillionpassengerunlessyourmotorcycleisdesignedtodoso.
Provisionallicenceholders MUSTNOT carryapillionpassenger.
LawsRTA1988sect23,MV(DL)R1999reg16(6)&CUR1986reg
102
86. Daylightriding. Makeyourselfasvisibleaspossiblefromtheside
aswellasthefrontandrear.Youcouldwearalightorbrightly
colouredhelmetandfluorescentclothingorstrips.Dipped
headlights,eveningooddaylight,mayalsomakeyoumore
conspicuous.However,beawarethatothervehicledriversmaystill
nothaveseenyou,orjudgedyourdistanceorspeedcorrectly,
especiallyatjunctions.
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87. Ridinginthedark. Wearreflectiveclothingorstripstoimprove
yourvisibilityinthedark.Thesereflectlightfromtheheadlampsof
othervehicles,makingyouvisiblefromalongerdistance.See Rules
113–116f orlightingrequirements.
88. Manoeuvring. Youshouldbeawareofwhatisbehindandtothe
sidesbeforemanoeuvring.Lookbehindyou;usemirrorsiftheyare
fitted.Whenintrafficqueueslookoutforpedestrianscrossing
betweenvehiclesandvehiclesemergingfromjunctionsor
changinglanes.Positionyourselfsothatdriversinfrontcansee
youintheirmirrors.Additionally,whenfilteringinslow-moving
traffic,takecareandkeepyourspeedlow.
Remember:Observation–Signal–Manoeuvre.
2.Motorcyclelicencerequirements
Ifyouhaveaprovisionalmotorcyclelicence,you MUST satisfactorily
completeaCompulsoryBasicTraining(CBT)course.Youcanthenridea
motorcycleupto125ccwithapoweroutputnotexceeding11kWonthe
publicroad,withLplates(inWaleseitherDplates,Lplatesorbothcanbe
used),foruptotwoyears.Underdirectaccessyoucanpractiseona
motorcyclethatexceeds125ccprovidedthat:
● youmeettheminimumageforthecategoryconcerned
● you’reaccompaniedatalltimesbyaqualifiedapproved
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trainer,whoisonanothermotorcycleandinradiocontact
withyou
● fluorescentorreflectivesafetyclothingiswornduring
supervision
● redLplates(DplatesinWales)arefittedandprovisional
licencerestrictionsfollowed.
Toobtainyourfullmotorcyclelicenceyou MUST passamotorcyclet heory
testandthenapracticaltest.
LawMV(DL)Rregs16&68
A1motorcyclelicence: Atage17orover,youtakeatestonamotorcycle
withoutsidecarofbetween120and125cc.Ifyoupassyoumayridea
motorcycleupto125ccwithpoweroutputupto11kW,oramotor
tricyclewithpowernotexceeding15kW.
A2motorcyclelicence: Atage19orover,youtakeatestonamotorcycle
withoutsidecarofatleast395ccwithapoweroutputofatleast25kW
butnotexceeding35kW.Ifyoupass,youmayrideanymotorcyclenot
exceeding35kWandwithapowertoweightrationotexceeding0.2
kW/kg.
FullAmotorcyclelicence: Testtakenonamotorcyclewithoutsidecar,of
atleast595ccandanenginepowerofatleast40kW.Thisgivesyoufull
accesstoallmotorcyclesandmotortricycles.YouobtainacategoryA
licencebytakingprogressiveaccessfromage21,orunderthedirect
accessschemefromage24.
CategoryAunderprogressiveaccess: YoucantakeacategoryApractical
testatage21ifyoualreadyhaveanA2licencethatyou’veheldfora
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minimumoftwoyears.Youdon’tneedtotakeanothertheorytestorhold
aCBTcertificate.
CategoryAunderdirectaccess: Thisisforridersaged24orover.To
obtainacategoryAlicenceyoumust
● successfullycompleteaCBTcourse
● passthemotorcycletheorytest
● passthepracticalmotorcycletest.
Passingthepracticaltestonamotorcycleofatleast40kW(53.6bhp)gives
immediateaccesstoallsizesofmotorcycle.
You MUSTNOT carryapillionpassengerorpullatraileruntilyouhave
passedyourtest.Alsosee Rule253 coveringvehiclesprohibitedfrom
motorways.
LawMV(DL)Rreg16
Mopedlicencerequirements
Amoped MUST haveanenginecapacitynotexceeding50cc,notweigh
morethan250kgandbedesignedtohaveamaximumspeednot
exceeding28mph(45km/h).BeforeJune2003alicenceallowedthe
ridingofmopedsupto50km/h.
Torideamoped,learners MUST
● be16orover
● haveaprovisionalmopedlicence
● completeCBTtraining.
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You MUST firstpassthetheorytestformotorcyclesandthenthemoped
practicaltesttoobtainyourfullmopedlicence.Ifyoupassedyourcar
drivingtestbefore1February2001youarequalifiedtorideamoped
withoutLplates(and/orDplatesinWales),althoughitisrecommended
thatyoucompleteCBTbeforeridingontheroad.Ifyoupassedyourcar
drivingtestafterthisdateyou MUST completeCBTbeforeridingamoped
ontheroad.
LawsRTA1988sects97(e)&101&MV(DL)Rregs38(4)&43
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Rulesf ord
riversa nd
motorcyclists
1.Vehiclecondition
89. Vehiclecondition. You MUST ensureyourvehicleandtrailer
complywiththefullrequirementsoftheRoadVehicles
(ConstructionandUse)RegulationsandRoadVehiclesLighting
Regulations(see Theroaduserandthelaw).
2.Fitnesstodrive
90. Makesurethatyouarefittodrive. You MUST reporttotheDriver
andVehicleLicensingAgency(DVLA)anyhealthconditionlikelyto
affectyourdriving.
LawRTA1988sect94
91. Drivingwhenyouaretiredgreatlyincreasesyourriskofcollision.
Tominimisethisrisk
● makesureyouarefittodrive.Donotbeginajourneyifyou
aretired.Getagoodnight’ssleepbeforeembarkingona
longjourney
● avoidundertakinglongjourneysbetweenmidnightand6am,
whennaturalalertnessisataminimum
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● planyourjourneytotakesufficientbreaks.Aminimum
breakofatleast15minutesaftereverytwohoursofdriving
isrecommended
● ifyoufeelsleepy,stopinasafeplace.Donotstopinan
emergencyareaoronahardshoulderofamotorway(see
Rule262forguidanceonplacestotakeabreakwhen
travellingonmotorways).
92. Vision. You MUST beabletoreadavehiclenumberplate,ingood
daylight,fromadistanceof20metres(or20.5metreswherethe
oldstylenumberplateisused).Ifyouneedtowearglasses(or
contactlenses)todothis,you MUST wearthematalltimeswhile
driving.Thepolicehavethepowertorequireadrivertoundertake
aneyesighttest.
LawsRTA1988sect96&MV(DL)Rreg40&sch8
93. Slowdown,andifnecessarystop,ifyouaredazzledbybright
sunlight.
94. Atnightorinpoorvisibility,donotusetintedglasses,lensesor
visorsiftheyrestrictyourvision.
3. Alcoholanddrugs
95. Donotdrinkanddrive asitwillseriouslyaffectyourjudgement
andabilities.
InEnglandandWalesyouMUSTNOTdrivewithabreathalcohol
levelhigherthan35microgrammes/100millilitresofbreathora
bloodalcohollevelofmorethan80milligrammes/100millilitresof
blood.
InScotlandthelegallimitsarelower.YouMUSTNOTdrivewitha
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breathalcohollevelhigherthan22microgrammes/100millilitres
ofbreathorabloodalcohollevelofmorethan50
milligrammes/100millilitresofblood.
Alcoholwill
● giveafalsesenseofconfidence
● reduceco-ordinationandslowdownreactions
● affectjudgementofspeed,distanceandrisk
● reduceyourdrivingability,evenifyou’rebelowthelegal
limit
● taketimetoleaveyourbody;youmaybeunfittodrivein
theeveningafterdrinkingatlunchtime,orinthemorning
afterdrinkingthepreviousevening
Thebestsolutionisnottodrinkatallwhenplanningtodrive
becauseanyamountofalcoholaffectsyourabilitytodrivesafely.If
youaregoingtodrink,arrangeanothermeansoftransport.
LawRTA1988sects4,5&11(2)
YouM USTNOTdriveifyouhaveillegaldrugsorcertainmedicines
inyourbloodabovespecifiedlimits.Itishighlydangeroussonever
takeillegaldrugsifyouintendtodrive;theeffectsare
unpredictable,butcanbeevenmoreseverethanalcoholand
resultinfatalorseriousroadcrashes.Illegaldrugshavebeen
specifiedatverylowlevelssoevensmallamountsofusecouldbe
abovethespecifiedlimits.Thelimitsforcertainmedicineshave
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beenspecifiedathigherlevels,abovethelevelsgenerallyfoundin
thebloodofpatientswhohavetakennormaltherapeuticdoses.If
youarefoundtohaveaconcentrationofadrugaboveitsspecified
limitinyourbloodbecauseyouhavebeenprescribedor
legitimatelysuppliedaparticularlyhighdoseofmedicine,thenyou
canraiseastatutorymedicaldefence,providedyourdrivingwas
notimpairedbythemedicineyouaretaking.
LawRTA1988sects4&5
4.Beforesettingoff
97. Beforesettingoff. YouM
USTensurethat
● youhaveavalidlicenceandinsurancetodrivethevehicleyou
intendtouse(seeAnnex3)
● yourvehicleislegalandroadworthy(seeAnnexes3and6for
importantvehiclemaintenanceandsafetychecks).
YouS HOULDensurethat
● youhaveplannedyourrouteandallowedsufficienttimefor
breaksandpossibledelays
● youhavesufficientfuelorchargeforyourjourney,especiallyifit
includesmotorwaydriving
● youknowwhereallthecontrolsareandhowtousethem
● clothingandfootweardonotpreventyouusingthecontrolsin
thecorrectmanner
● yourmirrorsandseatareadjustedcorrectlytoensurecomfort,
fullcontrolandmaximumvision
● headrestraintsareproperlyadjustedtoreducetheriskofneck
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andspineinjuriesintheeventofacollision.
Itisrecommendedforemergencyusethat
● youhaveamobiletelephonecontainingemergencycontacts(e.g.
breakdownassistance)
● youhavehigh-visibilityclothing.
5.Vehicletowingandloading
98. Vehicletowingandloading. A sadriver
● youM USTNOTtowmorethanyourlicencepermits.Ifyoupassed
yourcardrivingtestonorafter1January1997,youarerestricted
ontheweightoftraileryoucantow
● youM USTensurethatbothyourvehicleandyourtrailerareina
roadworthycondition.Thisincludescheckingthatalltyresare
legal,thetrailerbrakingsystemisinfullworkingorderandall
trailerlightsareworkingcorrectly
● youM USTNOToverloadyourvehicleortrailer.Youshouldnot
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towaweightgreaterthanthatrecommendedbythe
manufacturerofyourvehicle
● youshoulddistributetheweightinyourcaravanortrailerevenly
withheavyitemsovertheaxle(s)andensureadownwardloadon
thetowball.Themanufacturer’srecommendedweightandtow
ballloadshouldnotbeexceeded.Thisshouldminimisethe
possibilityofswervingorsnakingandlossofcontrol
● youM USTsecureyourloadanditM USTNOTstickout
dangerously.Makesureanyheavyorsharpobjectsandany
animalsaresecuredsafely.Ifthereisacollision,theymighthit
someoneinsidethevehicleandcauseseriousinjury
● ifyourvehicleisnarrowerthanyourtrailerorload,oryourtrailer
orloadobstructsyourrearwardview,thentowingmirrorsM UST
beused
● yourtrailerM USTbefittedwithasecondarycouplingdevice,
suchasasafetychain
● carryingaloadorpullingatrailermayrequireyoutoadjustyour
headlights.
Duringtowing.Asadriver
● youshouldbeawarethatreducedspeedlimitsapply(seeR ule
124)
● youshouldbeawarethatyourstoppingdistancemayincrease
significantlywhentowing(seeRule126)
● youM USTNOTdriveintheright-handlaneonmotorwayswith
threeormorelanes(seeRule265)
● ifthetrailerstartstoswerveorsnake,oryoulosecontrol,ease
offtheacceleratorandreducespeedgentlytoregaincontrol.Do
notbrakeharshly.
Breakdowns.Intheeventofabreakdown,beaware
● thattowingavehicleonatowropeispotentiallydangerous.You
shouldconsiderusingasolidtowbarorprofessionalrecovery
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● itmaytakelongertobuildupspeedwhenrejoiningacarriageway
(seealsoRule278).
6.Seatbeltsandchildrestraints
99. You MUST wearaseatbeltincars,vansandothergoodsvehiclesif
oneisfitted(seetablebelow).Adults,andchildrenaged14years
andover,M UST useaseatbeltorchildrestraint,wherefitted,
whenseatedinminibuses,busesandcoaches.Exemptionsare
allowedfortheholdersofmedicalexemptioncertificatesand
thosemakingdeliveriesorcollectionsingoodsvehicleswhen
travellinglessthan50metres(approx162feet).
LawsRTA1988sects14&15,MV(WSB)R,MV(WSBCFS)R&
MV(WSB)(A)R
SeatBeltRequirements: Thistablesummarisesthemainlegal
requirementsforwearingseatbeltsincars,vansandothergoods
vehicles.
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SeatBelt Frontseat Rearseat Whois
Requirements responsible?
Driver Seatb
elt Driver
MUSTb e
worniff itted
Childu nder3
y earso
f Correctc hild Correctc hildr estraint MUST be Driver
age restraint used.Ifo
neisn
ota vailableina t axi,
MUSTb e mayt ravelu
nrestrained.
used
Childo
ver1 .35m etres Adults eat Adults eatb elt MUST bew
ornif Driver
(approx4 ft5 ins)in beltMUSTb e available
heighto r1
2o r1
3y ears wornif
available
101. Arear-facingbabyseat MUSTNOT befittedintoaseat
protectedbyanactivefrontalairbag,asinacrashitcancause
seriousinjuryordeathtothechild.
LawsRTA1988sects14&15,MV(WSB)R,MV(WSBCFS)R&
MV(WSB)(A)R
102. Childrenincars,vansandothergoodsvehicles. Driverswhoare
carryingchildrenincars,vansandothergoodsvehiclesshouldalso
ensurethat
● childrenshouldgetintothevehiclethroughthedoornearest
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thekerb
● childrestraintsareproperlyfittedtomanufacturer’s
instructions
● childrendonotsitbehindtherearseatsinanestatecaror
hatchback,unlessaspecialchildseathasbeenfitted
● thechildsafetydoorlocks,wherefitted,areusedwhen
childrenareinthevehicle
● childrenarekeptundercontrol.
7.Motorcyclelicencerequirements
Ifyouhaveaprovisionalmotorcyclelicence,you MUST satisfactorily
completeaCompulsoryBasicTraining(CBT)course.Youcanthenridea
motorcycleupto125ccwithapoweroutputnotexceeding11kWonthe
publicroad,withLplates(inWaleseitherDplates,Lplatesorbothcanbe
used),foruptotwoyears.Underdirectaccessyoucanpractiseona
motorcyclethatexceeds125ccprovidedthat
● youmeettheminimumageforthecategoryconcerned
● you’reaccompaniedatalltimesbyaqualifiedapproved
trainer,whoisonanothermotorcycleandinradiocontact
withyou
● fluorescentorreflectivesafetyclothingiswornduring
supervision
● redLplates(DplatesinWales)arefittedandprovisional
licencerestrictionsfollowed.
ToobtainyourfullmotorcyclelicenceyouMUSTpassamotorcycletheory
testandthenapracticaltest.
LawMV(DL)Rregs16&68
A1motorcyclelicence: Atage17orover,youtakeatestonamotorcycle
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withoutsidecarofbetween120and125cc.Ifyoupassyoumayridea
motorcycleupto125ccwithpoweroutputupto11kW,oramotor
tricyclewithpowernotexceeding15kW.
A2motorcyclelicence: Atage19orover,youtakeatestonamotorcycle
withoutsidecarofatleast395ccwithapoweroutputofatleast25kW
butnotexceeding35kW.Ifyoupass,youmayrideanymotorcyclenot
exceeding35kWandwithapowertoweightrationotexceeding0.2
kW/kg.
FullAmotorcyclelicence: Testtakenonamotorcyclewithoutsidecar,of
atleast595ccandanenginepowerofatleast40kWThisgivesyoufull
accesstoallmotorcyclesandmotortricycles.YouobtainacategoryA
licencebytakingprogressiveaccessfromage21,orunderthedirect
accessschemefromage24.
CategoryAunderprogressiveaccess: YoucantakeacategoryApractical
testatage21ifyoualreadyhaveanA2licencethatyou’veheldfora
minimumoftwoyears.Youdon’tneedtotakeanothertheorytestorhold
aCBTcertificate.
CategoryAunderdirectaccess: Thisisforridersaged24orover.To
obtainacategoryAlicenceyoumust
● successfullycompleteaCBTcourse
● passthemotorcycletheorytest
● passthepracticalmotorcycletest.
Passingthepracticaltestonamotorcycleofatleast40kW(53.6bhp)gives
immediateaccesstoallsizesofmotorcycle.
You MUSTNOT carryapillionpassengerorpullatraileruntilyouhave
passedyourtest.AlsoseeRule253coveringvehiclesprohibitedfrom
motorways.
LawMV(DL)Rreg16
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Mopedlicencerequirements
Amoped MUST haveanenginecapacitynotexceeding50cc,notweigh
morethan250kgandbedesignedtohaveamaximumspeednot
exceeding28mph(45km/h).BeforeJune2003alicenceallowedtheriding
ofmopedsupto50km/h.
Torideamoped,learners MUST
● be16orover
● haveaprovisionalmopedlicence
● completeCBTtraining.
You MUST firstpassthetheorytestformotorcyclesandthenthemoped
practicaltesttoobtainyourfullmopedlicence.Ifyoupassedyourcar
drivingtestbefore1February2001youarequalifiedtorideamoped
withoutLplates(and/orDplatesinWales),althoughitisrecommended
thatyoucompleteCBTbeforeridingontheroad.Ifyoupassedyourcar
drivingtestafterthisdateyou MUST completeCBTbeforeridingamoped
ontheroad.
LawsRTA1988sects97(e)&101&MV(DL)Rregs38(4)&43
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8.Motorvehicledocumentation
andlearnerdriverrequirements
Documents
Drivinglicence. You MUST haveavaliddrivinglicenceforthecategoryof
motorvehicleyouaredriving.You MUST informtheDriverandVehicle
LicensingAgency(DVLA)ifyouchangeyournameand/oraddress.
LawRTA1988sects87&99(4)
Holdersofnon-EuropeanCommunitylicenceswhoarenowresidentin
theUKmayonlydriveonthatlicenceforamaximumof12monthsfrom
thedatetheybecomeresidentinthiscountry.Toensurecontinuous
drivingentitlement
● aBritishprovisionallicenceshouldbeobtainedandadriving
test(s)passedbeforethe12-monthperiodelapses,or
● inthecaseofadriverwhoholdsalicencefromacountry
whichhasbeendesignatedinlawforlicenceexchange
purposes,thedrivershouldexchangethelicenceforaBritish
one.
MOT. Carsandmotorcycles MUST normallypassanMOTtestthreeyears
fromthedateofthefirstregistrationandeveryyearafterthat.You MUST
NOT driveamotorvehiclewithoutanMOTcertificatewhenitshouldhave
one.Exceptionally,youmaydrivetoapre-arrangedtestappointmentor
toagarageforrepairsrequiredforthetest.Drivinganunroadworthy
motorvehiclemayinvalidateyourinsurance.FromNovember2012,
motorvehiclesmanufacturedbefore1960willbeexemptedfromanMOT
requirement,althoughtheycanstillbesubmittedforatestvoluntarily.
Ownersarestilllegallyrequiredtoensuretheirvehicleissafeand
roadworthy.
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LawRTA1988sects45,47,49&53
Insurance. Touseamotorvehicleontheroad,you MUST haveavalid
insurancepolicy.This MUST atleastcoveryouforinjuryordamagetoa
thirdpartywhileusingthatmotorvehicle.Beforedrivinganymotor
vehicle,makesurethatithasthiscoverforyouruseorthatyourown
insuranceprovidesadequatecover.You MUSTNOT driveamotorvehicle
withoutinsurance.Also,beawarethatevenifaroadtrafficincidentisnot
yourfault,youmaystillbeheldliablebyinsurancecompanies.
LawRTA1988sect143
Uninsureddriverscannowbeautomaticallydetectedbyroadside
cameras.Furthertothepenaltiesforuninsureddrivinglistedonpage126,
anoffender’svehiclecannowbeseizedbythePolice,takenawayand
crushed.
LawRTA1988,sects165a&165b
Thetypesofcoveravailableareindicatedbelow:
Third-Partyinsurance -thisisoftenthecheapestformofinsurance,andis
theminimumcoverrequiredbylaw.Itcoversanyoneyoumightinjureor
whosepropertyyoumightdamage.Itdoesnotcoverdamagetoyourown
motorvehicleorinjurytoyourself.
Third-Party,FireandTheftinsurance -similartothird-party,butalso
coversyouagainstyourmotorvehiclebeingstolen,ordamagedbyfire.
Comprehensiveinsurance -thisisthemostexpensivebutthebest
insurance.Apartfromcoveringotherpersonsandpropertyagainstinjury
ordamage,italsocoversdamagetoyourownmotorvehicle,uptothe
marketvalueofthatvehicle,andpersonalinjurytoyourself.
Registrationcertificate. Registrationcertificates(alsocalledharmonised
registrationcertificates)areissuedforallmotorvehiclesusedontheroad,
describingthem(make,model,etc)andgivingdetailsoftheregistered
keeper.You MUST notifytheDriverandVehicleLicensingAgencyin
Swanseaassoonaspossiblewhenyoubuyorsellamotorvehicle,orif
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youchangeyournameoraddress.Forregistrationcertificatesissuedafter
27March1997,thebuyerandsellerareresponsibleforcompletingthe
registrationcertificates.Thesellerisresponsibleforforwardingthemto
DVLA.Theproceduresareexplainedonthebackoftheregistration
certificates.
LawRV(R&L)Rregs21,22,23&24
VehicleExciseDuty(VED). VehicleExciseDutyMUSTbepaidonallmotor
vehiclesusedorkeptonpublicroads.
LawVERAsects29and33
StatutoryOff-RoadNotification(SORN). ThisisanotificationtotheDVLA
thatamotorvehicleisnotbeingusedontheroad.Ifyouarethevehicle
keeperandwanttokeepamotorvehicleuntaxedandoffthepublicroad
you MUST declareSORN-itisanoffencenottodoso.Youthenwon’t
havetopayanyroadtaxforthatvehicleforaperiodof12months.You
needtosendafurtherdeclarationafterthatperiodifthevehicleisstilloff
thepublicroad.TheSORNwillendifyousellthevehicleandthenew
ownerwillbecomeimmediatelyresponsible.Ifyourvehicleisunusedor
offtheroad,it MUST haveeitheraSORNdeclarationorvalidinsurance.
LawRV(RL)R2002,reg26sched4
Productionofdocuments. You MUST beabletoproduceyourdriving
licenceandcounterpart,avalidinsurancecertificateand(ifappropriate)a
validMOTcertificate,whenrequestedbyapoliceofficer.Ifyoucannotdo
thisyoumaybeaskedtotakethemtoapolicestationwithinsevendays.
LawRTA1988sects164&165
Learnerdrivers
LearnersdrivingacarMUSTholdavalidprovisionallicence.They
MUST besupervisedbysomeoneatleast21yearsoldwhoholdsafull
EC/EEAlicenceforthattypeofcar(automaticormanual)andhasheld
oneforatleastthreeyears.
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LawsMV(DL)Rreg16&RTA1988sect87
Vehicles. Anyvehicledrivenbyalearner MUST displayredLplates.In
Wales,eitherredDplates,redLplates,orboth,canbeused.PlatesMUST
conformtolegalspecificationsand MUST beclearlyvisibletoothersfrom
infrontofthevehicleandfrombehind.Platesshouldberemovedor
coveredwhennotbeingdrivenbyalearner(exceptondrivingschool
vehicles).
LawMV(DL)Rreg16&sched4
You MUST passthetheorytest(ifoneisrequired)andthenapractical
drivingtestforthecategoryofvehicleyouwishtodrivebeforedriving
unaccompanied.
LawMV(DL)Rreg40
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2.Signals
103. Signalswarnandinformotherroadusers,includingpedestrians
(download‘Signalstootherroadusers’),ofyourintendedactions.
Youshouldalways
● giveclearsignalsinplentyoftime,havingcheckeditisnot
misleadingtosignalatthattime
● usethemtoadviseotherroadusersbeforechangingcourse
ordirection,stoppingormovingoff
● cancelthemafteruse
● makesureyoursignalswillnotconfuseothers.If,for
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instance,youwanttostopafterasideroad,donotsignal
untilyouarepassingtheroad.Ifyousignalearlieritmay
givetheimpressionthatyouintendtoturnintotheroad.
Yourbrakelightswillwarntrafficbehindyouthatyouare
slowingdown
● useanarmsignaltoemphasiseorreinforceyoursignalif
necessary.Rememberthatsignallingdoesnotgiveyou
priority.
104. Youshouldalso
● watchoutforsignalsgivenbyotherroadusersandproceed
onlywhenyouaresatisfiedthatitissafe
● beawarethatanindicatoronanothervehiclemaynothave
beencancelled.
105. You MUST obeysignalsgivenbypoliceofficers,trafficofficers,
trafficwardensandsignsusedbyschoolcrossingpatrols.
LawsRTRAsect28,RTA1988sect35,TMA2004sect6,&FTWOart
3
106. Policestoppingprocedures. Ifthepolicewanttostopyour
vehicletheywill,wherepossible,attractyourattentionby
● flashingbluelights,headlightsorsoundingtheirsirenor
horn,usuallyfrombehind
● directingyoutopullovertothesidebypointingand/or
usingtheleftindicator.
You MUST thenpulloverandstopassoonasitissafetodoso.Then
switchoffyourengine.
LawRTA1988sect163
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3.Otherstoppingprocedures
107. DriverandVehicleStandardsAgencyOfficersh avepowersto
stopvehiclesonallroads,includingmotorwaysandtrunkroads,in
EnglandandWales.Theywillattractyourattentionbyflashing
amberlights
● eitherfromthefrontrequestingyoutofollowthemtoasafe
placetostop
● orfrombehinddirectingyoutopullovertothesideby
pointingand/orusingtheleftindicator.
Itisanoffencenottocomplywiththeirdirections.You MUST obeyany
signalsgiven(d ownload‘Signalsbyauthorisedpersons’).
LawsRTA1988,sect67,&PRA2002,sect41&sched5(8)
108. TrafficOfficers havepowerstostopvehiclesonmostmotorways
andsome‘A’classroads,inEnglandonly.Iftrafficofficersin
uniformwanttostopyourvehicleonsafetygrounds(e.g.an
insecureload)theywill,wherepossible,attractyourattentionby
● flashingamberlights,usuallyfrombehind
● directingyoutopullovertothesidebypointingand/or
usingtheleftindicator.
YouM
USTthenpulloverandstopassoonasitissafetodoso.Then
switchoffyourengine.Itisanoffencenottocomplywiththeir
directions(see‘Signalsbyauthorisedpersons’).
LawRTA1988,sects35&163asamendedbyTMA2004,sect6
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109. Trafficlightsignalsandtrafficsigns. You MUST obeyalltraffic
lightsignals(d
ownload‘Lightsignalscontrollingtraffic’)andtraffic
signsgivingorders,includingtemporarysignals&signs(d ownload
‘Trafficsigns’).Makesureyouknow,understandandactonall
othertrafficandinformationsignsandroadmarkings(d ownload
‘Roadmarkings’ and Vehiclemarkings’).
LawsRTA1988sect36&TSRGDregs10,15,16,25,26,27,28,29,
36,38&40
110. Flashingheadlights. Onlyflashyourheadlightstoletotherroad
usersknowthatyouarethere.Donotflashyourheadlightsto
conveyanyothermessageorintimidateotherroadusers.
111. Neverassumethatflashingheadlightsisasignalinvitingyouto
proceed.Useyourownjudgementandproceedcarefully.
112. Thehorn. Useonlywhileyourvehicleismovingandyouneedto
warnotherroadusersofyourpresence.Neversoundyourhorn
aggressively.You MUSTNOT useyourhorn
● whilestationaryontheroad
● whendrivinginabuilt-upareabetweenthehoursof11.30
pmand7.00am
except whenanotherroaduserposesadanger.
LawCURreg99
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4.Lightingrequirements
113. You MUST
● ensureallsidelightsandrearregistrationplatelightsarelit
betweensunsetandsunrise
● useheadlightsatnight,exceptonaroadwhichhaslitstreet
lighting.Theseroadsaregenerallyrestrictedtoaspeedlimit
of30mph(48km/h)unlessotherwisespecified
● useheadlightswhenvisibilityisseriouslyreduced(see R ule
226).
Night(thehoursofdarkness)isdefinedastheperiodbetweenhalf
anhouraftersunsetandhalfanhourbeforesunrise).
LawsRVLRregs3,24,&25,(InScotland-RTRA1984sect82(as
amendedbyNRSWA,para59ofsched8))
114. You MUSTNOT
● useanylightsinawaywhichwoulddazzleorcause
discomforttootherroadusers,includingpedestrians,
cyclistsandhorseriders
● usefrontorrearfoglightsunlessvisibilityisseriously
reduced.YouM UST s witchthemoffwhenvisibilityimproves
toavoiddazzlingotherroadusers(see R ule226).
Instationaryqueuesoftraffic,driversshouldapplytheparking
brakeand,oncethefollowingtraffichasstopped,taketheirfootoff
thefootbraketodeactivatethevehiclebrakelights.Thiswill
minimiseglaretoroadusersbehinduntilthetrafficmovesagain.
LawRVLRreg27
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115. Youshouldalso
● usedippedheadlights,ordim-dipiffitted,atnightin
built-upareasandindulldaytimeweather,toensurethat
youcanbeseen
● keepyourheadlightsdippedwhenovertakinguntilyouare
levelwiththeothervehicleandthenchangetomainbeamif
necessary,unlessthiswoulddazzleoncomingroadusers
● slowdown,andifnecessarystop,ifyouaredazzledby
oncomingheadlights
116. Hazardwarninglights. Thesemaybeusedwhenyourvehicleis
stationary,towarnthatitistemporarilyobstructingtraffic.Never
usethemasanexcusefordangerousorillegalparking.You MUST
NOT usehazardwarninglightswhiledrivingorbeingtowedunless
youareonamotorwayorunrestricteddualcarriagewayandyou
needtowarndriversbehindyouofahazardorobstructionahead.
Onlyusethemforlongenoughtoensurethatyourwarninghas
beenobserved.
LawRVLRreg27
5.Controlofthevehicle
Braking
117. Innormalcircumstances. Thesafestwaytobrakeistodoso
earlyandlightly.Brakemorefirmlyasyoubegintostop.Easethe
pressureoffjustbeforethevehiclecomestoresttoavoidajerky
stop.
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118. Inanemergency. Brakeimmediately.Trytoavoidbrakingso
harshlythatyoulockyourwheels.Lockedwheelscanleadtoloss
ofcontrol.
119. Skids. Skiddingisusuallycausedbythedriverbraking,
acceleratingorsteeringtooharshlyordrivingtoofastfortheroad
conditions.Ifskiddingoccurs,removethecausebyreleasingthe
brakepedalfullyoreasingofftheaccelerator.Turnthesteering
wheelinthedirectionoftheskid.Forexample,iftherearofthe
vehicleskidstotheright,steerimmediatelytotherighttorecover.
120. ABS. Ifyourvehicleisfittedwithanti-lockbrakes,youshould
followtheadvicegiveninthevehiclehandbook.However,inthe
caseofanemergency,applythefootbrakefirmly;donotrelease
thepressureuntilthevehiclehasslowedtothedesiredspeed.The
ABSshouldensurethatsteeringcontrolwillberetained,butdonot
assumethatavehiclewithABSwillstopinashorterdistance.
121. Brakesaffectedbywater. Ifyouhavedriventhroughdeepwater
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yourbrakesmaybelesseffective.Testthematthefirstsafe
opportunitybypushinggentlyonthebrakepedaltomakesure
thattheywork.Iftheyarenotfullyeffective,gentlyapplylight
pressurewhiledrivingslowly.Thiswillhelptodrythemout.
122. Coasting. Thistermdescribesavehicletravellinginneutralor
withtheclutchpresseddown.Itcanreducedrivercontrolbecause
● enginebrakingiseliminated
● vehiclespeeddownhillwillincreasequickly
● increaseduseofthefootbrakecanreduceitseffectiveness
● steeringresponsewillbeaffected,particularlyonbendsand
corners
● itmaybemoredifficulttoselecttheappropriategearwhen
needed.
TheDriverandtheEnvironment
123. You MUSTNOT leaveaparkedvehicleunattendedwiththe
enginerunningorleaveavehicleenginerunningunnecessarily
whilethatvehicleisstationaryonapublicroad.Generally,ifthe
vehicleisstationaryandislikelytoremainsoformorethana
coupleofminutes,youshouldapplytheparkingbrakeandswitch
offtheenginetoreduceemissionsandnoisepollution.Howeverit
ispermissibletoleavetheenginerunningifthevehicleis
stationaryintrafficorfordiagnosingfaults.
LawCURregs98&107
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Speedlimits
124. YouM
USTNOTexceedthemaximumspeedlimitsfortheroad
andforyourvehicle(seethes peedlimitstable).Aspeedlimitof30
mph(48km/h)generallyappliestoallroadswithstreetlights
(excludingmotorways)unlesssignsshowotherwise.
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vansandmotorcycles) (48)
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†60mph(96km/h)ifexceeding12metresinoveralllength.
††60mph(96km/h)ifarticulatedortowingatrailer.
Forspeedlimitsthatapplytospecialtypesofvehicles,suchas
oversizedvehicles,seeF urtherreading.
Locallysetspeedlimitsmayapply,forexample
● 20mph(32km/h)insomebuilt-upareas
● 50mph(80km/h)onsinglecarriagewayswithknownhazards
● variables peedlimitsignsareusedonsomemotorwaysanddual
carriagewaystochangethemaximumspeedlimit.
Speedlimitsareenforcedbythepolice.
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LawRTRAsects81,86,89&sch6
125. Thespeedlimitistheabsolutemaximumanddoesnotmeanitis
safetodriveatthatspeedirrespectiveofconditions.Drivingat
speedstoofastfortheroadandtrafficconditionsisdangerous.You
shouldalwaysreduceyourspeedwhen
● theroadlayoutorconditionpresentshazards,suchasbends
● sharingtheroadwithpedestrians,cyclistsandhorseriders,
particularlychildren,andmotorcyclists
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● weatherconditionsmakeitsafertodoso
● drivingatn
ightasitismoredifficulttoseeotherroadusers.
126.
StoppingDistances. Driveataspeedthatwillallowyoutostop
wellwithinthedistanceyoucanseetobeclear.Youshould
● leaveenoughspacebetweenyouandthevehicleinfrontso
thatyoucanpullupsafelyifitsuddenlyslowsdownorstops.
Thesaferuleisnevertogetcloserthantheoverallstopping
distance(seeTypicalStoppingDistancesdiagram,shown
below)
● allowatleastatwo-secondgapbetweenyouandthevehicle
infrontonroadscarryingfaster-movingtrafficandintunnels
wherevisibilityisreduced.Thegapshouldbeatleast
doubledonwetroadsandincreasedstillfurtheronicyroads
● remember,largevehiclesandmotorcyclesneedagreater
distancetostop.Ifdrivingalargevehicleinatunnel,you
shouldallowafour-secondgapbetweenyouandthevehicle
infront.
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Ifyouhavetostopinatunnel,leaveatleasta5-metregapbetween
youandthevehicleinfront.
Tailgatingiswherethegapbetweenyouandthevehicleinfrontistoo
smallforyoutobeabletostopsafelyifthevehicleinfrontsuddenly
brakes.
Tailgatingisdangerous,intimidatingandcancausecollisions,especially
whendrivingatspeed.Keepingasafedistancefromthevehicleinfront
givesyoutimetoreactandstopifnecessary.Dangerousandcareless
drivingoffences,suchastailgating,areenforcedbythepolice.
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6.Linesandlanemarkingsonthe
road
Download‘Roadmarkings’t oseediagramsofalllines.
127. Abrokenwhiteline. Thismarksthecentreoftheroad.When
thislinelengthensandthegapsshorten,itmeansthatthereisa
hazardahead.Donotcrossitunlessyoucanseetheroadisclear
andwishtoovertakeorturnoff.
128. Doublewhitelineswherethelinenearesttoyouisbroken. This
meansyoumaycrossthelinestoovertakeifitissafe,providedyou
cancompletethemanoeuvrebeforereachingasolidwhitelineon
yourside.Whitedirectionarrowsontheroadindicatethatyou
needtogetbackontoyoursideoftheroad.
129. Doublewhitelineswherethelinenearestyouissolid. This
meansyouM USTNOT crossorstraddleitunlessitissafeandyou
needtoenteradjoiningpremisesorasideroad.Youmaycrossthe
lineifnecessary,providedtheroadisclear,topassastationary
vehicle,orovertakeapedalcycle,horseorroadmaintenance
vehicle,iftheyaretravellingat10mph(16km/h)orless.
LawsRTA1988sect36&TSRGDregs10&26
130. Areasofwhitediagonalstripes orchevronspaintedontheroad.
Thesearetoseparatetrafficlanesortoprotecttrafficturningright.
● Iftheareaisborderedbyabrokenwhiteline,youshouldnot
entertheareaunlessitisnecessaryandyoucanseethatitis
safetodoso.
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● Iftheareaismarkedwithchevronsandborderedbysolid
whitelinesyou MUSTNOT enteritexceptinanemergency.
LawsMT(E&W)Rregs5,9,10&16,MT(S)Rregs4,8,9&14,
RTAsect36&TSRGD10(1)
131. Lanedividers. Theseareshort,brokenwhitelineswhichare
usedonwidecarriagewaystodividethemintolanes.Youshould
keepbetweenthem.
132. Reflectiveroadstuds maybeusedwithwhitelines.
● Whitestudsmarkthelanesorthemiddleoftheroad.
● Redstudsmarktheleftedgeoftheroad.
● Amberstudsmarkthecentralreservationofadual
carriagewayormotorway.
● Greenstudsmarktheedgeofthemaincarriagewayat
lay-bysandsliproads.
● Green/yellowstudsindicatetemporaryadjustmentstolane
layouts,e.g.whereroadworksaretakingplace.
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7.Multi-lanecarriageways
Lanediscipline
133. Ifyouneedtochangelane,firstuseyourmirrorsandif
necessarytakeaquicksidewaysglancetomakesureyouwillnot
forceanotherroadusertochangecourseorspeed.Whenitissafe
todoso,signaltoindicateyourintentionstootherroadusersand
whenclear,moveover.
134. Youshouldfollowthesignsandroadmarkingsandgetintothe
laneasdirected.Incongestedroadconditionsdonotchangelanes
unnecessarily.Merginginturnisrecommendedbutonlyifsafeand
appropriatewhenvehiclesaretravellingataverylowspeed,e.g.
whenapproachingroadworksoraroadtrafficincident.Itisnot
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recommendedathighspeed.
Singlecarriageway
135. Whereasinglecarriagewayhasthreelanesandtheroad
markingsorsignsdonotgiveprioritytotrafficineitherdirection
● usethemiddlelaneonlyforovertakingorturningright.
Remember,youhavenomorerighttousethemiddlelane
thanadrivercomingfromtheoppositedirection
● donotusetheright-handlane.
136. Whereasinglecarriagewayhasfourormorelanes,useonlythe
lanesthatsignsormarkingsindicate.
Dualcarriageways
Adualcarriagewayisaroadwhichhasacentralreservationto
separatethecarriageways.
137. Onatwo-lanedualcarriagewayyoushouldstayintheleft-hand
lane.Usetheright-handlaneforovertakingorturningright.After
overtaking,movebacktotheleft-handlanewhenitissafetodo
so.
138. Onadualcarriagewaywiththreeormorelanes,youmayuse
themiddlelanesortheright-handlanetoovertakebutyoushould
returntothemiddlelanesandthentheleft-handlanewhenitis
safetodoso.
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139. Climbingandcrawlerlanes. Theseareprovidedonsomehills.
Usethislaneifyouaredrivingaslow-movingvehicleorifthereare
vehiclesbehindyouwishingtoovertake.Beawareofthesignsand
roadmarkingswhichindicatethelaneisabouttoend.
140. Cyclelanes. Theseareshownbyroadmarkingsandsigns.
You MUSTNOT driveorparkinacyclelanemarkedbyasolid
whitelineduringitstimesofoperation.Donotdriveorparkina
cyclelanemarkedbyabrokenwhitelineunlessitisunavoidable.
You MUSTNOT parkinanycyclelanewhilstwaitingrestrictions
apply.
LawRTRAsects5&8
141. Buslanes. Theseareshownbyroadmarkingsandsignsthat
indicatewhich(ifany)othervehiclesarepermittedtousethebus
lane.Unlessotherwiseindicated,youshouldnotdriveinabuslane
duringitsperiodofoperation.Youmayenterabuslanetostop,to
loadorunloadwherethisisnotprohibited.
142. High-occupancyvehiclelanesandotherdesignatedvehicle
lanes. Lanesmayberestrictedforusebyparticulartypesof
vehicle;theserestrictionsmayapplysomeorallofthetime.The
operatingtimesandvehicletypeswillbeindicatedonthe
accompanyingtrafficsigns.You MUSTNOT driveinsuchlanes
duringtheirtimesofoperationunlesssignsindicatethatyour
vehicleispermitted.
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Download‘ Trafficsigns’
Vehiclespermittedtousedesignatedlanesmayormaynotinclude
cycles,buses,taxis,licensedprivatehirevehicles,motorcycles,
heavygoodsvehicles(HGVs)andhigh-occupancyvehicles(HOVs).
WhereHOVlanesareinoperation,they MUSTONLY beusedby
● vehiclescontainingatleasttheminimumnumberofpeople
indicatedonthetrafficsigns
● anyothervehicles,suchasbusesandmotorcycles,as
indicatedonsignspriortothestartofthelane,irrespective
ofthenumberofoccupants.
LawsRTRAsects5&8,&RTA1988,sect36
143. One-waystreets. Traffic MUST travelinthedirectionindicated
bysigns.Busesand/orcyclesmayhaveacontraflowlane.Choose
thecorrectlaneforyourexitassoonasyoucan.Donotchange
lanessuddenly.Unlessroadsignsormarkingsindicateotherwise,
youshoulduse
● theleft-handlanewhengoingleft
● theright-handlanewhengoingright
● themostappropriatelanewhengoingstraightahead.
Remember–trafficcouldbepassingonbothsides.
LawsRTA1988sect36&RTRAsects5&8
144. You MUSTNOT
● drivedangerously
● drivewithoutduecareandattention
● drivewithoutreasonableconsiderationforotherroadusers.
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LawRTA1988sects2&3asamendedbyRTA1991
145. You MUSTNOT driveonoroverapavement,footpathor
bridlewayexcepttogainlawfulaccesstoproperty,orinthecaseof
anemergency.
LawsHA1835sect72&RTA1988sect34
146. Adaptyourdriving totheappropriatetypeandconditionof
roadyouareon.Inparticular
● Donottreatspeedlimitsasatarget.Itisoftennot
appropriateorsafetodriveatthemaximumspeedlimit
● Taketheroadandtrafficconditionsintoaccount.Be
preparedforunexpectedordifficultsituations,forexample,
theroadbeingblockedbeyondablindbend.Bepreparedto
adjustyourspeedasaprecaution
● wheretherearejunctions,bepreparedforroadusers
emerging
● insideroadsandcountrylaneslookoutforunmarked
junctionswherenobodyhaspriority
● bepreparedtostopattrafficcontrolsystems,roadworks,
pedestriancrossingsortrafficlightsasnecessary
● trytoanticipatewhatpedestriansandcyclistsmightdo.If
pedestrians,particularlychildren,arelookingtheotherway,
theymaystepoutintotheroadwithoutseeingyou.
147. Beconsiderate. Becarefulofandconsideratetowardsalltypes
ofroadusers,especiallythoserequiringextracare(see R
ule204).
● youMUSTNOTthrowanythingoutofavehicle,forexample,
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cigaretteends,cans,paperorcarrierbags.Thiscan
endangerotherroadusers,particularlymotorcyclistsand
cyclists
● trytobeunderstandingifotherroaduserscauseproblems;
theymaybeinexperiencedornotknowtheareawell
● bepatient;rememberthatanyonecanmakeamistake
● Notallowyourselftobecomeagitatedorinvolvedif
someoneisbehavingbadlyontheroad.Thiswillonlymake
thesituationworse.Pullover,calmdownand,whenyoufeel
relaxed,continueyourjourney
● Slowdownandholdbackifaroaduserpullsoutintoyour
pathatajunction.Allowthemtogetclear.Donotover-react
bydrivingtooclosebehindtointimidatethem.
148. Safedrivingandridingneedsconcentration. Avoiddistractions
whendrivingorridingsuchas
● loudmusic(thismaymaskothersounds)
● tryingtoreadmaps
● insertingacassetteorCDortuningaradio
● arguingwithyourpassengersorotherroadusers
● eatinganddrinking
● smoking
You MUSTNOT smokeinpublictransportvehiclesorinvehicles
usedforworkpurposesincertainprescribedcircumstances.
SeparateregulationsapplytoEngland,WalesandScotland.In
EnglandandWales,thedriver MUSTNOT smokeorallowanyoneto
smokeinanenclosedprivatevehiclecarryingsomeoneunder18,
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includingmotorcaravans.
Laws TSf(EV)Rregs, TSfP(W)Rregs, TPSCP(S)Rregs, S-f(PV)R
regs & S-f(W)Rregs
Mobilephonesandin-vehicletechnology
149. You MUST exercisepropercontrolofyourvehicleatalltimes.
You MUSTNOT useahand-heldmobilephone,orsimilardevice,
whendrivingorwhensupervisingalearnerdriver,excepttocall
999or112inagenuineemergencywhenitisunsafeorimpractical
tostop.Neveruseahand-heldmicrophonewhendriving.Using
hands-freeequipmentisalsolikelytodistractyourattentionfrom
theroad.Itisfarsafernottouseanytelephonewhileyouare
drivingorriding-findasafeplacetostopfirstorusethevoicemail
facilityandlistentomessageslater.
Youmayparkyourvehicleusingahand-heldremotecontrolappor
device.TheappordeviceMUSTbelegal,andyoushouldnotput
otherpeopleindangerwhenyouuseit.
150. Thereisadangerofdriverdistractionbeingcausedbyin-vehicle
systemssuchassatellitenavigationsystems,congestionwarning
systems,PCs,multi-media,etc.You MUST exercisepropercontrol
ofyourvehicleatalltimes.Donotrelyondriverassistancesystems
suchascruisecontrolorlanedeparturewarnings.Theyare
availabletoassistbutyoushouldnotreduceyourconcentration
levels.Donotbedistractedbymapsorscreen-basedinformation
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(suchasnavigationorvehiclemanagementsystems)whiledriving
orriding.Ifnecessaryfindasafeplacetostop.
LawsRTA1988sects2&3&CURreg104
151. Inslow-movingtraffic. Youshould
● reducethedistancebetweenyouandthevehicleaheadto
maintaintrafficflow
● nevergetsoclosetothevehicleinfrontthatyoucannot
stopsafely
● leaveenoughspacetobeabletomanoeuvreifthevehiclein
frontbreaksdownoranemergencyvehicleneedstogetpast
● notchangelanestothelefttoovertake
● allowaccessintoandfromsideroads,asblockingthesewill
addtocongestion
● beawareofcyclistsandmotorcyclistswhomaybepassing
oneitherside.
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Drivinginbuilt-upareas
152. Residentialstreets. Youshoulddriveslowlyandcarefullyon
streetswheretherearelikelytobepedestrians,cyclistsandparked
cars.Insomeareasa20mph(32km/h)maximumspeedlimitmay
beinforce.Lookoutfor
● vehiclesemergingfromjunctionsordriveways
● vehiclesmovingoff
● cardoorsopening
● pedestrians
● childrenrunningoutfrombetweenparkedcars
● cyclistsandmotorcyclists.
153. Traffic-calmingmeasures. Onsomeroadstherearefeatures
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suchasroadhumps,chicanesandnarrowingswhichareintended
toslowyoudown.Whenyouapproachthesefeaturesreduceyour
speed.Allowcyclistsandmotorcyclistsroomtopassthroughthem.
Maintainareducedspeedalongthewholeofthestretchofroad
withinthecalmingmeasures.Givewaytooncomingroadusersif
directedtodosobysigns.Youshouldnotovertakeothermoving
roaduserswhileintheseareas.
Countryroads
154. Takeextracareoncountryroadsandreduceyourspeedat
approachestobends,whichcanbesharperthantheyappear,and
atjunctionsandturnings,whichmaybepartiallyhidden.Be
preparedforpedestrians,horseriders,cyclists,slow-movingfarm
vehiclesormudontheroadsurface.Makesureyoucanstop
withinthedistanceyoucanseetobeclear.Youshouldalsoreduce
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yourspeedwherecountryroadsentervillages.
155. Single-trackroads. Theseareonlywideenoughforonevehicle.
Theymayhavespecialpassingplaces.Ifyouseeavehiclecoming
towardsyou,orthedriverbehindwantstoovertake,pullintoa
passingplaceonyourleft,orwaitoppositeapassingplaceonyour
right.Givewaytovehiclescominguphillwheneveryoucan.If
necessary,reverseuntilyoureachapassingplacetolettheother
vehiclepass.Slowdownwhenpassingpedestrians,cyclistsand
horseriders.
156. Donotparkinpassingplaces.
Vehiclesprohibitedfromusingroadsand
pavements
157. Certainmotorisedvehiclesdonotmeettheconstructionand
technicalrequirementsforroadvehiclesandaregenerallynot
intended,notsuitableandnotlegalforroad,pavement,footpath,
cyclepathorbridlewayuse.Theseincludemosttypesofminiature
motorcycles,alsocalledminimotos,andmotorisedscooters,also
calledgopeds,whicharepoweredbyelectricorinternal
combustionengines.Thesetypesofvehicle MUSTNOT beusedon
roads,pavements,footpathsorbridleways.
LawsRTA1988sects34,41a,42,47,63&66,HA1835,sect72,&
R(S)Asect129
158. Certainmodelsofmotorcycles,motortricyclesandquadricycles,
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alsocalledquadbikes,aresuitableonlyforoff-roaduseanddonot
meetlegalstandardsforuseonroads.Vehiclesthatdonotmeet
thesestandards MUSTNOT beusedonroads.They MUSTNOT be
usedonpavements,footpaths,cyclepathsorbridlewayseither.
YouMUSTmakesurethatanymotorcycle,motortricycle,
quadricycleoranyothermotorvehiclemeetslegalstandardsand
isproperlyregistered,taxedandinsuredbeforeusingitonthe
roads.Evenwhenregistered,taxedandinsuredfortheroad,
vehicles MUSTNOT beusedonpavements.
LawsRTA1988sects34,41a,42,47,63,66&156,HA1835,sect
72,R(S)Asect129,&VERASs1,29,31A,&43A
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1.Generalrules
159. Beforemovingoffyoushould
● useallmirrorstochecktheroadisclear
● lookroundtochecktheblindspots(theareasyouare
unabletoseeinthemirrors)
● signalifnecessarybeforemovingout
● lookroundforafinalcheck.
Moveoffonlywhenitissafetodoso.
160. Oncemovingyoushould
● keeptotheleft,unlessroadsignsormarkingsindicate
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otherwise.Theexceptionsarewhenyouwanttoovertake,
turnrightorpassparkedvehiclesorpedestriansintheroad
● keepwelltotheleftonright-handbends.Thiswillimprove
yourviewoftheroadandhelpavoidtheriskofcolliding
withtrafficapproachingfromtheoppositedirection
● drivewithbothhandsonthewheelwherepossible.Thiswill
helpyoutoremaininfullcontrolofthevehicleatalltimes.
Youmayusedriverassistancesystemswhileyouaredriving.
Makesureyouuseanysystemaccordingtothe
manufacturer’sinstructions
● beawareofotherroadusers,especiallycyclesand
motorcycleswhomaybefilteringthroughthetraffic.These
aremoredifficulttoseethanlargervehiclesandtheirriders
areparticularlyvulnerable.Givethemplentyofroom,
especiallyifyouaredrivingalongvehicleortowingatrailer
● selectalowergearbeforeyoureachalongdownhillslope.
Thiswillhelptocontrolyourspeed
● whentowing,remembertheextralengthwillaffect
overtakingandmanoeuvring.Theextraweightwillalso
affectthebrakingandacceleration.
161. Mirrors. Allmirrorsshouldbeusedeffectivelythroughoutyour
journey.Youshould
● useyourmirrorsfrequentlysothatyoualwaysknowwhatis
behindandtoeachsideofyou
● usethemingoodtimebeforeyousignalorchangedirection
orspeed
● beawarethatmirrorsdonotcoverallareasandtherewill
beblindspots.
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Youwillneedtolookroundandcheck.
Remember:Mirrors–Signal–Manoeuvre
2.Overtaking
162. Beforeovertaking youshouldmakesure
● theroadissufficientlyclearahead
● roadusersarenotbeginningtoovertakeyou
● thereisasuitablegapinfrontoftheroaduseryouplanto
overtake.
163. Overtakeonly whenitissafeandlegaltodoso.Youshould
● notgettooclosetothevehicleyouintendtoovertake
● useyourmirrors,signalwhenitissafetodoso,takeaquick
sidewaysglanceifnecessaryintotheblindspotareaand
thenstarttomoveout
● notassumethatyoucansimplyfollowavehicleaheadwhich
isovertaking;theremayonlybeenoughroomforone
vehicle
● movequicklypastthevehicleyouareovertaking,onceyou
havestartedtoovertake.Allowplentyofroom.Moveback
totheleftassoonasyoucanbutdonotcutin
● takeextracareatnightandinpoorvisibilitywhenitis
hardertojudgespeedanddistance
● givewaytooncomingvehiclesbeforepassingparked
vehiclesorotherobstructionsonyoursideoftheroad
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● onlyovertakeontheleftifthevehicleinfrontissignallingto
turnright,andthereisroomtodoso
● stayinyourlaneiftrafficismovingslowlyinqueues.Ifthe
queueonyourrightismovingmoreslowlythanyouare,you
maypassontheleft
● givemotorcyclists,cyclistsandhorseridersatleastasmuch
roomasyouwouldwhenovertakingacar(see R ules211to
213 a nd 2
14to215).
Remember:Mirrors–Signal–Manoeuvre
164. Largevehicles. Overtakingtheseismoredifficult.Youshould
● dropback.Thiswillincreaseyourabilitytoseeaheadand
shouldallowthedriverofthelargevehicletoseeyouin
theirmirrors.Gettingtooclosetolargevehicles,including
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agriculturalvehiclessuchasatractorwithatrailerorother
fixedequipment,willobscureyourviewoftheroadahead
andtheremaybeanotherslow-movingvehicleinfront
● makesurethatyouhaveenoughroomtocompleteyour
overtakingmanoeuvrebeforecommittingyourself.Ittakes
longertopassalargevehicle.Ifindoubtdonotovertake
● notassumeyoucanfollowavehicleaheadwhichis
overtakingalongvehicle.Ifaproblemdevelops,theymay
abortovertakingandpullbackin.
165. You MUSTNOT overtake
● ifyouwouldhavetocrossorstraddledoublewhitelines
withasolidlinenearesttoyou(butsee R ule129)
● ifyouwouldhavetoenteranareadesignedtodividetraffic,
ifitissurroundedbyasolidwhiteline
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● thenearestvehicletoapedestriancrossing,especiallywhen
ithasstoppedtoletpedestrianscross
● ifyouwouldhavetoenteralanereservedforbuses,trams
orcyclesduringitshoursofoperation
● aftera‘NoOvertaking’signanduntilyoupassasign
cancellingtherestriction.
LawsRTA1988sect36,TSRGDregs10,22,23&24,
ZPPPCRGDreg24
166. DONOT overtakeifthereisanydoubt,orwhereyoucannotsee
farenoughaheadtobesureitissafe.Forexample,whenyouare
approaching
● acornerorbend
● ahumpbridge
● thebrowofahill.
167. DONOT overtakewhereyoumightcomeintoconflictwithother
roadusers.Forexample
● approachingorataroadjunctiononeithersideoftheroad
● wheretheroadnarrows
● whenapproachingaschoolcrossingpatrol
● betweenthekerbandabusortramwhenitisatastop
● wheretrafficisqueuingatjunctionsorroadworks
● whenyouwouldforceanotherroadusertoswerveorslow
down
● atalevelcrossing
● whenaroaduserisindicatingright,evenifyoubelievethe
signalshouldhavebeencancelled.Donottakearisk;wait
forthesignaltobecancelled
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● staybehindifyouarefollowingacyclistapproachinga
roundaboutorjunction,andyouintendtoturnleft
● whenatramisstandingatakerbsidetramstopandthereis
noclearlymarkedpassinglaneforothertraffic.
168. Beingovertaken. Ifadriveristryingtoovertakeyou,maintaina
steadycourseandspeed,slowingdownifnecessarytoletthe
vehiclepass.Neverobstructdriverswhowishtopass.Speedingup
ordrivingunpredictablywhilesomeoneisovertakingyouis
dangerous.Dropbacktomaintainatwo-secondgapifsomeone
overtakesandpullsintothegapinfrontofyou.
169. Donotholdupalongqueueoftraffic,especiallyifyouare
drivingalargeorslow-movingvehicle.Checkyourmirrors
frequently,andifnecessary,pullinwhereitissafeandlettraffic
pass.
3.Roadjunctions
170. Takeextracareatjunctions.Youshould
● Watchoutforcyclists,motorcyclists,powered
wheelchairs/mobilityscootersandpedestriansastheyare
notalwayseasytosee.Beawarethattheymaynothave
seenorheardyouifyouareapproachingfrombehind
● Watchoutforpedestrianscrossingaroadintowhichyouare
turning.Iftheyhavestartedtocrosstheyhavepriority,so
giveway
● watchoutforlongvehicleswhichmaybeturningata
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junctionahead;theymayhavetousethewholewidthofthe
roadtomaketheturn(see R ule221)
● watchoutforhorseriderswhomaytakeadifferentlineon
theroadfromthatwhichyouwouldexpect
● Notassume,whenwaitingatajunction,thatavehicle
comingfromtherightandsignallingleftwillactuallyturn.
Waitandmakesure
● Lookallaroundbeforeemerging.Donotcrossorjoinaroad
untilthereisagaplargeenoughforyoutodososafely.
171. You MUST stopbehindthelineatajunctionwitha‘Stop’sign
andasolidwhitelineacrosstheroad.Waitforasafegapinthe
trafficbeforeyoumoveoff.
LawsRTA1988sect36&TSRGDregs10&16
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172. Theapproachtoajunctionmayhavea‘GiveWay’signora
trianglemarkedontheroad.You MUST givewaytotrafficonthe
mainroadwhenemergingfromajunctionwithbrokenwhitelines
acrosstheroad.
LawsRTA1988sect36&TSRGDregs10(1),16(1)&25
173. Dualcarriageways. Whencrossingorturningright,firstassess
whetherthecentralreservationisdeepenoughtoprotectthefull
lengthofyourvehicle.
● Ifitis,thenyoushouldtreateachhalfofthecarriagewayas
aseparateroad.Waitinthecentralreservationuntilthereis
asafegapinthetrafficonthesecondhalfoftheroad.
● Ifthecentralreservationistooshallowforthelengthofyour
vehicle,waituntilyoucancrossbothcarriagewaysinonego.
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174. Boxjunctions. Thesehavecriss-crossyellowlinespaintedonthe
road(d ownload‘Roadmarkings’).You MUSTNOT enterthebox
untilyourexitroadorlaneisclear.However,youmayenterthe
boxandwaitwhenyouwanttoturnright,andareonlystopped
fromdoingsobyoncomingtraffic,orbyothervehicleswaitingto
turnright.Atsignalledroundaboutsyou MUSTNOT enterthebox
unlessyoucancrossoveritcompletelywithoutstopping.
LawTSRGDregs10(1)&29(2)
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Junctionscontrolledbytrafficlights
175. You MUST stopbehindthewhite‘Stop’lineacrossyoursideof
theroadunlessthelightisgreen.Iftheamberlightappearsyou
maygoononlyifyouhavealreadycrossedthestoplineorareso
closetoitthattostopmightcauseacollision.
LawsRTA1988sect36&TSRGDregs10&36
176. You MUSTNOT moveforwardoverthewhitelinewhenthered
lightisshowing.Onlygoforwardwhenthetrafficlightsaregreenif
thereisroomforyoutoclearthejunctionsafelyoryouaretaking
upapositiontoturnright.Ifthetrafficlightsarenotworking,treat
thesituationasyouwouldanunmarkedjunctionandproceedwith
greatcare.
LawsRTA1988sect36&TSRGDregs10&36
177. Greenfilterarrow. Thisindicatesafilterlaneonly.Donotenter
thatlaneunlessyouwanttogointhedirectionofthearrow.You
mayproceedinthedirectionofthegreenarrowwhenit,orthefull
greenlightshows.Giveothertraffic,especiallycyclists,timeand
roomtomoveintothecorrectlane.
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178. Advancedstoplines. Somesignal-controlledjunctionshave
advancedstoplinestoallowcyclestobepositionedaheadofother
traffic.Motorists,includingmotorcyclists, MUST stopatthefirst
whitelinereachedifthelightsareamberorredandshouldavoid
blockingthewayorencroachingonthemarkedareaatother
times,e.g.ifthejunctionaheadisblocked.Ifyourvehiclehas
proceededoverthefirstwhitelineatthetimethatthesignalgoes
red,you MUST stopatthesecondwhiteline,evenifyourvehicleis
inthemarkedarea.Allowcycliststimeandspacetomoveoffwhen
thegreensignalshows.
LawsRTA1988sect36&TSRGDregs10,36(1)&43(2)
Turningright
179. Wellbefore youturnrightyoushould
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● useyourmirrorstomakesureyouknowthepositionand
movementoftrafficbehindyou
● givearight-turnsignal
● takeupapositionjustleftofthemiddleoftheroadorinthe
spacemarkedfortrafficturningright
● leaveroomforothervehiclestopassontheleft,ifpossible.
180. Waituntilthereisasafegapbetweenyouandanyoncoming
vehicle.Watchoutforcyclists,motorcyclists,pedestriansandother
roadusers.Checkyourmirrorsandblindspotagaintomakesure
youarenotbeingovertaken,thenmaketheturn.Donotcutthe
corner.Takegreatcarewhenturningintoamainroad;youwill
needtowatchfortrafficinbothdirectionsandwaitforasafegap.
Remember:Mirrors–Signal–Manoeuvre
Rule180:Positionyourvehiclecorrectlytoavoidobstructingtraffic
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181. Whenturning rightatcrossroadswhereanoncomingvehicleis
alsoturningright,thereisachoiceoftwomethods
● turnrightsidetorightside;keeptheothervehicleonyour
rightandturnbehindit.Thisisgenerallythesafermethodas
youhaveaclearviewofanyapproachingtrafficwhen
completingyourturn
● leftsidetoleftside,turninginfrontofeachother.Thiscan
blockyourviewofoncomingvehicles,sotakeextracare.
Cyclistsandmotorcyclistsinparticularmaybehiddenfrom
yourview.Roadlayout,markingsorhowtheothervehicleis
positionedcandeterminewhichcourseshouldbetaken.
Turningleft
182. Useyourmirrorsandgivealeft-turnsignalwellbeforeyouturn
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left.Donotovertakejustbeforeyouturnleftandwatchoutfor
trafficcominguponyourleftbeforeyoumaketheturn,especially
ifdrivingalargevehicle.Cyclists,motorcyclistsandotherroad
usersinparticularmaybehiddenfromyourview.
183. Whenturning
● keepasclosetotheleftasissafeandpracticable
● givewaytoanyvehiclesusingabuslane,cyclelaneor
tramwayfromeitherdirection.
4.Roundabouts
184. Onapproachingaroundaboutt akenoticeandactonallthe
informationavailabletoyou,includingtrafficsigns,trafficlights
andlanemarkingswhichdirectyouintothecorrectlane.You
should
● useM irrors–Signal–Manoeuvrea tallstages
● decideasearlyaspossiblewhichexityouneedtotake
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● giveanappropriatesignal(seeR ule186).Timeyoursignals
soasnottoconfuseotherroadusers
● getintothecorrectlane
● adjustyourspeedandpositiontofitinwithtrafficconditions
● beawareofthespeedandpositionofalltheroadusers
aroundyou.
185. Whenreachingtheroundabout youshould
● giveprioritytotrafficapproachingfromyourright,unless
directedotherwisebysigns,roadmarkingsortrafficlights
● checkwhetherroadmarkingsallowyoutoenterthe
roundaboutwithoutgivingway.Ifso,proceed,butstilllook
totherightbeforejoining
● watchoutforallotherroadusersalreadyonthe
roundabout;beawaretheymaynotbesignallingcorrectly
oratall
● lookforwardbeforemovingofftomakesuretrafficinfront
hasmovedoff.
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186. Signalsandposition
Whentakingthefirstexittotheleft,unlesssignsormarkingsindicate
otherwise
● signalleftandapproachintheleft-handlane
● keeptotheleftontheroundaboutandcontinuesignalling
lefttoleave.
Whentakinganexittotherightorgoingfullcircle,unlesssignsor
markingsindicateotherwise
● signalrightandapproachintheright-handlane
● keeptotherightontheroundaboutuntilyouneedto
changelanestoexittheroundabout
● signalleftafteryouhavepassedtheexitbeforetheoneyou
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want.
Whentakinganyintermediateexit,unlesssignsormarkingsindicate
otherwise
● selecttheappropriatelaneonapproachtoandonthe
roundabout
● youshouldnotnormallyneedtosignalonapproach
● stayinthislaneuntilyouneedtoaltercoursetoexitthe
roundabout
● signalleftafteryouhavepassedtheexitbeforetheoneyou
want.
Whentherearemorethanthreelanesattheentrancetoa
roundabout,usethemostappropriatelaneonapproachandthrough
it.
187. Inallcaseswatchoutfor andgiveplentyofroomto
● pedestrianswhomaybecrossingtheapproachandexit
roads
● trafficcrossinginfrontofyouontheroundabout,especially
vehiclesintendingtoleavebythenextexit
● trafficwhichmaybestraddlinglanesorpositioned
incorrectly
● motorcyclists
● cyclistsandhorseriderswhomaystayintheleft-handlane
andsignalrightiftheyintendtocontinueroundthe
roundabout.Allowthemtodoso
● longvehicles(includingthosetowingtrailers).Thesemight
havetotakeadifferentcourseorstraddlelaneseither
approachingorontheroundaboutbecauseoftheirlength.
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Watchoutfortheirsignals.
188. Mini-roundabouts. Approachtheseinthesamewayasnormal
roundabouts.Allvehicles MUST passroundthecentralmarkings
exceptlargevehicleswhicharephysicallyincapableofdoingso.
Remember,thereislessspacetomanoeuvreandlesstimeto
signal.AvoidmakingU-turnsatmini-roundabouts.Bewareof
othersdoingthis.
LawsRTA1988sect36&TSRGDregs10(1)&16(1)
189. Atdoublemini-roundaboutstreateachroundaboutseparately
andgivewaytotrafficfromtheright.
190. Multipleroundabouts. Atsomecomplexjunctions,theremaybe
aseriesofmini-roundaboutsateachintersection.Treateach
mini-roundaboutseparatelyandfollowthenormalrules.
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5.Pedestriancrossings
191. You MUSTNOT parkonacrossingorintheareacoveredbythe
zig-zaglines.You MUSTNOT overtakethemovingvehiclenearest
thecrossingorthevehiclenearestthecrossingwhichhasstopped
togivewaytopedestrians.
LawsZPPPCRGDregs18,20&24,RTRAsect25(5)&TSRGDregs
10,27&28
192. Inqueuingtraffic,youshouldkeepthecrossingclear.
193. Youshouldtakeextracarewheretheviewofeithersideofthe
crossingisblockedbyqueuingtrafficorincorrectlyparkedvehicles.
Pedestriansmaybecrossingbetweenstationaryvehicles.
194. Allowpedestriansplentyoftimetocrossanddonotharass
thembyrevvingyourengineoredgingforward.
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195. Zebracrossings. Asyouapproachazebracrossing
● lookoutforpedestrianswaitingtocrossandbereadyto
slowdownorstoptoletthemcross
● youMUSTgivewaywhenapedestrianhasmovedontoa
crossing
● allowmoretimeforstoppingonwetoricyroads
● donotwaveoruseyourhorntoinvitepedestriansacross;
thiscouldbedangerousifanothervehicleisapproaching
● beawareofpedestriansapproachingfromthesideofthe
crossing.
Azebracrossingwithacentralislandistwoseparatecrossings(see
picturesin Crossings(18to30)).
LawZPPPCRGDreg25
Signal-controlledcrossings
196. Pelicancrossings. Thesearesignal-controlledcrossingswhere
flashingamberfollowsthered‘Stop’light.You MUST stopwhen
theredlightshows.Whentheamberlightisflashing,
you MUST givewaytoanypedestriansonthecrossing.Ifthe
amberlightisflashingandtherearenopedestriansonthe
crossing,youmayproceedwithcaution.
LawsZPPPCRGDregs23&26&RTRAsect25(5)
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197. Pelicancrossingswhichgostraightacrosstheroadareone
crossing,evenwhenthereisacentralisland.You MUST waitfor
pedestrianswhoarecrossingfromtheothersideoftheisland.
LawsZPPPCRGDreg26&RTRAsect25(5)
198. Givewaytoanyonestillcrossingafterthesignalforvehicleshas
changedtogreen.Thisadviceappliestoallcrossings.
199. Toucan,puffinandequestriancrossings. Thesearesimilarto
pelicancrossings,butthereisnoflashingamberphase;thelight
sequencefortrafficatthesethreecrossingsisthesameasattraffic
lights.Ifthesignal-controlledcrossingisnotworking,proceedwith
extremecaution.
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6.Reversing
200. Chooseanappropriateplacetomanoeuvre.Ifyouneedtoturn
yourvehiclearound,waituntilyoufindasafeplace.Trynotto
reverseorturnroundinabusyroad;findaquietsideroadordrive
roundablockofsidestreets.
201. Donotreversefromasideroadintoamainroad.Whenusinga
driveway,reverseinanddriveoutifyoucan.
202. Lookcarefullybeforeyoustartreversing.Youshould
● useallyourmirrors
● checkthe‘blindspot’behindyou(thepartoftheroadyou
cannotseeeasilyinthemirrors)
● checktherearenopedestrians(particularlychildren),
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cyclists,otherroadusersorobstructionsintheroadbehind
you.
● Reverseslowlywhile
● checkingallaround
● lookingmainlythroughtherearwindow
● beingawarethatthefrontofyourvehiclewillswingoutas
youturn.
Getsomeonetoguideyouifyoucannotseeclearly.
203. You MUSTNOT reverseyourvehiclefurtherthannecessary.
LawCURreg106
7.Theroaduserandthelaw
ThefollowinglistcanbefoundabbreviatedthroughouttheCode.Itisnot
intendedtobeacomprehensiveguide,butaguidetosomeofthe
importantpointsoflaw.Fortheprecisewordingofthelaw,pleasereferto
thevariousActsandRegulations(asamended)indicatedintheCode.
Abbreviationsarelistedbelow.
MostoftheprovisionsapplyonallroadsthroughoutGreatBritain,
althoughtherearesomeexceptions.ThedefinitionofaroadinEngland
andWalesis‘anyhighwayandanyotherroadtowhichthepublichas
accessandincludesbridgesoverwhicharoadpasses’(RTA1988sect
192(1)).InScotland,thereisasimilardefinitionwhichisextendedto
includeanywayoverwhichthepublichavearightofpassage(R(S)A1984
sect151(1)).
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Itisimportanttonotethatreferencesto‘road’thereforegenerallyinclude
footpaths,bridlewaysandcycletracks,andmanyroadwaysanddriveways
onprivateland(includingmanycarparks).Inmostcases,thelawwill
applytothemandtheremaybeadditionalrulesforparticularpathsor
ways.Someseriousdrivingoffences,includingdrink-drivingoffences,also
applytoallpublicplaces,forexamplepubliccarparks.
Actsandregulationsfrom1988canbeviewedonthe UKlegislations ite.
Actsandregulationspriorto1988areonlyavailableintheiroriginalprint
formatwhichmaybeobtainedfrom TheStationeryOffice asdetailed
insidethebackcover.
Actsandregulationspriorto1988
ChronicallySick&DisabledPersonsAct1970CSDPA
FunctionsofTrafficWardensOrder1970FTWO
GreaterLondon(GeneralPowers)Act1974GL(GP)A
HighwayAct1835or1980(asindicated)HA
MotorwaysTraffic(England&Wales)Regulations1982MT(E&W)R
MotorwaysTraffic(England&Wales)AmendedRegulationsMT(E&W)(A)R
PedalCycles(Construction&Use)Regulations1983PCUR
PublicPassengerVehiclesAct1981PPVA
RoadTrafficAct1984RTA
RoadTrafficRegulationAct1984RTRA
RoadVehicles(Construction&Use)Regulations1986CUR
Roads(Scotland)Act1984R(S)A
Actsandregulationsfrom1988onwards
Horses(ProtectiveHeadgearforYoungRiders)Act1990H(PHYR)A
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Horses(ProtectiveHeadgearforYoungRiders)Regulations1992H(PHYR)R
MotorCycles(EyeProtectors)Regulations1999MC(EP)R
MotorCycles(ProtectiveHelmets)Regulations1998MC(PH)R
MotorwaysTraffic(Scotland)Regulations1995MT(S)R
MotorVehicles(DrivingLicences)Regulations1999MV(DL)R
MotorVehicles(WearingofSeatBelts)Regulations1993MV(WSB)R
MotorVehicles(WearingofSeatBelts)(Amendment)Regulations2006
MV(WSB)(A)R
MotorVehicles(WearingofSeatBeltsbyChildreninFrontSeats)
Regulations1993MV(WSBCFS)R
NewRoadsandStreetworksAct1991NRSWA
PowersofCriminalCourts(Sentencing)Act2000PCC(S)A
PoliceReformAct2002PRA
ProhibitionofSmokinginCertainPremises(Scotland)Regulations2006.
ScottishSI2006/No90TPSCP(S)R*
RoadSafetyAct2006RSA
RoadTrafficAct1988RTA
RoadTrafficAct1991RTA
RoadTraffic(NewDrivers)Act1995RT(ND)A
RoadTrafficOffendersAct1988RTOA
RoadVehicles(DisplayofRegistrationMarks)Regulations2001RV(DRM)R
RoadVehiclesLightingRegulations1989RVLR
RoadVehicles(Registration&Licensing)Regulations2002RV(R&L)R
Smoke-free(ExemptionsandVehicles)Regulations2007SI2007/765
TSf(EV)*
Smoke-freePremisesetc(Wales)Regulations2007SI2007/W787
TSfP(W)R*
TrafficManagementAct2004TMA
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TrafficSignsRegulations&GeneralDirections2002TSRGD
UseofInvalidCarriagesonHighwaysRegulations1988UICHR
VehicleExciseandRegistrationAct1994VERA
Zebra,PelicanandPuffinPedestrianCrossingsRegulationsandGeneral
Directions1997ZPPPCRGD
*Specificlegislationappliestosmokinginvehicleswhichconstitute
workplaces.Forinformation,visit
http://www.smokefreeengland.co.uk;
http://www.clearingtheairscotland.com;
http://www.smokingbanwales.co.uk
1.Overview
204. Themostvulnerableroadusersarepedestrians,cyclists,
motorcyclistsandhorseriders.Itisparticularlyimportanttobe
awareofchildren,olderanddisabledpeople,andlearnerand
inexperienceddriversandriders.
2.Pedestrians
205. Thereisariskofpedestrians,especiallychildren,stepping
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unexpectedlyintotheroad.Youshoulddrivewiththesafetyof
childreninmindataspeedsuitablefortheconditions.
206. Drivecarefullyandslowly when
● incrowdedshoppingstreets,HomeZonesandQuietLanes
(see R
ule218)orresidentialareas
● drivingpastbusandtramstops;pedestriansmayemerge
suddenlyintotheroad
● passingparkedvehicles,especiallyicecreamvans;children
aremoreinterestedinicecreamthantrafficandmayrun
intotheroadunexpectedly
● needingtocrossapavementorcycletrack;forexample,to
reachorleaveadriveway.Givewaytopedestriansand
cyclistsonthepavement
● reversingintoasideroad;lookallaroundthevehicleand
givewaytoanypedestrianswhomaybecrossingtheroad
● turningatroadjunctions;givewaytopedestrianswhoare
alreadycrossingtheroadintowhichyouareturning
● thepavementisclosedduetostreetrepairsandpedestrians
aredirectedtousetheroad
● approachingpedestriansonnarrowruralroadswithouta
footwayorfootpath.Alwaysslowdownandbepreparedto
stopifnecessary,givingthemplentyofroomasyoudrive
past.
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207. Particularlyvulnerablepedestrians. Theseinclude:
● childrenandolderpedestrianswhomaynotbeabletojudge
yourspeedandcouldstepintotheroadinfrontofyou.At
40mph(64km/h)yourvehiclewillprobablykillany
pedestriansithits.At20mph(32km/h)thereisonlya1in
20chanceofthepedestrianbeingkilled.Sokillyourspeed
● olderpedestrianswhomayneedmoretimetocrossthe
road.Bepatientandallowthemtocrossintheirowntime.
Donothurrythembyrevvingyourengineoredgingforward
● peoplewithdisabilities.Peoplewithhearingimpairments
maynotbeawareofyourvehicleapproaching.Thosewith
walkingdifficultiesrequiremoretime
● blindorpartiallysightedpeople,whomaybecarryinga
whitecaneusingaguidedog.Theymaynotbeabletosee
youapproaching
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● deafblindpeoplewhomaybecarryingawhitecanewitha
redbandorusingadogwitharedandwhiteharness.They
maynotseeorhearinstructionsorsignals.
208. Nearschools. Driveslowlyandbeparticularlyawareofyoung
cyclistsandpedestrians.Insomeplaces,theremaybeaflashing
ambersignalbelowthe‘School’warningsignwhichtellsyouthat
theremaybechildrencrossingtheroadahead.Driveveryslowly
untilyouareclearofthearea.
209. Drivecarefullyandslowlywhenpassingastationarybusshowing
a‘SchoolBus’sign(d
ownload‘Vehiclemarkings’)aschildrenmay
begettingonoroff.
210. You MUST stopwhenaschoolcrossingpatrolshowsa‘Stopfor
children’sign(download‘ Trafficsigns’).
LawRTRAsect28
3.Motorcyclistsandcyclists
211. Itisoftendifficulttoseemotorcyclistsandcyclists,especially
whentheyarecomingupfrombehind,comingoutofjunctions,at
roundabouts,overtakingyouorfilteringthroughtraffic.Always
lookoutforthembeforeyouemergefromajunction;theycould
beapproachingfasterthanyouthink.Whenturningrightacrossa
lineofslow-movingorstationarytraffic,lookoutforcyclistsor
motorcyclistsontheinsideofthetrafficyouarecrossing.Be
especiallycarefulwhenturning,andwhenchangingdirectionor
lane.Besuretocheckmirrorsandblindspotscarefully.
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212. Whenpassingmotorcyclistsandcyclists,givethemplentyof
room(see Rules162to167).Iftheylookovertheirshoulderit
couldmeanthattheyintendtopullout,turnrightorchange
direction.Givethemtimeandspacetodoso.
213. Motorcyclistsandcyclistsmaysuddenlyneedtoavoiduneven
roadsurfacesandobstaclessuchasdraincoversoroily,wetoricy
patchesontheroad.Givethemplentyofroomandpayparticular
attentiontoanysuddenchangeofdirectiontheymayhaveto
make.
4.Otherroadusers
214. Animals. Whenpassinganimals,driveslowly.Givethemplenty
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ofroomandbereadytostop.Donotscareanimalsbysounding
yourhorn,revvingyourengineoracceleratingrapidlyonceyou
havepassedthem.Lookoutforanimalsbeingled,drivenorridden
ontheroadandtakeextracare.Keepyourspeeddownatbends
andonnarrowcountryroads.Ifaroadisblockedbyaherdof
animals,stopandswitchoffyourengineuntiltheyhaveleftthe
road.Watchoutforanimalsonunfencedroads.
215. Horseridersandhorse-drawnvehicles. Beparticularlycarefulof
horseridersandhorse-drawnvehiclesespeciallywhenovertaking.
Alwayspasswideandslowly.Horseridersareoftenchildren,so
takeextracareandrememberridersmayrideindoublefilewhen
escortingayoungorinexperiencedhorseorrider.Lookoutfor
horseriders’andhorsedrivers’signalsandheedarequesttoslow
downorstop.Takegreatcareandtreatallhorsesasapotential
hazard.
216. Olderdrivers. Theirreactionsmaybeslowerthanotherdrivers.
Makeallowanceforthis.
217. Learnersandinexperienceddrivers. Theymaynotbesoskilful
atanticipatingandrespondingtoevents.Beparticularlypatient
withlearnerdriversandyoungdrivers.Driverswhohaverecently
passedtheirtestmaydisplaya‘newdriver’plateorsticker
(see Safetycodefornewdrivers).
218. HomeZonesandQuietLanes.Theseareplaceswherepeople
couldbeusingthewholeoftheroadforarangeofactivitiessuch
aschildrenplayingorforacommunityevent.Youshoulddrive
slowlyandcarefullyandbepreparedtostoptoallowpeopleextra
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timetomakespaceforyoutopasstheminsafety.
5.Othervehicles
219. EmergencyandIncidentSupportvehicles. Youshouldlookand
listenforambulances,fireengines,police,doctorsorother
emergencyvehiclesusingflashingblue,redorgreenlightsand
sirensorflashingheadlights,orHighwaysAgencyTrafficOfficerand
IncidentSupportvehiclesusingflashingamberlights.Whenone
approachesdonotpanic.Considertherouteofsuchavehicleand
takeappropriateactiontoletitpass,whilecomplyingwithall
trafficsigns.Ifnecessary,pulltothesideoftheroadandstop,but
trytoavoidstoppingbeforethebrowofahill,abendornarrow
sectionofroad.Donotendangeryourself,otherroadusersor
pedestriansandavoidmountingthekerb.Donotbrakeharshlyon
approachtoajunctionorroundabout,asafollowingvehiclemay
nothavethesameviewasyou.
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220. Poweredvehiclesusedbydisabledpeople. Thesesmallvehicles
travelatamaximumspeedof8mph(12km/h).Onadual
carriagewaywherethespeedlimitexceeds50mph(80km/h)
they MUST haveaflashingamberbeacon,butonotherroadsyou
maynothavethatadvancewarning(see Rules36to46 inclusive).
LawRVLRreg17(1)&26
221. Largevehicles. Thesemayneedextraroadspacetoturnorto
dealwithahazardthatyouarenotabletosee.Ifyouarefollowing
alargevehicle,suchasabusorarticulatedlorry,beawarethatthe
drivermaynotbeabletoseeyouinthemirrors.Bepreparedto
stopandwaitifitneedsroomortimetoturn.
222. Largevehiclescanblockyourview.Yourabilitytoseeandtoplan
aheadwillbeimprovedifyoupullbacktoincreaseyourseparation
distance.Bepatient,aslargervehiclesaresubjecttolowerspeed
limitsthancarsandmotorcycles.Manylargevehiclesmaybefitted
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withspeedlimitingdeviceswhichwillrestrictspeedto56mph(90
km/h)evenonamotorway.
223. Buses,coachesandtrams. Giveprioritytothesevehicleswhen
youcandososafely,especiallywhentheysignaltopullawayfrom
stops.Lookoutforpeoplegettingoffabusortramandcrossing
theroad.
224. Electricvehicles. Becarefulofelectricvehiclessuchasmilk
floatsandtrams.Tramsmovequicklybutsilentlyandcannotsteer
toavoidyou.
225. Vehicleswithflashingamberbeacons. Thesewarnofa
slow-movingorstationaryvehicle(suchasaTrafficOfficervehicle,
saltspreader,snowploughorrecoveryvehicle)orabnormalloads,
soapproachwithcaution.Onunrestricteddualcarriageways,
motorvehiclesfirstusedonorafter1January1947witha
maximumspeedof25mph(40km/h)orless(suchas
tractors) MUST useaflashingamberbeacon(alsoseeRule220
above).
LawRVLR1989,reg17
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Drivingina dversew
eather
conditions
1.Overview
226. You MUST useheadlightswhenvisibilityisseriouslyreduced,
generallywhenyoucannotseeformorethan100metres(328
feet).Youmayalsousefrontorrearfoglightsbutyou MUST switch
themoffwhenvisibilityimproves(see Rule236).
LawRVLRregs25&27
2.Wetweather
227. Wetweather. Inwetweather,stoppingdistanceswillbeatleast
doublethoserequiredforstoppingondryroads.Thisisbecause
yourtyreshavelessgripontheroad.Inwetweather
● youshouldkeepwellbackfromthevehicleinfront.Thiswill
increaseyourabilitytoseeandplanahead
● ifthesteeringbecomesunresponsive,itprobablymeans
thatwaterispreventingthetyresfromgrippingtheroad.
Easeofftheacceleratorandslowdowngradually
● therainandsprayfromvehiclesmaymakeitdifficulttosee
andbeseen
● beawareofthedangersofspiltdieselthatwillmakethe
surfaceveryslippery(see A nnex6:Vehiclemaintenance,
safetyandsecurity)
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● takeextracarearoundpedestrians,cyclists,motorcyclists
andhorseriders.
3.Icyandsnowyweather
228. Inwintercheckthelocalweatherforecastforwarningsoficyor
snowyweather. DONOT driveintheseconditionsunlessyour
journeyisessential.Ifitis,takegreatcareandallowmoretimefor
yourjourney.Takeanemergencykitofde-icerandicescraper,
torch,warmclothingandboots,firstaidkit,jumpleadsanda
shovel,togetherwithawarmdrinkandemergencyfoodincase
yougetstuckoryourvehiclebreaksdown.
229. Beforeyousetoff
● you MUST beabletosee,soclearallsnowandicefromall
yourwindows
● you MUST ensurethatlightsarecleanandnumberplates
areclearlyvisibleandlegible
● makesurethemirrorsareclearandthewindowsare
demistedthoroughly
● removeallsnowthatmightfalloffintothepathofother
roadusers
● checkyourplannedrouteisclearofdelaysandthatno
furthersnowfallsorsevereweatherarepredicted.
LawsCURreg30,RVLRreg23,VERAsect43&RV(DRM)R
reg11
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230. Whendriving inicyorsnowyweather
● drivewithcare,eveniftheroadshavebeentreated
● keepwellbackfromtheroaduserinfrontasstopping
distancescanbetentimesgreaterthanondryroads
● takecarewhenovertakingvehiclesspreadingsaltorother
de-icer,particularlyifyouareridingamotorcycleorcycle
● Watchoutforsnowploughswhichmaythrowoutsnowon
eitherside.Donotovertakethemunlessthelaneyouintend
tousehasbeencleared
● bepreparedfortheroadconditionstochangeoverrelatively
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shortdistances
● Listentotravelbulletinsandtakenoteofvariablemessage
signsthatmayprovideinformationaboutweather,roadand
trafficconditionsahead.
231. Driveextremelycarefully whentheroadsareicy.Avoidsudden
actionsasthesecouldcauselossofcontrol.Youshould
● driveataslowspeedinashighagearaspossible;accelerate
andbrakeverygently
● driveparticularlyslowlyonbendswherelossofcontrolis
morelikely.Brakeprogressivelyonthestraightbeforeyou
reachabend.Havingsloweddown,steersmoothlyround
thebend,avoidingsuddenactions
● checkyourgripontheroadsurfacewhenthereissnowor
icebychoosingasafeplacetobrakegently.Ifthesteering
feelsunresponsivethismayindicateiceandyourvehicle
losingitsgripontheroad.Whentravellingonice,tyres
makevirtuallynonoise.
4.Windyweather
232. High-sidedvehiclesaremostaffectedbywindyweather,but
stronggustscanalsoblowacar,cyclist,motorcyclistorhorserider
offcourse.Thiscanhappenonopenstretchesofroadexposedto
strongcrosswinds,orwhenpassingbridgesorgapsinhedges.
233. Inverywindyweatheryourvehiclemaybeaffectedby
turbulencecreatedbylargevehicles.Motorcyclistsareparticularly
affected,sokeepwellbackfromthemwhentheyareovertakinga
high-sidedvehicle.
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5.Fog
234. Beforeenteringfogc heckyourmirrorsthenslowdown.If‘Fog’
isshownonasignbuttheroadisclear,bepreparedforabankof
fogordriftingpatchyfogahead.Evenifitseemstobeclearing,you
cansuddenlyfindyourselfinthickfog.
235. When drivinginfog youshould
● useyourlightsasrequired(see R ule226)
● keepasafedistancebehindthevehicleinfront.Rearlights
cangiveafalsesenseofsecurity
● beabletopullupwellwithinthedistanceyoucansee
clearly.Thisisparticularlyimportantonmotorwaysanddual
carriageways,asvehiclesaretravellingfaster
● useyourwindscreenwipersanddemisters
● bewareofotherdriversnotusingheadlights
● notacceleratetogetawayfromavehiclewhichistooclose
behindyou
● checkyourmirrorsbeforeyouslowdown.Thenuseyour
brakessothatyourbrakelightswarndriversbehindyouthat
youareslowingdown
● stopinthecorrectpositionatajunctionwithlimited
visibilityandlistenfortraffic.Whenyouaresureitissafeto
emerge,dosopositivelyanddonothesitateinaposition
thatputsyoudirectlyinthepathofapproachingvehicles.
236. You MUSTNOT usefrontorrearfoglightsunlessvisibilityis
seriouslyreduced(see Rule226)astheydazzleotherroadusers
andcanobscureyourbrakelights.You MUST switchthemoffwhen
visibilityimproves.
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LawRVLRregs25&27
6.Hotweather
237. Keepyourvehiclewellventilatedtoavoiddrowsiness.Beaware
thattheroadsurfacemaybecomesoftorifitrainsafteradryspell
itmaybecomeslippery.Theseconditionscouldaffectyoursteering
andbraking.Ifyouaredazzledbybrightsunlight,slowdownandif
necessary,stop.
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Waitinga ndp
arking
1.Waitingandparking
238. You MUSTNOT waitorparkonyellowlinesduringthetimesof
operationshownonnearbytimeplates(orzoneentrysignsifina
ControlledParkingZone)– download‘ Trafficsigns’and ‘Road
markings’.Doubleyellowlinesindicateaprohibitionofwaitingat
anytimeeveniftherearenouprightsigns.YouM
USTNOT waitor
park,orstoptosetdownandpickuppassengers,onschool
entrancemarkings(d ownload‘Roadmarkings’)whenuprightsigns
indicateaprohibitionofstopping.
LawRTRAsects5&8
2.Parking
239. Useoff-streetparkingareas,orbaysmarkedoutwithwhitelines
ontheroadasparkingplaces,whereverpossible.Ifyouhaveto
stopontheroadside
● donotparkfacingagainstthetrafficflow
● stopascloseasyoucantotheside
● donotstoptooclosetoavehicledisplayingaBlueBadge:
remember,theoccupantmayneedmoreroomtogetinor
out
● you M UST s witchofftheengine,headlightsandfoglights
● you M UST a pplythehandbrakebeforeleavingthevehicle
● you M UST e nsureyoudonothitanyonewhenyouopen
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yourdoor.Checkforcyclistsorothertraffic
● itissaferforyourpassengers(especiallychildren)togetout
ofthevehicleonthesidenexttothekerb
● putallvaluablesoutofsightandmakesureyourvehicleis
secure
● lockyourvehicle.
Beforeusingahand-helddevicetohelpyoutopark,youMUST
makesureitissafetodoso.Then,youshouldmovethevehicleinto
theparkingspaceinthesafestway,andbytheshortestroute
possible.
Whenyouuseahand-helddevicetohelpyoutopark,youMUST
remainincontrolofthevehicleatalltimes.Donotusethe
hand-helddeviceforanythingelsewhileyouareusingittohelpyou
park,anddonotputanyoneindanger.Usethehand-helddevice
accordingtothemanufacturer’sinstructions.
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Rule239:Checkbeforeopeningyourdoor
240. You MUSTNOT stoporparkon
● thecarriageway,anemergencyareaorahardshoulderofa
motorwayexceptinanemergency(seeR ules270and271)
● apedestriancrossing,includingtheareamarkedbythe
zig-zaglines(s ee Rule191)
● aclearway
● taxibaysasindicatedbyuprightsignsandmarkings
● anUrbanClearwaywithinitshoursofoperation,exceptto
pickuporsetdownpassengers
● aroadmarkedwithdoublewhitelines,evenwhenabroken
whitelineisonyoursideoftheroad,excepttopickuporset
downpassengers,ortoloadorunloadgoods
● atramorcyclelaneduringitsperiodofoperation
● acycletrack
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● redlines,inthecaseofspeciallydesignated‘redroutes’,
unlessotherwiseindicatedbysigns.Anyvehiclemayentera
buslanetostop,loadorunloadwherethisisnotprohibited
(see Rule140).
LawsMT(E&W)Rregs7&9,MT(S)Rregs6&8,ZPPPCRGD
regs18&20,RTRAsects5,6&8,TSRGDregs10,26&27,
RTA1988sects21(1)&36
241. You MUSTNOT parkinparkingspacesreservedforspecific
users,suchasBlueBadgeholders,residentsormotorcycles,unless
entitledtodoso.
LawsCSDPAsect21&RTRAsects5&8
242. You MUSTNOT leaveyourvehicleortrailerinadangerous
positionorwhereitcausesanyunnecessaryobstructionofthe
road.
LawsRTA1988,sect22&CURreg103
243. DONOT stoporpark
● nearaschoolentrance
● anywhereyouwouldpreventaccessforEmergencyServices
● atornearabusortramstoportaxirank
● ontheapproachtoalevelcrossing/tramwaycrossing
● oppositeorwithin10metres(32feet)ofajunction,except
inanauthorisedparkingspace
● nearthebrowofahillorhumpbridge
● oppositeatrafficislandor(ifthiswouldcausean
obstruction)anotherparkedvehicle
● whereyouwouldforceothertraffictoenteratramlane
● wherethekerbhasbeenloweredtohelpwheelchairusers
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andpoweredmobilityvehicles
● infrontofanentrancetoaproperty
● onabend
● whereyouwouldobstructcyclists’useofcycle
facilities e
xceptw henforcedtodosobystationarytraffic.
244. You MUSTNOT parkpartiallyorwhollyonthepavementin
London,andshouldnotdosoelsewhereunlesssignspermitit.
Parkingonthepavementcanobstructandseriouslyinconvenience
pedestrians,peopleinwheelchairsorwithvisualimpairmentsand
peoplewithpramsorpushchairs.
LawGL(GP)Asect15
245. ControlledParkingZones. Thezoneentrysignsindicatethe
timeswhenthewaitingrestrictionswithinthezoneareinforce.
Parkingmaybeallowedinsomeplacesatothertimes.Otherwise
parkingwillbewithinseparatelysignedandmarkedbays.
246. Goodsvehicles. Vehicleswithamaximumladenweightofover
7.5tonnes(includinganytrailer) MUSTNOT beparkedonaverge,
pavementoranylandsituatedbetweencarriageways,without
policepermission.Theonlyexceptioniswhenparkingisessential
forloadingandunloading,inwhichcasethevehicle MUSTNOT be
leftunattended.
LawRTA1988sect19
247. Loadingandunloading. Donotloadorunloadwherethereare
yellowmarkingsonthekerbanduprightsignsadviserestrictions
areinplace(seepages115-116).Thismaybepermittedwhere
parkingisotherwiserestricted.Onredroutes,speciallymarked
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andsignedbaysindicatewhereandwhenloadingandunloadingis
permitted.
LawRTRAsects5&8
3.Parkingatnight
248. You MUSTNOT parkonaroadatnightfacingagainstthe
directionofthetrafficflowunlessinarecognisedparkingspace.
LawsCURreg101&RVLRreg24
249. Allvehicles MUST displayparkinglightswhenparkedonaroad
oralay-byonaroadwithaspeedlimitgreaterthan30mph(48
km/h).
LawRVLRreg24
250. Cars,goodsvehiclesnotexceeding1525kgunladenweight,
invalidcarriages,motorcyclesandpedalcyclesmaybeparked
withoutlightsonaroad(orlay-by)withaspeedlimitof30mph
(48km/h)orlessiftheyare
● atleast10metres(32feet)awayfromanyjunction,closeto
thekerbandfacinginthedirectionofthetrafficflow
● inarecognisedparkingplaceorlay-by.
Othervehiclesandtrailers,andallvehicleswithprojectingloads,
MUSTNOT beleftonaroadatnightwithoutlights.
LawsRVLRreg24&CURreg82(7)
251. Parkinginfog. Itisespeciallydangeroustoparkontheroadin
fog.Ifitisunavoidable,leaveyourparkinglightsorsidelightson.
252. Parkingonhills. Ifyouparkonahillyoushould
● parkclosetothekerbandapplythehandbrakefirmly
● selectaforwardgearandturnyoursteeringwheelaway
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fromthekerbwhenfacinguphill
● selectreversegearandturnyoursteeringwheeltowardsthe
kerbwhenfacingdownhill
● use‘park’ifyourcarhasanautomaticgearbox.
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4.DecriminalisedParking
Enforcement
DPE isbecomingincreasinglycommonasmoreauthoritiestakeonthis
role.Thelocaltrafficauthorityassumesresponsibilityforenforcingmany
parkingcontraventionsinplaceofthepolice.FurtherdetailsonDPE may
befoundatthefollowingwebsites:
Trafficpenaltytribunal (outsideLondon)
Parkingandtrafficappealsservice (insideLondon)
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Motorways
Rulesformotorways,includingrulesforsignals,joiningthemotorway,
drivingonthemotorway,lanediscipline,overtaking,stoppingandleaving
themotorway.Anumberoftherulesformotorwaysalsoapplytoother
high-speedroads.
Anumberoftherulesformotorwaysalsoapplytootherhigh-speed
roads.ManyotherRulesapplytomotorwaydriving,eitherwhollyorin
part:Rules 46, 57, 83to88, 89to102, 103to126,1
39,1
44,1
46to
151, 160to161, 219, 221to222,2 25, 226-237, 274to278,2 80to
287 and 288to290.
1.General
253. Prohibitedvehicles. Motorways MUSTNOT beusedby
pedestrians,holdersofprovisionalmotorcycleorcarlicences,
ridersofmotorcyclesunder50cc,cyclists,horseriders,certain
slow-movingvehiclesandthosecarryingoversizedloads(exceptby
specialpermission),agriculturalvehicles,andpowered
wheelchairs/poweredmobilityscooters(see Rules36to
46 inclusive)
ProvisionalcarlicenceholdersM USTNOTdriveonthemotorway
unlesstheyareaccompaniedbyaDVSAApprovedDrivingInstructor
(ADI)andaredrivingacardisplayingredLplates(orDplatesin
Wales)withdualcontrols.
LawsHA1980sects16,17&sch4,MT(E&W)Rregs3(d),4&11,
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MT(E&W)(A)R,R(S)Asects7,8&sch3,RTRAsects17(2)&(3),&
MT(S)Rreg10
254. Trafficonmotorwaysusuallytravelsfasterthanonotherroads,
soyouhavelesstimetoreact.Itisespeciallyimportanttouseyour
mirrorsearlierandlookmuchfurtheraheadthanyouwouldon
otherroads.
2.Motorwaysignals
255. Signsandsignals(d ownload‘Lightsignalscontrollingtraffic’)are
usedtowarnyouofhazardsahead.Forexample,theremaybean
incident,fog,aspillageorroadworkersonthecarriagewaywhich
youmaynotimmediatelybeabletosee.
256. Asinglesignorsignalcandisplayadvice,restrictionsand
warningsforalllanes.
Lanespecificsignsandsignalscandisplayadvice,restrictionsand
warningsthatapplytoindividuallanes.
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257. Amberflashinglights.
Thesesignalswarnofahazardahead.Youshould
● reduceyourspeed
● bepreparedforthehazard
● onlyincreaseyourspeedwhenyoupassasignalthatisnot
flashing,orasigndisplayinganationalspeedlimitortheword
‘END’,andyouaresureitissafetodoso.
258. Redflashinglightsignalsandared‘X’onasignidentifyaclosed
laneinwhichpeople,stoppedvehiclesorotherhazardsare
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present.You
● MUSTfollowtheinstructionsonsignsinadvanceofaclosedlane
tomovesafelytoanopenlane
● MUSTNOTdriveinaclosedlane.Asignwillinformyouwhenthe
laneisnolongerclosedbydisplayingaspeedlimitortheword
‘END’
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Beawarethat
● therecanbeseveralhazardsinaclosedlane
● emergencyservicesandtrafficauthoritiesuseclosedlanesto
reachincidentsandhelppeopleinneed
● wheretheleftlaneisclosedatanexitsliproad,thismeansthat
theexitcannotbeused.
Whereredflashinglightsignalsandclosureofalllanesareshown
onasign,theroadisclosed.You
● MUSTNOTgobeyondthesigninanylaneorusethehard
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shouldertoavoidtheroadclosureunlessdirectedtodosobya
policeortrafficofficer.
Laneandroadclosuresindicatedbyredflashinglightsareenforced
bythepolice.
3.Joiningthemotorway
259. Joiningthemotorway. Whenyoujointhemotorwayyouwill
normallyapproachitfromaroadontheleft(asliproad)orfrom
anadjoiningmotorway.Youshould
● giveprioritytotrafficalreadyonthemotorway
● checkthetrafficonthemotorwayandmatchyourspeedto
fitsafelyintothetrafficflowintheleft-handlane
● notcrosssolidwhitelinesthatseparatelanesorusethe
hardshoulder
● stayonthesliproadifitcontinuesasanextralaneonthe
motorway
● remainintheleft-handlanelongenoughtoadjusttothe
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speedoftrafficbeforeconsideringovertaking.
4.Onthemotorway
260. Whenyoucanseewellaheadandtheroadconditionsaregood,
youshould
● driveatasteadycruisingspeedwhichyouandyourvehicle
canhandlesafelyandiswithinthespeedlimit(s ee
the Speedlimitstable)
● keepasafedistancefromthevehicleinfrontandincrease
thegaponwetoricyroads,orinfog(see
Rules 126 and 235).
Speedlimitsareenforcedbythepolice(seeRule124).
262.
Themonotonyofdrivingonmotorwaysandotherhigh-speed
roadscanmakeyoufeelsleepy.Tominimisetherisk,followthe
adviceinR ule91aboutensuringyouarefittodriveandtaking
breaks.
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Serviceareasarelocatedalongmotorwaystoallowyoutotake
breaksandtoobtainrefreshments.Refreshmentandrest
facilitiesonthelocalroadnetworkmayalsobeaccessiblefrom
motorwayexits.
LawRTRAsects17,86,89&sch6
263. Unlessdirectedtodosobyapoliceortrafficofficer,youM
UST
NOT
● reversealonganypartofamotorway,includingsliproads,hard
shouldersandemergencyareas
● crossthecentralreservation
● driveagainstthetrafficflow.
Ifyouhavemissedyourexit,orhavetakenthewrongroute,carryonto
thenextexit.
264. Keepintheleftlaneunlessovertaking.
● Ifyouareovertaking,youshouldreturntotheleftlanewhenitis
safetodoso(seealsoRules267and268).
● Beawareofemergencyservices,trafficofficers,recoveryworkers
andotherpeopleorvehiclesstoppedonthehardshoulderorin
anemergencyarea.Ifyouaredrivingintheleftlane,anditissafe
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todoso,youshouldmoveintotheadjacentlanetocreatemore
spacebetweenyourvehicleandthepeopleandstoppedvehicles.
5.Lanediscipline
265. Theright-handlaneofamotorwaywiththreeormore
lanes MUSTNOTb eused(exceptinprescribedcircumstances)if
youaredriving
● anyvehicledrawingatrailer
● agoodsvehiclewithamaximumladenweightexceeding3.5
tonnesbutnotexceeding7.5tonnes,whichisrequiredtobe
fittedwithaspeedlimiter
● agoodsvehiclewithamaximumladenweightexceeding7.5
tonnes
● apassengervehiclewithamaximumladenweightexceeding
7.5tonnesconstructedoradaptedtocarrymorethaneight
seatedpassengersinadditiontothedriver
● apassengervehiclewithamaximumladenweightnot
exceeding7.5tonneswhichisconstructedoradaptedto
carrymorethaneightseatedpassengersinadditiontothe
driver,whichisrequiredtobefittedwithaspeedlimiter.
LawsMT(E&W)Rreg12,MT(E&W)AR(2004),MT(S)Rreg11
&MT(S)AR(2004)
266. Approachingajunction. Lookwellaheadforsignalsorsigns.
Directionsignsmaybeplacedovertheroad.Ifyouneedtochange
lanes,dosoingoodtime.Atsomejunctionsalanemaylead
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directlyoffthemotorway.Onlygetinthatlaneifyouwishtogoin
thedirectionindicatedontheoverheadsigns.
6.Overtaking
267. Donotovertakeunlessyouaresureitissafeandlegaltodoso.
Overtakeonlyontheright.Youshould
● checkyourmirrors
● taketimetojudgethespeedscorrectly
● makesurethatthelaneyouwillbejoiningissufficiently
clearaheadandbehind
● takeaquicksidewaysglanceintotheblindspotareato
verifythepositionofavehiclethatmayhavedisappeared
fromyourviewinthemirror
● rememberthattrafficmaybecomingupbehindyouvery
quickly.Checkallyourmirrorscarefully.Lookoutfor
motorcyclists.Whenitissafetodoso,signalinplentyof
time,thenmoveout
● ensureyoudonotcutinonthevehicleyouhaveovertaken
● beespeciallycarefulatnightandinpoorvisibilitywhenitis
hardertojudgespeedanddistance.
268. Donotovertakeontheleftormovetoalaneonyourleftto
overtake.Incongestedconditions,whereadjacentlanesoftraffic
aremovingatsimilarspeeds,trafficinleft-handlanesmay
sometimesbemovingfasterthantraffictotheright.Inthese
conditionsyoumaykeepupwiththetrafficinyourlaneevenifthis
meanspassingtrafficinthelanetoyourright.Donotweaveinand
outoflanestoovertake.
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269. Hardshoulder( wherepresent).YouM USTNOTuseahard
shoulderexceptinanemergencyorifdirectedtodosobythe
police,trafficofficersoratrafficsign.
Hardshoulder(whereusedasanextralane).Thehardshoulderis
usedasanextralaneonsomemotorwaysduringperiodsof
congestion.Ared‘X’orblanksignabovethehardshouldermeans
thatyouM USTNOTusethehardshoulderexceptinanemergency.
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Youcanonlyusethehardshoulderasanextralanewhenaspeed
limitisshownabovethehardshoulder.
Wherethehardshoulderisbeingusedasanextralane,emergency
areasareprovidedforuseinanemergency(seeRule270).
LawsMT(E&W)Rregs5,5A&9,MT(S)Rregs4&8
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7.Stopping
270. Emergencyareasarelocatedalongmotorwayswith
nohards houlderorwherethehardshouldercanb eused
asanextralane(seeRule269)andM USTonlybeused
inanemergency.
Theya rem
arkedbybluesignswithanorangeS
OS
telephones ymbolandmayhaveorangesurfacing.
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Followtherequirementsandadvicein
● Rule277ifyourvehicledevelopsaproblemonthe
motorway
● Rule278torejointhecarriagewayfromanemergency
area.
LawsMT(E&W)Rregs5A,7,9,10&16,MT(S)Rregs6(1),8,9&14,
PRA2002sect41&sched5(8),&RTA1988sects35&163as
amendedbyTMA2004,sect6
271. YouMUSTNOTstoponanycarriageway,emergencyarea,hard
shoulder,sliproad,centralreservationorvergeexceptinan
emergency,orwhentoldtodosobythepolice,trafficofficers,an
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emergencysignorbyredflashinglightsignals.
Donotstoponanypartofamotorwaytomakeorreceivemobile
telephonecalls,exceptinanemergency.
LawsRTRAsect17&MT(E&W)Rreg15
272. YouM USTNOTpickuporsetdownanyone,orwalkona
motorway,exceptinanemergency.
8.Leavingthemotorway
273. Unlesssignsindicatethatalaneleadsdirectlyoffthemotorway,
youwillnormallyleavethemotorwaybyasliproadonyourleft.
Youshould
● watchforthesignslettingyouknowyouaregettingnear
yourexit
● moveintotheleft-handlanewellbeforereachingyourexit
● signalleftingoodtimeandreduceyourspeedontheslip
roadasnecessary.
274. Onleavingthemotorwayorusingalinkroadbetween
motorways,yourspeedmaybehigherthanyourealise-50mph
mayfeellike30mph.Checkyourspeedometerandadjustyour
speedaccordingly.Someslip-roadsandlinkroadshavesharp
bends,soyouwillneedtoslowdown.
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Breakdownsa ndincidents
Placeofrelativesafety
275. Ifyouneedtostopyourvehicleintheeventofabreakdownor
incident,trytostopinaplaceofrelativesafety.Aplaceofrelative
safetyiswhereyou,yourpassengersandyourvehiclearelesslikely
tobeatriskfrommovingtraffic.
Thesafestplacetostopisalocationwhichisdesignedforparking.On
motorwaysandotherhigh-speedroads,thesafestplacetostopisa
servicearea.Otherplacesofrelativesafetyinclude
● lay-bys
● emergencyareas(seeRule270)
● hardshoulders(seeRule269).
Beawarethathardshouldersprovidelessprotectionthanotherplaces
ofrelativesafetybecausetheyaresoclosetohigh-speedtraffic.
Youandyourpassengersshould,wherepossible,keepwellawayfrom
yourvehicleandmovingtraffic.Otherwisemovingtrafficcouldcollide
withyourvehicle,forcingitintoyouandyourpassengers.
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Breakdowns
276. Ifyourvehiclebreaksdown,thinkfirstofallotherroadusersand
● gety ourvehicleofftheroadifpossible
● warnothertrafficbyusingyourhazardwarninglightsifyour
vehicleiscausinganobstruction
● helpotherroadusersseeyoubywearinglight-colouredor
fluorescentclothingindaylightandreflectiveclothingatnight
orinpoorvisibility
● putawarningtriangleontheroadatleast45metres(147feet)
behindyourbroken-downvehicleonthesamesideofthe
road,oruseotherpermittedwarningdevicesifyouhavethem.
Alwaystakegreatcarewhenplacingorretrievingthem,but
neverusethemonmotorways
● ifpossible,keepyoursidelightsonifitisdarkorvisibilityis
poor
● donotstand(orletanybodyelsestand)betweenyourvehicle
andoncomingtraffic
● atnightorinpoorvisibilitydonotstandwhereyouwill
preventotherroadusersseeingyourlights.
LawsMT(E&W)Rreg14&MT(S)Rreg12
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Additionalrulesfor
motorways
277. Ifyourvehicledevelopsaproblem,leavethecarriagewayatthe
nextexitorpullintoaserviceareaifpossible(seeR
ule275for
placesofrelativesafety).Ifyoucannot,youshould
Goleft
● moveintotheleftlane
● pullintoanemergencyareaorontoahardshoulderifyoucan
● stopasfartotheleftaspossible,leavingspacetoexityour
vehicleandwithyourwheelsturnedtotheleft
● ifyoucan,stopjustbeyondanemergencytelephone
● switchyourhazardwarninglightson
● ifit’sdarkorvisibilityispoor,usesidelights.
Getsafe
● exityourvehiclebythesidefurthestfromtraffic,ifitissafe
andpossibletodoso,andensurepassengersdothesame
Ifyoucan’t
● getyourvehicletotheleftlaneoraplaceofrelativesafety(see
Rule275),and
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● exityourvehiclesafelytogetwellawayfromitandmoving
traffic,
youshould
● stayinyourvehicle
● keepyourseatbeltsandhazardwarninglightson
● call999immediatelyandaskforthepolice.Alternatively,press
yourSOSbuttonifyourvehiclehasoneandaskforthepolice.
● putonhigh-visibilityclothingifyouhaveitanditiswithineasy
reach
● getbehindasafetybarrierwherethereisone,butbeawareof
anyunseenhazardssuchassuddendrops,unevengroundor
debris
● DONOTstandinaplacewhereyourvehiclecouldbeforcedinto
youifmovingtrafficcollideswithit
● DONOTreturntoyourvehicleevenifit’sraining,coldordark
● remainalertandawareofvehiclesordebriscomingtowardsyou
● keeppassengersawayfromthecarriagewayandchildrenunder
control
● DONOTattemptrepairsonyourvehicle
● DONOTplaceawarningtriangleonthecarriageway
● animalsM
USTbekeptinthevehicleor,inanemergency,under
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controlontheverge.
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Rule277:Keepwellawayfromyourvehicleandmovingtraffic
Gethelp
● usethefreeemergencytelephonetoobtainadviceand
assistance
● contactabreakdownrecoveryservice
● alwaysfacethetrafficwhenyouspeaktoremainawareof
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vehiclesordebriscomingtowardsyou
● informthemifyouareavulnerablemotoristsuchasdisabled,
olderortravellingalone
● waitwellawayfromyourvehicleandmovingtraffic,behind
thesafetybarrierwherethereisone
● ifyouareunabletoexityourvehicleorifyouhavenotstopped
nearafreeemergencytelephone,call999immediatelyandask
forthepolice.Alternatively,pressyourSOSbuttonifyour
vehiclehasoneandaskforthepolice.
Communicatingyourlocation.Howtoidentifyyourlocationtothe
emergencyservices.
eCall.P
resstheS
OSb
uttonify ourv ehicleh
aso
ne.
App.U
sea
m
obiletelephonem
appinga
pplication.
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ontents h
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Markerp
osto
rd
riverlocations
ign.Q
uotethen
umbersa
ndletterso
nm
arkerp
ostso
r
driverlocations ignsw
hicha
relocateda
longthee
dgeo
fther oad.
278. Torejointhecarriagewayafterabreakdownfrom
● ahardshoulder,buildupspeed,indicateandwatchforasafe
gapinthetraffic.Beawarethatvehicles,obstructionsordebris
maybepresentonthehardshoulder
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● anemergencyarea,youM
USTusetheemergencytelephone
providedandfollowtheoperator’sadviceforexitingthe
emergencyarea.Alanemayneedtobeclosedsothatyoucan
rejointhecarriagewaysafely.
Rule278:Emergencyareainformationsign
279. Disableddrivers.Ifyouhaveadisabilitythatpreventsyoufrom
followingtheaboveadviceinRules277and278,youshould
● switchonyourhazardwarninglights
● stayinyourvehicleandkeepyourseatbelton
● call999immediatelyandaskforthepolice.Alternatively,press
yourSOSbuttonifyourvehiclehasoneandaskforthepolice.
Ifyouaredeaf,hardofhearingorspeechimpaired,itisrecommended
thatyouregisterforthe999textservice(emergencySMS.net)before
makingajourney.
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Obstructions
280. Ifanythingfallsfromavehicleontoamotorwayorother
high-speedroad,DONOTremovetheobstructionyourself.Stopin
aplaceofrelativesafety(seeRule275)andcalltheemergency
serviceson999.
Onotherroads,youshouldonlyremoveobstructionsifitissafeto
doso.
Incidents
281. Warningsignsorflashinglights.Ifyouseeemergencyor
incidentsupportvehiclesdisplayingflashinglightsinthedistance,
beawaretheremaybeanincidentahead(seeRule219).You
shouldslowdownandbepreparedtomovesafelyintoanother
laneorstop.
Theemergencyservices,trafficofficersandrecoveryworkersmay
berequiredtoworkinthecarriageway;forexample,dealingwith
debris,collisionsorconductingrollingroadblocks.YouMUSTfollow
anydirectionsgivenbypoliceortrafficofficersastowhetheryou
cansafelypasstheincidentorobstruction.
LawsRTA1988,sects35&163,andasamendedbyTMA2004,sect
6
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282. Whenpassingthesceneofanincident,remainalertforhazards
(suchasdebrisorslow-movingvehicles)anddonotslowdown
unnecessarily(forexample,ifanincidentisontheothersideofa
dualcarriageway).Youshouldfocusontheroadaheadwhen
passinganincidentbecausealackofattentionmaycauseafurther
incident,collisionorcongestion(seealsoRule283,below).
283. Ifyouareinvolvedinanincidentorcollisionorstoptogive
assistance
● ifpossible,stopinaplaceofrelativesafety(seeRule275)
● useyourhazardwarninglightstowarnothertraffic
● putonhigh-visibilityclothingifyouhaveit
● askdriverstoswitchofftheirengines
● askdriversandpassengerstostopsmoking
● contacttheemergencyserviceson999andprovidefulldetailsof
theincidentlocationandanycasualties.Useanemergency
telephone,amobiletelephone,orpresstheSOSbuttonifyour
vehiclehasone(seeRule277onhowtoidentifyyourlocationon
amotorwayorotherhigh-speedroad)
● moveuninjuredpeopleawayfromthevehiclestoaplaceof
relativesafety(seeRule275)
● DONOTmoveinjuredpeoplefromtheirvehiclesunlesstheyare
inimmediatedanger
● DONOTremoveamotorcyclist’shelmetunlessitisessentialand
youaretrainedtodoso
● bepreparedtogivefirstaid(seeAnnex7andU sefulwebsites)
● stayatthesceneuntiltheemergencyservicesarrive
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● bepreparedtoexchangedetails(seeRule286).
Ifyouareinvolvedinanyothermedicalemergency,youshouldcontact
theemergencyservicesinthesameway.
Incidentsinvolvingdangerous
goods
284. Vehiclescarryingdangerousgoodsinpackageswillbemarked
withplainorangereflectiveplates.Roadtankersandvehicles
carryingtankcontainersofdangerousgoodswillhavehazard
warningplates(d
ownload‘Vehiclemarkings’).
285. Ifanincidentinvolvesavehiclecontainingdangerousgoods,
followtheadvicein Rule283 and,inparticular
● switchoffenginesand D ONOTSMOKE
● keepwellawayfromthevehicleanddonotbetemptedto
trytorescuecasualtiesasyouyourselfcouldbecomeone
● calltheemergencyservicesandgiveasmuchinformationas
possibleaboutthelabelsandmarkingsonthevehicle. D O
NOT u seamobilephoneclosetoavehiclecarrying
flammableloads.
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Documentation
286. Ifyouareinvolvedinacollisionwhichcausesdamageorinjury
toanyotherperson,vehicle,animalorproperty,youM UST
● stop.Ifpossible,stopinaplaceofrelativesafety(seeRule275
● giveyourownandthevehicleowner’snameandaddress,and
theregistrationnumberofthevehicle,toanyonehaving
reasonablegroundsforrequiringthem
● ifyoudonotgiveyournameandaddressatthetimeofthe
collision,reportittothepoliceassoonasreasonably
practicable,andinanycasewithin24hours.
LawRTA1988sect170
287. Ifanotherpersonisinjuredandyoudonotproduceyour
insurancecertificateatthetimeofthecrashtoapoliceofficeror
toanyonehavingreasonablegroundstorequestit,you MUST
● reportittothepoliceassoonaspossibleandinanycase
within24hours
● produceyourinsurancecertificateforthepolicewithin
sevendays.
LawRTA1988sect170
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Wherevehiclesaretravellingintheroadandaredisplaying
amberwarninglights,leaveextraspaceandexpectthemto
sloworturnintoaworksarea.
● Concentrateontheroadahead,nottheroadworks.
● Bearinmindthattheroadaheadmaybeobstructedbythe
worksorbyslow-movingorstationarytraffic.
LawRTRAsect16
2.Additionalrulesfor
high-speedroads
289. Takespecialcareonmotorwaysandotherhigh-speeddual
carriageways.
● Lanesmaybeclosedtotrafficandalowerspeedlimitmayapply.
● Worksvehiclesmaybeusedtocloselanesorcarriagewaysfor
repairs.Wherelarge‘KeepLeft’or‘KeepRight’signsare
displayedontheback,youMUSTmoveoverandpasstheworks
vehicleonthesideindicatedandnotreturntotheclosedlane
untilyoucanseeitissafetodoso.
● Whereavehicledisplaysthesign‘CONVOYVEHICLENO
OVERTAKING’,youMUSTNOTpassthevehicle.Aflashinglight
arroworred‘X’mayalsobeusedtomaketheworksvehiclemore
visiblefromadistanceandgiveearlierwarningtodrivers.
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290. Roadworksmaycontainfeaturesthatrequireextracare.
● Narrowlanes.Lanesmaybenarrowerthannormalandwillbe
markedbystudsortemporaryroadmarkings.Keepasafe
distance(seeRule126)fromthevehicleinfrontandmakesure
youcanclearlyseetheedgesofthelaneahead.
● Contraflowsystems.Thesemeanthatyoumaybetravellingina
narrowerlanethannormalandwithnopermanentbarrier
betweenyouandoncomingtraffic.Atthestartandfinishof
contraflows,youshouldslowdownandincreasethedistanceto
thevehicleinfrontbecausechangesinthecamberoftheroad
mayaffectvehiclestability.
● Breakdownadvice.Ifyourvehiclebreaksdowninroadworks,
followRules275,277and278butbeawarethatareasmarkedoff
byconescontainsignificanthazards.Whereavailable,youshould
moveyourvehicleintoasignedroadworksrefugelocation.Signs
indicatewherededicatedrecoveryservicesareprovided.
Levelcrossings
291. Alevelcrossingiswherearoadcrossesarailwayortramway
line.Approachandcrossitwithcare.Neverdriveontoacrossing
untiltheroadisclearontheothersideanddonotgettoocloseto
thecarinfront.Neverstoporparkon,ornear,acrossing.
Overheadelectriclines
292. Itisdangeroustotouchoverheadelectriclines.You MUST obey
thesafeheightwarningroadsignsandyoushouldnotcontinue
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forwardontotherailwayifyourvehicletouchesanyheightbarrier
orbells.Theclearanceavailableisusually5metres(16feet6
inches)butmaybelower.
LawsRTA1988sect36,TSRGD2002reg17(5)
293. ControlledCrossings. Mostcrossingshavetrafficlightsignals
withasteadyamberlight,twinflashingredstoplights(d ownload
‘Lightsignalscontrollingtraffic’) and ‘ Trafficsigns’)andanaudible
alarmforpedestrians.Theymayhavefull,halfornobarriers.
● YouMUSTalwaysobeytheflashingredstoplights.
● YouMUSTstopbehindthewhitelineacrosstheroad.
● Keepgoingifyouhavealreadycrossedthewhitelinewhen
theamberlightcomeson.
● Donotreverseontooroveracontrolledcrossing.
● YouMUSTwaitifatraingoesbyandtheredlightscontinue
toflash.Thismeansanothertrainwillbepassingsoon.
● Onlycrosswhenthelightsgooffandbarriersopen.
● Neverzig-zagaroundhalf-barriers,theylowerautomatically
becauseatrainisapproaching.
● Atcrossingswheretherearenobarriers,atrainis
approachingwhenthelightsshow.
LawsRTA1988sect36&TSRGDregs10&40
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294. Railwayt elephones. Ify oua red rivinga largeo rs low-m
ovingv ehicle,a
long,lowvehiclewithariskofgrounding,orherdinganimals,a
traincouldarrivebeforeyouareclearofthecrossing.
You MUST obeyanysigninstructingyoutousetherailway
telephonetoobtainpermissiontocross.You MUST alsotelephone
whenclearofthecrossingifrequestedtodoso.
LawsRTA1988sect36&TSRGDregs10&16(1)
295. Crossingswithouttrafficlights. Vehiclesshouldstopandwaitat
thebarrierorgatewhenitbeginstocloseandnotcrossuntilthe
barrierorgateopens.
296. User-operatedgatesorbarriers. Somecrossingshave‘Stop’
signsandsmallredandgreenlights.You MUSTNOT crosswhen
theredlightisshowing,onlycrossifthegreenlightison.If
crossingwithavehicle,youshould
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● openthegatesorbarriersonbothsidesofthecrossing
● checkt hatthegreenlightisstillonandcrossquickly
● closethegatesorbarrierswhenyouareclearofthe
crossing.
LawsRTA1988sect36&TSRGDregs10&52(2)
297. Iftherearenolights,followtheprocedureinRule295.Stop,
lookbothwaysandlistenbeforeyoucross.Ifthereisarailway
telephone,alwaysuseittocontactthesignaloperatortomake
sureitissafetocross.Informthesignaloperatoragainwhenyou
areclearofthecrossing.
298. Opencrossings. Thesehavenogates,barriers,attendantor
trafficlightsbutwillhavea‘GiveWay’sign.Youshouldlookboth
ways,listenandmakesurethereisnotraincomingbeforeyou
cross.
299. Incidentsandbreakdowns. Ifyourvehiclebreaksdown,orifyou
haveanincidentonacrossingyoushould
● geteveryoneoutofthevehicleandclearofthecrossing
immediately
● usearailwaytelephoneifavailabletotellthesignal
operator.Followtheinstructionsyouaregiven
● movethevehicleclearofthecrossingifthereistimebefore
atrainarrives.Ifthealarmsounds,ortheamberlightcomes
on,leavethevehicleandgetclearofthecrossing
immediately.
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3.Tramways
300. You MUSTNOT enteraroad,laneorotherroutereservedfor
trams.Takeextracarewheretramsrunalongtheroad.Youshould
avoiddrivingdirectlyontopoftherailsandshouldtakecarewhere
tramsleavethemaincarriagewaytoenterthereservedroute,to
ensureyoudonotfollowthem.Thewidthtakenupbytramsis
oftenshownbytramlanesmarkedbywhitelines,yellowdotsor
byadifferenttypeofroadsurface.Diamond-shapedsignsand
whitelightsignalsgiveinstructionstotramdriversonly.
LawRTRAsects5&8
301. Takeextracarewherethetrackcrossesfromonesideofthe
roadtotheotherandwheretheroadnarrowsandthetrackscome
closetothekerb.Tramdriversusuallyhavetheirowntrafficsignals
andmaybepermittedtomovewhenyouarenot.Alwaysgiveway
totrams.Donottrytoraceorovertakethemorpassthemonthe
inside,unlesstheyareattramstopsorstoppedbytramsignalsand
thereisadesignatedtramlaneforyoutopass.
302. You MUSTNOT parkyourvehiclewhereitwouldgetintheway
oftramsorwhereitwouldforceotherdriverstodoso.Donotstop
onanypartofatramtrack,exceptinadesignatedbaywherethis
hasbeenprovidedalongsideandclearofthetrack.Whendoingso,
ensurethatallpartsofyourvehicleareoutsidethedelineated
trampath.Rememberthatatramcannotsteerroundan
obstruction.
LawRTRAsects5&8
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303. Tramstops. Wherethetramstopsataplatform,eitherinthe
middleoratthesideoftheroad,you MUST followtheroute
shownbytheroadsignsandmarkings.Atstopswithoutplatforms
you MUSTNOT drivebetweenatramandtheleft-handkerbwhen
atramhasstoppedtopickuppassengers.Ifthereisnoalternative
routesigned,donotovertakethetram-waituntilitmovesoff.
LawRTRAsects5&8
304. Lookoutforpedestrians,especiallychildren,runningtocatcha
tramapproachingastop.
305. Alwaysgiveprioritytotrams,especiallywhentheysignaltopull
awayfromstops,unlessitwouldbeunsafetodoso.Remember
thattheymaybecarryinglargenumbersofstandingpassengers
whocouldbeinjuredifthetramhadtomakeanemergencystop.
Lookoutforpeoplegettingoffabusortramandcrossingtheroad.
306. Allroadusers,butparticularlycyclistsandmotorcyclists,should
takeextracarewhendrivingorridingclosetoorcrossingthe
tracks,especiallyiftherailsarewet.Youshouldtakeparticularcare
whencrossingtherailsatshallowangles,onbendsandat
junctions.Itissafesttocrossthetracksdirectlyatrightangles.
Otherroadusersshouldbeawarethatcyclistsandmotorcyclists
mayneedmorespacetocrossthetrackssafely.
307. Overheadelectriclines. Tramwayoverheadwiresarenormally
5.8metresaboveanycarriageway,butcanbelower.Youshould
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ensurethatyouhavesufficientclearancebetweenthewireand
yourvehicle(includinganyloadyouarecarrying)beforedriving
underanoverheadwire.Driversofvehicleswithextendingcranes,
booms,tippingapparatusorothertypesofvariableheight
equipmentshouldensurethattheequipmentisfullylowered.
Whereoverheadwiresaresetlowerthan5.8metres,thesewillbe
indicatedbyheightclearancemarkings-similarto‘lowbridge’
signs.Theheightclearancesontheseplatesshouldbecarefully
notedandobserved.Ifyouareinanydoubtastowhetheryour
vehiclewillpasssafelyunderthewires,youshouldalwayscontact
thelocalpoliceorthetramwayoperator.Nevertakeachanceas
thiscanbeextremelyhazardous.
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Directions ignso
nr oadsa nd
motorways
TheHighwayCodeleaflet‘Directionsigns’listsallthesignsusedonBritish
motorways,Aroadsandlocalroads.
Download‘Directionsigns’
Informations igns
TheHighwayCodeleaflet‘Informationsigns’listsalltheinformationsigns
onUKroadsandmotorways-thesetellroadusersaboutupcoming
junctions,lanerestrictions,specialzonesandmergingroadlanes.
Download‘Informationsigns’
C
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Roadm
arkings
DownloadillustratedguidanceonroadmarkingsfromTheHighwayCode.
Download‘Roadmarkings’
Roadw
orkss igns
DownloadaHighwayCodeleafletwithguidanceonroadworkssigns.
Download‘Roadworkssigns’
Signalsb
ya uthorised
persons
Youmustobeysignalsgivenbypoliceofficers,trafficofficersandtraffic
wardens-readguidancefromTheHighwayCodeonthesignalsusedon
UKroadsandmotorways.
Download‘Signalsbyauthorisedpersons’
C
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Signalst oo
therr oadu
sers
DownloadguidancefromTheHighwayCodeaboutallthesignalsyoucan
maketowarnandinformotherroadusers,includingpedestrians.
Download‘Signalstootherroadusers’
Traffics igns
TheHighwayCode’s‘ Trafficsigns’isforallnewdriversandriderswho
needtopassthedrivingtheorytest.Itshowsthemostcommonlyused
trafficsignsonBritishroadsandmotorways.
Download‘ Trafficsigns’
Vehiclem
arkings
Vehiclemarkingshelpwithvisibilityandgiveinformationaboutdangerous
orhazardousloads-readalistofallvehiclemarkingsusedonUKvehicles
fromTheHighwayCode.
Download‘Vehiclemarkings’
C
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Warnings ignso
nt her oad
TheHighwayCodeleaflet‘Warningsigns’listsallthewarningsignsused
onBritishroadsthatalertdrivers,ridersandcycliststoroadconditions,
junctionsanddangersontheroad.
Download‘Warningsigns’
Annexes
Rulesf orc yclists
1.Youandyourbicycle
Makesurethatyoufeelconfidentofyourabilitytoridesafelyon
theroad.Besurethat
● youchoosetherightsizeandtypeofcycleforcomfortand
safety
● lightsandreflectorsarekeptcleanandingoodworking
order
● tyresareingoodconditionandinflatedtothepressure
shownonthetyre
● gearsareworkingcorrectly
● thechainisproperlyadjustedandoiled
● thesaddleandhandlebarsareadjustedtothecorrect
height.
Itisrecommendedthatyoufitabelltoyourcycle.
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You MUST
● ensureyourbrakesareefficient
● atnight,uselitfrontandrearlightsandhavearedrear
reflector.
LawsPCURregs6&10&RVLRreg18
Cycletrainingcanhelpbothchildrenandadults,especiallythose
adultsreturningtocyclingtodeveloptheskillsneededtocycle
safelyontoday’sroads.Anewnationalcycletrainingstandardhas
beendevelopedwhichtheGovernmentispromotingandmaking
fundingavailablefordeliveryinschools.
Allcyclistsshouldconsiderthebenefitsofundertakingcycle
training.Forinformation,contactyourlocalauthority.
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Rulesf orm
otorcyclists
2.Motorcyclelicence
requirements
Ifyouhaveaprovisionalmotorcyclelicence,you MUST satisfactorily
completeaCompulsoryBasicTraining(CBT)course.Youcanthenridea
motorcycleupto125ccwithapoweroutputnotexceeding11kWon
thepublicroad,withLplates(inWaleseitherDplates,Lplatesorboth
canbeused),foruptotwoyears.Underdirectaccessyoucanpractise
onamotorcyclethatexceeds125ccprovidedthat:
● youmeettheminimumageforthecategoryconcerned
● you’reaccompaniedatalltimesbyaqualifiedapproved
trainer,whoisonanothermotorcycleandinradiocontact
withyou
● fluorescentorreflectivesafetyclothingiswornduring
supervision
● redLplates(DplatesinWales)arefittedandprovisional
licencerestrictionsfollowed.
Toobtainyourfullmotorcyclelicenceyou MUST passamotorcycle
theorytestandthenapracticaltest.
LawMV(DL)Rregs16&68
A1motorcyclelicence: Atage17orover,youtakeatestona
motorcyclewithoutsidecarofbetween120and125cc.Ifyoupass
youmayrideamotorcycleupto125ccwithpoweroutputupto11
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kW,oramotortricyclewithpowernotexceeding15kW.
A2motorcyclelicence: Atage19orover,youtakeatestona
motorcyclewithoutsidecarofatleast395ccwithapoweroutput
ofatleast25kWbutnotexceeding35kW.Ifyoupass,youmayride
anymotorcyclenotexceeding35kWandwithapowertoweight
rationotexceeding0.2kW/kg.
FullAmotorcyclelicence: Testtakenonamotorcyclewithout
sidecar,ofatleast595ccandanenginepowerofatleast40kW.
Thisgivesyoufullaccesstoallmotorcyclesandmotortricycles.You
obtainacategoryAlicencebytakingprogressiveaccessfromage
21,orunderthedirectaccessschemefromage24.
CategoryAunderprogressiveaccess: YoucantakeacategoryA
practicaltestatage21ifyoualreadyhaveanA2licencethatyou’ve
heldforaminimumoftwoyears.Youdon’tneedtotakeanother
theorytestorholdaCBTcertificate.
CategoryAunderdirectaccess: Thisisforridersaged24orover.To
obtainacategoryAlicenceyoumust
● successfullycompleteaCBTcourse
● passthemotorcycletheorytest
● passthepracticalmotorcycletest.
Passingthepracticaltestonamotorcycleofatleast40kW
(53.6bhp)givesimmediateaccesstoallsizesofmotorcycle.
You MUSTNOT carryapillionpassengerorpullatraileruntilyou
havepassedyourtest.Alsosee Rule253 coveringvehicles
prohibitedfrommotorways.
LawMV(DL)Rreg16
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Mopedlicencerequirements
Amoped MUST haveanenginecapacitynotexceeding50cc,not
weighmorethan250kgandbedesignedtohaveamaximumspeed
notexceeding28mph(45km/h).BeforeJune2003alicence
allowedtheridingofmopedsupto50km/h.
Torideamoped,learners MUST
● be16orover
● haveaprovisionalmopedlicence
● completeCBTtraining.
You MUST firstpassthetheorytestformotorcyclesandthenthe
mopedpracticaltesttoobtainyourfullmopedlicence.Ifyou
passedyourcardrivingtestbefore1February2001youare
qualifiedtorideamopedwithoutLplates(and/orDplatesin
Wales),althoughitisrecommendedthatyoucompleteCBTbefore
ridingontheroad.Ifyoupassedyourcardrivingtestafterthisdate
you MUST completeCBTbeforeridingamopedontheroad.
LawsRTA1988sects97(e)&101&MV(DL)Rregs38(4)&43
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Rulesf ord
riversa nd
motorcyclists
3.Motorvehicledocumentation
andlearnerdriver
requirements
Documents
Drivinglicence. You MUST haveavaliddrivinglicenceforthe
categoryofmotorvehicleyouaredriving.You MUST informthe
DriverandVehicleLicensingAgency(DVLA)ifyouchangeyour
nameand/oraddress.
LawRTA1988sects87&99(4)
Holdersofnon-EuropeanCommunitylicenceswhoarenow
residentintheUKmayonlydriveonthatlicenceforamaximumof
12monthsfromthedatetheybecomeresidentinthiscountry.To
ensurecontinuousdrivingentitlement
● aBritishprovisionallicenceshouldbeobtainedandadriving
test(s)passedbeforethe12-monthperiodelapses,or
● inthecaseofadriverwhoholdsalicencefromacountry
whichhasbeendesignatedinlawforlicenceexchange
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purposes,thedrivershouldexchangethelicenceforaBritish
one.
MOT.C arsandmotorcyclesMUSTnormallypassanMOTtestthree
yearsfromthedateofthefirstregistrationandeveryyearafter
that.YouMUSTNOTdriveamotorvehiclewithoutanMOT
certificatewhenitshouldhaveone.Exceptionally,youmaydriveto
apre-arrangedtestappointmentortoagarageforrepairsrequired
forthetest.Drivinganunroadworthymotorvehiclemayinvalidate
yourinsurance.
From20May2018,cars,vans,motorcyclesandotherlight
passengervehiclesmanufacturedorfirstregisteredover40years
ago,willbeexemptfromtheMOTtest,unlessthevehiclehasbeen
substantiallychangedwithintheprevious30years.Guidanceon
whatcountsasasubstantialchangecanbefoundat
www.gov.uk/historic-vehicles.
Ifavehiclethat’scurrentlyexemptfromtheMOTtestis
substantiallychanged,thevehiclekeepercannotcontinuetoclaim
anexemptionfromtheMOTtest.
Law RTA1988sects45, 47, 49 & 53
Insurance. Touseamotorvehicleontheroad,you MUST havea
validinsurancepolicy.This MUST atleastcoveryouforinjuryor
damagetoathirdpartywhileusingthatmotorvehicle.Before
drivinganymotorvehicle,makesurethatithasthiscoverforyour
C
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useorthatyourowninsuranceprovidesadequatecover.You MUST
NOT driveamotorvehiclewithoutinsurance.Also,beawarethat
evenifaroadtrafficincidentisnotyourfault,youmaystillbeheld
liablebyinsurancecompanies.
Law RTA1988sect143
Uninsureddriverscannowbeautomaticallydetectedbyroadside
cameras.Furthertothepenaltiesforuninsureddriving(see ‘Penalty
table’),anoffender’svehiclecannowbeseizedbythePolice,taken
awayandcrushed.
Law RTA1988,sects165a & 165b
Thetypesofcoveravailableareindicatedbelow:
Third-Partyinsurance -thisisoftenthecheapestformofinsurance,
andistheminimumcoverrequiredbylaw.Itcoversanyoneyou
mightinjureorwhosepropertyyoumightdamage.Itdoesnot
coverdamagetoyourownmotorvehicleorinjurytoyourself.
Third-Party,FireandTheftinsurance -similartothird-party,but
alsocoversyouagainstyourmotorvehiclebeingstolen,or
damagedbyfire.
Comprehensiveinsurance -thisisthemostexpensivebutthebest
insurance.Apartfromcoveringotherpersonsandpropertyagainst
injuryordamage,italsocoversdamagetoyourownmotorvehicle,
uptothemarketvalueofthatvehicle,andpersonalinjuryto
yourself.
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Registrationcertificate. Registrationcertificates(alsocalled
harmonisedregistrationcertificates)areissuedforallmotor
vehiclesusedontheroad,describingthem(make,model,etc)and
givingdetailsoftheregisteredkeeper.You MUST notifytheDriver
andVehicleLicensingAgencyinSwanseaassoonaspossiblewhen
youbuyorsellamotorvehicle,orifyouchangeyournameor
address.Forregistrationcertificatesissuedafter27March1997,
thebuyerandsellerareresponsibleforcompletingtheregistration
certificates.ThesellerisresponsibleforforwardingthemtoDVLA.
Theproceduresareexplainedonthebackoftheregistration
certificates.
Law RV(R&L)Rregs21, 22, 23 & 24.
VehicleExciseDuty(VED). VehicleExciseDuty MUST bepaidonall
motorvehiclesusedorkeptonpublicroads.
Law VERAsects29 and 33
StatutoryOff-RoadNotification(SORN). Thisisanotificationtothe
DVLAthatamotorvehicleisnotbeingusedontheroad.Ifyouare
thevehiclekeeperandwanttokeepamotorvehicleuntaxedand
offthepublicroadyou MUST declareSORN-itisanoffencenotto
doso.Youthenwon’thavetopayanyroadtaxforthatvehiclefora
periodof12months.Youneedtosendafurtherdeclarationafter
thatperiodifthevehicleisstilloffthepublicroad.TheSORNwill
endifyousellthevehicleandthenewownerwillbecome
immediatelyresponsible.Ifyourvehicleisunusedorofftheroad,
it MUST haveeitheraSORNdeclarationorvalidinsurance.
C
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LawRV(RL)R2002,reg26sched4
Productionofdocuments. You MUST beabletoproduceyour
drivinglicenceandcounterpart,avalidinsurancecertificateand(if
appropriate)avalidMOTcertificate,whenrequestedbyapolice
officer.Ifyoucannotdothisyoumaybeaskedtotakethemtoa
policestationwithinsevendays.
LawRTA1988sects164&165
Learnerdrivers
LearnersdrivingacarMUSTholdavalidprovisionallicence.They
MUST besupervisedbysomeoneatleast21yearsoldwhoholdsa
fullEC/EEAlicenceforthattypeofcar(automaticormanual)and
hasheldoneforatleastthreeyears.
LawsMV(DL)Rreg16&RTA1988sect87
Vehicles. Anyvehicledrivenbyalearner MUST displayredLplates.
InWales,eitherredDplates,redLplates,orboth,canbeused.
PlatesMUSTconformtolegalspecificationsand MUST beclearly
visibletoothersfrominfrontofthevehicleandfrombehind.Plates
shouldberemovedorcoveredwhennotbeingdrivenbyalearner
(exceptondrivingschoolvehicles).
LawMV(DL)Rreg16&sched4
You MUST passthet heorytest(ifoneisrequired)andthena
practicaldrivingtestforthecategoryofvehicleyouwishtodrive
beforedrivingunaccompanied.
LawMV(DL)Rreg40
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C
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MostoftheprovisionsapplyonallroadsthroughoutGreatBritain,
althoughtherearesomeexceptions.ThedefinitionofaroadinEngland
andWalesis‘anyhighwayandanyotherroadtowhichthepublichas
accessandincludesbridgesoverwhicharoadpasses’(R
TA1988sect
192(1)).InScotland,thereisasimilardefinitionwhichisextendedto
includeanywayoverwhichthepublichavearightofpassage(R
(S)A
1984sect151(1)).
Itisimportanttonotethatreferencesto‘road’thereforegenerally
includefootpaths,bridlewaysandcycletracks,andmanyroadwaysand
drivewaysonprivateland(includingmanycarparks).Inmostcases,the
lawwillapplytothemandtheremaybeadditionalrulesforparticular
pathsorways.Someseriousdrivingoffences,includingdrink-driving
offences,alsoapplytoallpublicplaces,forexamplepubliccarparks.
Thereferenceto‘emergencyarea’intheCodeisan‘emergencyrefuge
C
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area’asdefinedintheMotorwaysTraffic(EnglandandWales)
Regulations1982asamendedbytheMotorwaysTraffic(Englandand
Wales)(Amendment)(England)Regulations2015.
Actsandregulationsareavailableasenactedorasamendedat
www.legislation.gov.ukandareavailableintheiroriginalprintformat
fromT heStationeryOffice.
Actsandregulationspriorto1988
ChronicallySick&DisabledPersonsAct1970CSDPA
FunctionsofTrafficWardensOrder1970FTWO
GreaterLondon(GeneralPowers)Act1974GL(GP)A
HighwayAct1835or1980(asindicated)HA
MotorwaysTraffic(England&Wales)Regulations1982MT(E&W)R
MotorwaysTraffic(England&Wales)AmendedRegulations
MT(E&W)(A)R
PedalCycles(Construction&Use)Regulations1983PCUR
PublicPassengerVehiclesAct1981PPVA
RoadTrafficAct1984RTA
RoadTrafficRegulationAct1984RTRA
RoadVehicles(Construction&Use)Regulations1986CUR
Roads(Scotland)Act1984R(S)A
Actsandregulationsfrom1988onwards
Horses( ProtectiveH eadgearf orY oungR
iders)A
ct1
990H (PHYR)A
Horses( ProtectiveH eadgearf orY oungR
iders)R
egulations1 992H
(PHYR)R
MotorC
ycles( EyeP
rotectors)R egulations1 999M C(EP)R
MotorC
ycles( ProtectiveH elmets)R egulations1 998M C(PH)R
MotorwaysT raffic( Scotland)R
egulations1 995M T(S)R
C
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MotorV ehicles( DrivingL icences)R egulations1 999M V(DL)R
MotorV ehicles( Wearingo fS eatB elts)R egulations1 993M V(WSB)R
MotorV ehicles( Wearingo fS eatB elts)( Amendment)R egulations2 006
MV(WSB)(A)R
MotorV ehicles( Wearingo fS eatB eltsb yC hildreninF rontS eats)R egulations
1993M V(WSBCFS)R
NewR oadsa ndS treetworksA ct1 991N RSWA
Powerso fC
riminalC ourts( Sentencing)A ct2 000P CC(S)A
PoliceR eformA ct2
002P RA
Prohibitiono fS mokinginC ertainP remises( Scotland)R egulations2 006.
ScottishS I2 006/No9 0T PSCP(S)R*
RoadS afetyA ct2
006R SA
RoadT rafficA ct1
988R TA
RoadT rafficA ct1
991R TA
RoadT raffic( NewD rivers)A ct1 995R T(ND)A
RoadT rafficO ffendersA ct1 988R TOA
RoadV ehicles( Displayo fR egistrationM arks)R egulations2 001R V(DRM)R
RoadV ehiclesL ightingR egulations1 989R VLR
RoadV ehicles( Registration& L icensing)R egulations2 002R V(R&L)R
Smoke-free( Exemptionsa ndV ehicles)R egulations2 007S I2 007/765T Sf(EV)*
Smoke-freeP remisese tc( Wales)R egulations2 007S I2 007/W787T SfP(W)R*
TrafficM anagementA ct2 004T MA
TrafficS ignsR egulations& G eneralD irections2 002T SRGD
Useo fInvalidC arriageso nH ighwaysR egulations1 988U ICHR
VehicleE xcisea ndR egistrationA ct1 994V ERA
Zebra,P elicana ndP uffinP edestrianC rossingsR egulationsa ndG eneral
Directions1 997Z PPPCRGD
*Specificlegislationa ppliest os mokinginv ehiclesw hichc onstitutew orkplaces.
Forinformation,v isith ttp://www.smokefreeengland.co.uk;
http://www.clearingtheairscotland.com;h ttp://www.smokingbanwales.co.uk
C
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C
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Penalties
1.PenaltiesandtheHighway
Code
ThisHighwayCodeappliestoEngland,ScotlandandWales. The
HighwayCode isessentialreadingforeveryone.
Parliamentsetsthemaximumpenaltiesforroadtrafficoffences.The
seriousnessoftheoffenceisreflectedinthemaximumpenalty.Itisfor
thecourtstodecidewhatsentencetoimposeaccordingto
circumstances.
The penaltytable indicatessomeofthemainoffences,andthe
associatedpenalties.Thereisawiderangeofothermorespecific
offenceswhich,forthesakeofsimplicity,arenotshownhere.The
penaltypointsanddisqualificationsystem isdescribedbelow.
2.2.Penaltypointsand
disqualification
Thepenaltypointsystemisintendedtodeterdriversandmotorcyclists
fromfollowingunsafemotoringpractices.Certainnon-motoring
offences,e.g.failuretorectifyvehicledefects,canalsoattractpenalty
points.
C
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Thecourt MUST orderpointstobeendorsedonthelicenceaccording
tothefixednumberortherangesetbyParliament.Theaccumulation
ofpenaltypointsactsasawarningtodriversandmotorcycliststhat
theyriskdisqualificationiffurtheroffencesarecommitted.
LawRTOAsects44&45
Adriverormotorcyclistwhoaccumulates12ormorepenaltypoints
withina3-yearperiod MUST bedisqualified.Thiswillbefora
minimumperiodof6months,orlongerifthedriverormotorcyclist
haspreviouslybeendisqualified.
LawRTOAsect35
Foreveryoffencewhichcarriespenaltypointsthecourthasa
discretionarypowertoorderthelicenceholdertobedisqualified.This
maybeforanyperiodthecourtthinksfit,butwillusuallybebetweena
weekandafewmonths.
Inthecaseofseriousoffences,suchasdangerousdrivingand
drink-driving,thecourt MUST orderdisqualification.Theminimum
periodis12months,butforrepeatoffendersorwherethealcohol
levelishigh,itmaybelonger.Forexample,aseconddrink-drive
offenceinthespaceof10yearswillresultinaminimumof3years’
disqualification.
LawRTOAsect34
C
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3.Penaltytable
Offence Maximump
enalty Penalty
points
*Causingd
eathb
yd
angerous14y ears’imprisonment/U
nlimitedfine/O
bligatory
3to1
1( if
driving disqualification( minimum2
y ears) exceptionally
not
disqualified)
*Dangerousd
riving 2y ears’imprisonment/U
nlimitedfine/O
bligatory
3to1
1( if
disqualification exceptionally
not
disqualified)
*Causingd
eathb
yc areless
14y ears’imprisonment/U
nlimitedfine/O
bligatory
3to1
1( if
drivingu
ndertheinfluenceo
f disqualification( minimum2
y ears) exceptionally
drinko
rd
rugs not
disqualified)
Carelessa
ndinconsiderate
Unlimitedfine/D
iscretionaryd
isqualification 3to9
driving
Drivingw
hileu
nfitthrough
6m
onths’imprisonment/U
nlimitedfine/O
bligatory 3to1
1( if
drinko
rd
rugso
rw
ithe
xcess disqualification exceptionally
alcohol:o
rfailingtop
rovidea
not
specimenfora
nalysis disqualified)
Failingtos topa
ftera
n
6m
onths’imprisonment/U
nlimitedfine/ 5to1
0
C
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accidento
rfailingtor eporta
nDiscretionaryd
isqualification
accident
Drivingw
hiled
isqualified 6m
onths’imprisonment( 12m
onthsinS
cotland)/ 6
Unlimitedfine/D
iscretionaryd
isqualification
Drivinga
fterr efusalo
r
6m
onths’imprisonment/U
nlimitedfine/ 3to6
revocationo
flicenceo
n
Discretionaryd
isqualification
medicalg
rounds
Drivingw
ithoutinsurance Unlimitedfine/D
iscretionaryd
isqualification 6to8
Usinga
v ehicleina
LGVo
rP
CVu
nlimited,o
therv ehicles£
2,500/
3ine
ach
dangerousc ondition Obligatoryd
isqualificationifo
ffencec ommitted
case
within3
y earso
fa
p
reviousc onvictionfora
s imilar
offence- 6
m
onthsm
in.O
therwised
iscretionary
Failuretoh
avep
roperc ontrol£1,000fine( £2,500forP
CVo
rg
oodsv ehicle)/ 3
ofv ehicleo
rfullv iewo
fthe
Discretionaryd
isqualification
roada
ndtraffica
head
Usinga
h
and-heldm
obile
£1,000fine( £2,500forP
CVo
rg
oodsv ehicle)/ 6
phonew
hend
riving Discretionaryd
isqualification
Drivingo
therwisethanin
£1,000fine/D
iscretionaryd
isqualification 3to6
accordancew
itha
licence
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Trafficlighto
ffences £1,000fine/D
iscretionaryd
isqualification 3
NoM
OTc ertificate £1,000fine -
Seatb
elto
ffences £500fine -
Cyclingo
np
avement £500fine -
Failingtoidentifyd
rivero
f
£1,000fine/D
iscretionaryd
isqualification -
vehicle
*Whereacourtdisqualifiesapersononconvictionforoneofthese
offences,itmustorderanextendedretest.Thecourtsalsohavediscretion
toorderaretestforanyotheroffencewhichcarriespenaltypoints,an
extendedretestwheredisqualificationisobligatory,andanordinarytest
wheredisqualificationisnotobligatory.
Furthermore,insomeseriouscases,thecourtMUST(inadditionto
imposingafixedperiodofdisqualification)ordertheoffendertobe
disqualifieduntiltheypassadrivingtest.Inothercasesthecourthasa
discretionarypowertoordersuchdisqualification.Thetestmaybean
ordinarylengthtestoranextendedtestaccordingtothenatureofthe
offence.
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4. Newdrivers
Specialrulesassetoutbelowapplyforaperiodoftwoyearsfrom
thedateofpassingtheirfirstd
rivingtest,todriversand
motorcyclistsfrom
● theUK, EU/EEA,theIsleofMan,theChannelIslandsor
Gibraltarwhopassedtheirfirstdrivingtestinanyofthose
countries
● otherforeigncountrieswhohavetopassaUKdrivingtestto
gainaUKlicence,inwhichcasetheUKdrivingtestistreated
astheirfirstdrivingtest;and
● otherforeigncountrieswho(withoutneedingatest)
exchangedtheirlicenceforaUKlicenceandsubsequently
passedaUKdrivingtesttodriveanothertypeofvehicle,in
whichcasetheUKdrivingtestistreatedastheirfirstdriving
test.Forexampleadriverwhoexchangesaforeignlicence
(car)foraUKlicence(car)andwholaterpassesatestto
driveanothertypeofvehicle(e.g.an HGV)willbesubjectto
thespecialrules.
Whereapersonsubjecttothespecialrulesaccumulates6ormore
penaltypointsbeforetheendofthe2-yearperiod(includingany
pointsacquiredbeforepassingthetest)theirlicencewillberevoked
automatically.Toregainthelicencetheymustreapplyfora
provisionallicenceandmaydriveonlyasalearneruntiltheypassa
furtherdrivingtest(alsosee Annex8–Safetycodefornew
drivers.)
LawRT(ND)A
Note. Thisapplieseveniftheypayforoffencesbyfixedpenalty.
Driversinthefirstgroup(UK, EU/EEA etc.)whoalreadyhaveafull
licenceforonetypeofvehiclearenotaffectedbythespecialrulesif
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theylaterpassatesttodriveanothertypeofvehicle.
5.Otherconsequencesof
offending
Whereanoffenceispunishablebyimprisonmentthenthevehicle
usedtocommittheoffencemaybeconfiscated.
LawPCC(S)A,sect143
Inadditiontothepenaltiesacourtmaydecidetoimpose,thecost
ofinsuranceislikelytoriseconsiderablyfollowingconvictionfora
seriousdrivingoffence.Thisisbecauseinsurancecompanies
considersuchdriversaremorelikelytobeinvolvedinacollision.
Driversdisqualifiedfordrinkinganddrivingtwicewithin10years,or
onceiftheyareover2andahalftimesthelegallimit,orthosewho
refusedtogiveaspecimen,alsohavetosatisfytheDriverand
VehicleLicensingAgency’sMedicalBranchthattheydonothavean
alcoholproblemandareotherwisefittodrivebeforetheirlicenceis
returnedattheendoftheirperiodofdisqualification.Persistent
misuseofdrugsoralcoholmayleadtothewithdrawalofadriving
licence.
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Vehiclem aintenance,
safetya nds ecurity
1. Vehiclemaintenance
Takespecialcarethatlights,brakes,steering,exhaustsystem,seat
belts,demisters,wipersandwashersareallworking.Also
● lights,indicators,reflectors,andnumberplatesM USTbekept
cleanandclear
● windscreensandwindowsM USTbekeptcleanandfreefrom
obstructionstovision
● lightsM
USTbeproperlyadjustedtopreventdazzlingotherroad
users.
● Extraattentionneedstobepaidtothisifthevehicleisheavily
loaded
● exhaustemissionsM USTNOTexceedprescribedlevels
● ensureyourseat,seatbelt,headrestraintandmirrorsare
adjustedcorrectlybeforeyoudrive
● ensurethatitemsofluggagearesecurelystowed.
LawsRVLR1989regs23&27&CUR1986,regs30&61
Warningdisplays.Makesurethatyouunderstandthemeaningof
allwarningdisplaysonthevehicleinstrumentpanel.Donotignore
warningsigns,theycouldindicateadangerousfaultdeveloping.
● Whenyouturntheignitionkey,warninglightswillbeilluminated
butwillgooutwhentheenginestarts(exceptthehandbrake
warninglight).Iftheydonot,oriftheycomeonwhileyouare
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driving,stopandinvestigatetheproblem,asyoucouldhavea
seriousfault.
● Ifthechargewarninglightcomesonwhileyouaredriving,itmay
meanthatthebatteryisn’tcharging.Thisshouldalsobechecked
assoonaspossibletoavoidlossofpowertolightsandother
electricalsystems.
Windowtints.YouM USTNOTuseavehiclewithexcessivelydark
tintingappliedtothewindscreen,ortotheglassinanyfront
windowtoeithersideofthedriver.Windowtintingappliedduring
manufacturecomplieswiththeVisualLightTransmittance(VLT)
standards.TherearenoVLTlimitsforrearwindscreensorrear
passengerwindows.
LawsRTA1988sect42&CURreg32
Tyres.TyresM
USTbecorrectlyinflatedtothevehicle
manufacturer’sspecificationfortheloadbeingcarried.Alwaysrefer
tothevehicle’shandbookordata.Tyresshouldalsobefreefrom
certaincutsandotherdefects.
Cars,lightvansandlighttrailersMUSThaveatreaddepthofat
least1.6mmacrossthecentralthree-quartersofthebreadthofthe
treadandaroundtheentirecircumference.
Motorcycles,largevehiclesandpassenger-carryingvehiclesMUST
haveatreaddepthofatleast1mmacrossthree-quartersofthe
breadthofthetreadandinacontinuousbandaroundtheentire
circumference.
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Mopedsshouldhavevisibletread.
Beawarethatsomevehicledefectscanattractpenaltypoints.
Tyreage.Tyresover10yearsoldM
USTNOTbeusedonthefront
axlesof:
● goodsvehicleswithamaximumgrossweightofmorethan3.5
tonnes
● passengervehicleswithmorethan8passengerseats
Additionally,theyM USTNOTbeusedontherearaxlesofpassenger
vehicleswith9to16passengerseats,unlessequippedwithtwin
wheels.
Toprovetheageofatyreitisfurtherrequiredthatthedateoftyre
manufacturemarkingM USTalwaysbelegible.
Vehiclescurrentlyexcludedfromtyreroadworthinessregulations
andvehiclesofhistoricalinterestwhicharenotusedforcommercial
purpose,areexemptfromtheserequirements.
LawCURreg27
Ifatyreburstswhileyouaredriving,trytokeepcontrolofyour
vehicle.Gripthesteeringwheelfirmlyandallowthevehicletoroll
toastopatthesideoftheroad.
Ifyouhaveaflattyre,stopassoonasitissafetodoso.Only
changethetyreifyoucandosowithoutputtingyourselforothers
atrisk-otherwisecallabreakdownservice.
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Tyrepressures.Checkweekly.Dothisbeforeyourjourney,when
tyresarecold.Warmorhottyresmaygiveamisleadingreading.
Yourbrakesandsteeringwillbeadverselyaffectedby
under-inflatedorover-inflatedtyres.Excessiveoruneventyrewear
maybecausedbyfaultsinthebrakingorsuspensionsystems,or
wheelswhichareoutofalignment.Havethesefaultscorrectedas
soonaspossible.
Fluidlevels.Checkthefluidlevelsinyourvehicleatleastweekly.
Lowbrakefluidmayresultinbrakefailureandacrash.Makesure
yourecognisethelowfluidwarninglightsifyourvehiclehasthem
fitted.
Beforewinter.Ensurethatthebatteryiswellmaintainedandthat
thereareappropriateanti-freezeagentsinyourradiatorand
windscreenbottle.
Otherproblems.Ifyourvehicle
● pullstoonesidewhenbraking,itismostlikelytobeabrakefault
orincorrectlyinflatedtyres.Consultagarageormechanic
immediately
● continuestobounceafterpushingdownonthefrontorrear,its
shockabsorbersareworn.Wornshockabsorberscanseriously
affecttheoperationofavehicleandshouldbereplaced
● smellsofanythingunusualsuchasburningrubber,petroloran
electricalfault;investigateimmediately.Donotriskafire.
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Overheatedenginesorfire.Mostenginesarewater-cooled.Ifyour
engineoverheatsyoushouldwaituntilithascoolednaturally.Only
thenremovethecoolantfillercapandaddwaterorothercoolant.
Ifyourvehiclecatchesfire,gettheoccupantsoutofthevehicle
quicklyandtoasafeplace.Donotattempttoextinguishafirein
theenginecompartment,asopeningthebonnetwillmakethefire
flare.Callthefirebrigade.
etrolstations/fueltank/fuelleaks.Ensurethat,whenfillingup
P
yourvehicle’stankoranyfuelcansyouarecarrying,youdonotspill
fuelontheforecourt.Anyspilledfuelshouldbeimmediately
reportedtothepetrolstationattendant.Dieselspillageis
dangeroustootherroadusers,particularlymotorcyclists,asitwill
significantlyreducethelevelofgripbetweenthetyresandroad
surface.Double-checkforfuelleaksandmakesurethat
● youdonotoverfillyourfueltank
● thefuelcapisfastenedsecurely
● thesealinthecapisnottorn,perishedormissing
● thereisnovisualdamagetothecaporthefueltank
Emergencyfuelcaps,iffitted,shouldformagoodseal.
Neversmoke,oruseamobilephone,ontheforecourtofpetrol
stationsasthesearemajorfirerisksandcouldcauseanexplosion.
2.Vehiclesecurity
Whenyouleaveyourvehicleyoushould
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● removetheignitionkeyandengagethesteeringlock
● lockthecar,evenifyouonlyleaveitforafewminutes
● closethewindowscompletely
● neverleavechildrenorpetsinanunventilatedcar
● takeallcontentswithyou,orlockthemintheboot.
Remember,forallathiefknowsacarrierbagmaycontain
valuables
● neverleavevehicledocumentsinthecar.
Forextrasecurityfitananti-theftdevicesuchasanalarmor
immobiliser.Ifyouarebuyinganewcaritisagoodideatocheck
thelevelofbuilt-insecurityfeatures.Considerhavingyour
registrationnumberetchedonallyourcarwindows.Thisisacheap
andeffectivedeterrenttoprofessionalthieves.
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Firsta ido
nt her oad
ThisHighwayCodeappliestoEngland,ScotlandandWales. The
HighwayCode isessentialreadingforeveryone.
ThefollowinginformationwascompiledwiththehelpofStJohn
Ambulance,theBritishHeartFoundationandtheBritishRedCross.
It’sintendedasageneralguideforthosewithoutfirst-aidtraining
butshouldn’tbeconsideredasubstituteforpropertraining.Any
firstaidgivenatthesceneofanincidentshouldbelookedononly
asatemporarymeasureuntiltheemergencyservicesarrive.
1.Dealwithdanger
Furthercollisionsandfirearethemaindangersfollowingacrash.
Approachanyvehicleinvolvedwithcare.Switchoffallenginesand,
ifpossible,warnothertraffic.Stopanyonefromsmoking.
2.Gethelp
Trytogettheassistanceofbystanders.Getsomeonetocallthe
appropriateemergencyserviceson999or112assoonaspossible.
Theywillneedtoknowtheexactlocationoftheincidentandthe
numberofvehiclesinvolved.Trytogiveinformationaboutthe
conditionofanycasualties,egifanyoneishavingdifficulty
breathing,isbleedingheavilyordoesnotrespondwhenspokento.
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3.Helpthoseinvolved
DONOT movecasualtiesstillinvehiclesunlessthereisthethreatof
furtherdanger. DONOT removeamotorcyclist’shelmetunlessitis
essential.Rememberthecasualtymaybesufferingfromshock. DO
NOT givethemanythingtoeatordrink. DO trytomakethemwarm
andascomfortableasyoucan.Protectthemfromrainorsnow,but
avoidunnecessarymovement. DO givereassuranceconfidentlyand
trynottoleavethemaloneorletthemwanderintothepathof
othertraffic.
4.Provideemergencycare
RememberthelettersDRABC:
DDanger Checkthatyouarenotindanger.
RResponse Trytogetaresponsebyaskingquestionsandgently
shakingtheirshoulders.
AAirway Ifthepersonisnottalkingandtheairwaymaybeblocked,
thenplaceonehandunderthechinandliftthechinupand
forward.Iftheyarestillhavingdifficultywithbreathingthengently
tilttheheadback.
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Ifthecasualtyisunconsciousandbreathing,placethemintherecovery
positionuntilmedicalhelparrives
BBreathing Normalbreathingshouldbeestablished.Oncethe
airwayisopencheckbreathingforupto10seconds.
CCompressions Iftheyhavenosignsoflifeandthereisnopulse,
thenchestcompressionsshouldbeadministered.Placetwohands
inthecentreofthechestandpressdownhardandfast–5–6cmat
arateof100/minute.Youmayonlyneedonehandforachildand
shouldn’tpressdownasfar.Forinfants,usetwofingersinthe
middleofthechestwhendeliveringcompressionsanddon’tpress
downtoofar.
Bleeding
First,checkforanythingthatmaybeinthewound,suchasglass.
Takingcarenottopressontheobject,builduppaddingoneither
sideoftheobject.Ifthere’snothingembedded,applyfirmpressure
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overthewoundtostemtheflowofblood.Assoonaspractical,
fastenapadtothewoundwithabandageorlengthofcloth.Use
thecleanestmaterialavailable.Ifalimbisbleedingbutnotbroken,
raiseitabovethelevelofthehearttoreducetheflowofblood.Any
restrictionofbloodcirculationformorethanashorttimecould
causelong-terminjuries.
Burns
Checkthecasualtyforshock,andifpossible,trytocooltheburnfor
atleast20minuteswithplentyofclean,coldwaterorother
non-toxicliquid.Don’ttrytoremoveanythingthat’sstickingtothe
burn.
Beprepared
Alwayscarryafirstaidkit–youmightneverneedit,butitcould
savealife.Learnfirstaid–youcangetfirstaidtrainingfroma
qualifiedorganisationsuchas StJohnAmbulanceandBrigade, S t
Andrew’sFirstAid, B ritishRedCrossSociety, oranysuitable
qualifiedbody.
Youshouldalwaysfollow theHighwayCode.
1. It’smostdangerousdrivingatnight-don’tdrivebetweenmidnight
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and6amunlessit’sreallynecessary.
2. Don’tletpassengersdistractyouorencourageyoutotakerisks-tell
themthatyouneedtoconcentrateontheroad.
3. Nevershowoffortrytocompetewithotherdrivers,particularlyif
theyaredrivingbadly.
4. Don’tdriveifyou’vedrunkanyalcoholortakendrugs.Some
medicinescanaffectyourabilitytodrivesafely-alwaysreadthe
warningonthelabel.
5. Makesureeveryone’swearingaseatbeltthroughoutthejourney.
6. Keepyourspeeddown-especiallyonbends.
7. Beverycarefuldrivinghigh-poweredorsportycars-evenifyou
learnttodriveinone.
8. Youmusthave insurance -it’sanoffencetodrivewithoutit.
You’llloseyourlicenceifyouget6penaltypointswithin2yearsof
passingyourfirstdrivingtest.You’llneedtopassbothtestsagainto
getitback.
Furtherreadingandconversions
TheHighwayCodeappliestoEngland,ScotlandandWales.Checkthe
metricconversionstabletoconvertmilestokilometresandaccessother
usefulsourcesofinformationabouttravellinganddriving.
Metricconversions
Miles Kilometres
1.00 1.61
5.00 8.05
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10.00 16.09
15.00 24.14
20.00 32.19
25.00 40.23
30.00 48.28
35.00 56.33
40.00 64.37
45.00 72.42
50.00 80.47
55.00 88.51
60.00 96.56
65.00 104.60
70.00 112.65
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