Rules of the road

• National speed limit for cars and motorcyclist

  • 60mph (96km/h) on a single carriageway road
  • 70mph (112km/h) on a dual carriageway or motorway
• Lower speed limits for these vehicles when towing a trailer or caravan

  • 50mph (80km/h) on a single carriageway road
  • 60mph (96km/h) on a dual carriageway or motorway
• blue 30 sign

  Minimum speed limit. You should travel above the limit shown on the sign unless its not safe to do so
• Cars and motorcycles speed

  Built up area -30

  Single carriageway - 60

  Dual carriageway - 70

  Motorways - 70
• Cars towing caravans or trailers

  Built up area - 30

  Single carriageway - 50

  Dual carriageway - 60

  Motorway - 60
• Buses, coaches and minibuses

  Built up area - 30

  Single carriageway - 50

  Dual carriageway -60

  Motorway - 70
• Good vehicles

  Built up area - 30

  Single carriageway - 50

  Dual carriageway - 60

  Motorway - 70
• If your driving a long a street where cars are parked, keep your speed down and beware of

  • Pedestrians especially children stepping out from behind parked vehicles
  • vehicles pulling out
  • drivers' doors opening
• Lanes and junctions

  Never drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a solid white line during its hours of operation.

  Don't drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a broken line unless its unavoidable
• Lanes and junctions

  You should only drive over a footpath when its necessary in order to reach a property

  On a dual carriageway, the right hand lane is only for turning right or overtaking, The same rule applies to three lane dual carriageways
• Lanes and junctions

  If you want to turn right onto a dual carriageway that has a central reservation that's too narrow to fit the length of your vehicle,

  wait until the road is clear in both directions before you emerge. If you emerge into the central reservation but your vehicle is took long, it could obstruct traffic coming from your right
• Lanes and junctions

  A box junction is marked by yellow hatched lines, and should be kept clear.

  Only enter it if your exit road is clear. Otherwise, wait on your side of the junctions. You can however wait in the box if you want to turn right and are waiting for a gap in the oncoming traffic before you can turn
• Lanes and junctions

  If something is blocking your side of the road, such as a parked car, you should give way to oncoming traffic if there isn't room for you both to continue safely
• Crossroads

  If your turning right at a crossroads when an oncoming driver is also turning right, its normally safer to keep the other vehicle to your right

  and turn behind it. If you have to pass in front of the other vehicle, take extra care as your view may be blocked
• Crossroads

  At crossroads where there aren't any signs or markings, no - one has priority. Check very carefully in all directions before you can drive into the junction
• Roundabout

  If you are going straight ahead

  • Don't signal as you approach
  • Signal left just after you pass the exit before the one you left
• Roundabout

  Some vehicles may not follow the normal rules

  • Cyclists and horse riders may stay in the left hand lane even if they are turning right
  • Long vehicles may take up a different position to stop the rear of the vehicle hitting the kerb
• Overtaking

  You should normally overtake other vehicles on the right, but in a one way street you can pass slower traffic on the left
• Overtaking

  At night, if a vehicle overtakes you, dip your headlights as soon as it passes you otherwise your lights could dazzle the other driver
• Reversing

  Never reverse:

  • for longer then you have to
  • from a side road into a main road
• Reversing

  When reversing into a side road, always check road and traffic conditions in all direction. You can undo your seat belt to get a better view. After completing this put your seat belt back on.
• Reversing

  If your not sure whether its safe, get out and check before you start to reverse. The front of your vehicle swings out as you turn and this may create a hazard for passing traffic
• Pedestrian crossings

  Pelican crossings are controlled by traffic lights. When the red light changes to flashing amber, wait for any predestrians to finish crossing before you move off
• Pedestrian crossing

  On toucan crossing, cyclists are allowed to cycle across at the same time as pedestrians
• Level crossing

  A level crossing is where a railway line crosses the road

  • It may have countdown markers to warn you if the crossing is hidden, such as around a bend
  • Controlled crossings have traffic light signals with twin flashing red lights, plus a warning alarm for pedestrians
• A level crossing

  • Crossings may or may not have barriers
• A level crossing

  If the warning lights come on as your approaching the crossing. Stop. You must obey the red lights, by law
• A level crossing

  Your already on the crossing when the warning lights come on or a bell rings

  Keep going and clear the crossing
• A level crossing

  If your waiting at a level crossing and a train has passed byt the red lights keep flashing

  You must wait: there may be another train coming
• A level crossing

  Some types of level crossing don't have lights. These include crossings with user - operated gates or barriers, and open crossings.
• Stopping and parking

  At night, the safest place to park your vehicle is in your garage. If you don't have one. If your away from home, try to find a secure car park or park in a well lit area
• Stopping and parking

  If you have to park on a road at night, you must leave your parking lights on if the speed limit on that road is over 30mph.

  You should normally park on the left hand side of the road, so road users can see in you reflectors

  If its a one way street then you can park on either side
• Stopping and parking

  You must not stop on a clearway. On a urban clearway, you may stop only to drop off and pick up passengers.

  On a road marked with double white lines you may stop only to drop off and pick up passengers or to load/unload goods
• By law, you must stop

  • if your involved in a road traffic incident
  • at a red light
  • When signalled to do so by a police officer, traffic warden, driver and vehicle stardards agency (DVSA) officer, Highways Agency traffic officer or school crossing patrol
• Don't park where you would cause a danger or get in the way of other road users such as

  • on or near the brow of a hill
  • at a bus stop
  • opposite a traffic island
  • in front of someone else's drive
  • near a school entrance
  • opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction