Official Highway Code Rules Directory

Study all 310 official Highway Code rules (Rules H1-H3 & 1-307) with instant text search.

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Rule 148
Rule 148
Safe driving and riding needs concentration. Avoid distractions when driving or riding such as
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Rule 149
Rule 149
You MUST exercise proper control of your vehicle at all times. You MUST NOT use a hand-held mobile phone, or similar device, capable of inte...
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Rule 150
Rule 150
There is a danger of driver distraction being caused by in-vehicle systems such as satellite navigation systems, congestion warning systems,...
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Rule 151
Rule 151
In slow-moving traffic. You should
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Rule 152
Rule 152
Residential streets. You should drive slowly and carefully on streets where there are likely to be pedestrians, cyclists and parked cars. In...
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Rule 153
Rule 153
Traffic-calming measures. On some roads there are features such as road humps, chicanes and narrowings which are intended to slow you down. ...
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Rule 154
Rule 154
Take extra care on country roads and reduce your speed at approaches to bends, which can be sharper than they appear, and at junctions and t...
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Rule 155
Rule 155
Single-track roads. These are only wide enough for one vehicle. They may have special passing places. If you see a vehicle coming towards yo...
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Rule 156
Rule 156
Do not park in passing places.
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Rule 157
Rule 157
Certain motorised vehicles do not meet the construction and technical requirements for road vehicles and are generally not intended, not sui...
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Rule 158
Rule 158
Certain models of motorcycles, motor tricycles and quadricycles, also called quad bikes, are suitable only for off-road use and do not meet ...
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Rule 159
Rule 159: Check the blind spot before moving off
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Rule 160
Rule 160
Once moving you should
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Rule 161
Rule 161
Mirrors. All mirrors should be used effectively throughout your journey. You should
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Rule 162
Rule 162
Before overtaking you should make sure
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Rule 163
Rule 163
Overtake only when it is safe and legal to do so. You should
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Rule 164
Rule 164
Large vehicles. Overtaking these is more difficult. You should
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Rule 165
Rule 165
You MUST NOT overtake
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Rule 166
Rule 166
DO NOT overtake if there is any doubt, or where you cannot see far enough ahead to be sure it is safe. For example, when you are approaching
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Rule 167
Rule 167
DO NOT overtake where you might come into conflict with other road users. For example
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Rule 168
Rule 168
Being overtaken. If a driver is trying to overtake you, maintain a steady course and speed, slowing down if necessary to let the vehicle pas...
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Rule 169
Rule 169
Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if ...
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Rule 170
Rule 170
Take extra care at junctions. You should
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Rule 171
Rule 171
You MUST stop behind the line at a junction with a ‘Stop’ sign and a solid white line across the road. Wait for a safe gap in the traffi...
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Rule 172
Rule 172
The approach to a junction may have a ‘Give Way’ sign or a triangle marked on the road. You MUST give way to traffic on the main road wh...
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Rule 173
Rule 173
Dual carriageways. When crossing or turning right, first assess whether the central reservation is deep enough to protect the full length of...
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Rule 174
Rule 174
Box junctions. These have criss-cross yellow lines painted on the road (see ‘Road markings’). You MUST NOT enter the box until your exit...
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Rule 175
Rule 175
You MUST stop behind the white ‘Stop’ line across your side of the road unless the light is green. If the amber light appears you may go...
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Rule 176
Rule 176
You MUST NOT move forward over the white line when the red light is showing. Only go forward when the traffic lights are green if there is r...
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Rule 177
Rule 177
Green filter arrow. This indicates a filter lane only. Do not enter that lane unless you want to go in the direction of the arrow. You may p...
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Rule 178
Rule 178
Advanced stop lines. Some signal-controlled junctions have advanced stop lines to allow cyclists to be positioned ahead of other traffic. Mo...
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Rule 179
Rule 179
Well before you turn right you should
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Rule 180
Rule 180
Wait until there is a safe gap between you and any oncoming vehicle. Watch out for cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians and other road users...
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Rule 181
Rule 181
When turning right at crossroads where an oncoming vehicle is also turning right, there is a choice of two methods
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Rule 182
Rule 182
Use your mirrors and give a left-turn signal well before you turn left. Do not overtake just before you turn left and watch out for traffic ...
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Rule 183
Rule 183
When turning
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Rule 184
Rule 184
On approaching a roundabout take notice and act on all the information available to you, including traffic signs, traffic lights and lane ma...
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Rule 185
Rule 185
When reaching the roundabout you should
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Rule 186
Rule 186
Signals and position. When taking the first exit to the left, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise
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Rule 187
Rule 187
In all cases watch out for and give plenty of room to
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Rule 188
Rule 188
Mini-roundabouts. Approach these in the same way as normal roundabouts. All vehicles MUST pass round the central markings except large vehic...
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Rule 189
Rule 189
At double mini-roundabouts treat each roundabout separately and give way to traffic from the right.
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Rule 190
Rule 190
Multiple roundabouts. At some complex junctions, there may be a series of mini-roundabouts at each intersection. Treat each mini-roundabout ...
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Rule 191
Rule 191
You MUST NOT park on a crossing or in the area covered by the zig-zag lines. You MUST NOT overtake the moving vehicle nearest the crossing o...
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Rule 192
Rule 192
In slow-moving and queuing traffic you should keep crossings completely clear, as blocking these makes it difficult and dangerous for pedest...
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Rule 193
Rule 193
You should take extra care where the view of either side of the crossing is blocked by queuing traffic or incorrectly parked vehicles. Pedes...
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Rule 194
Rule 194
Allow pedestrians plenty of time to cross and do not harass them by revving your engine or edging forward.
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Rule 195
Rule 195
Zebra and parallel crossings. As you approach a zebra crossing
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Rule 196
Rule 196
Pelican crossings. These are signal-controlled crossings where flashing amber follows the red ‘Stop’ light. You MUST stop when the red l...
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Rule 197
Rule 197
Pelican crossings which go straight across the road are one crossing, even when there is a central island. You MUST wait for pedestrians who...
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Rule 198
Rule 198
Give way to anyone still crossing after the signal for vehicles has changed to green. This advice applies to all crossings.
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Rule 199
Rule 199
Toucan, puffin and equestrian crossings. These are similar to pelican crossings, but there is no flashing amber phase; the light sequence fo...
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Rule 200
Rule 200
Choose an appropriate place to manoeuvre. If you need to turn your vehicle around, wait until you find a safe place. Try not to reverse or t...
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Rule 201
Rule 201
Do not reverse from a side road into a main road. When using a driveway, reverse in and drive out if you can.
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Rule 202
Rule 202
Look carefully before you start reversing. You should
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Rule 203
Rule 203
You MUST NOT reverse your vehicle further than necessary.
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Rule 204
Rule 204
The road users most at risk from road traffic are pedestrians, in particular children, older adults and disabled people, cyclists, horse rid...
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Rule 205
Rule 205
There is a risk of pedestrians, especially children, stepping unexpectedly into the road. You should drive with the safety of children in mi...
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Rule 206
Rule 206
Drive carefully and slowly when
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Rule 207
Rule 207
Particularly vulnerable pedestrians. These include:
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Rule 208
Rule 208
Near schools. Drive slowly and be particularly aware of young cyclists and pedestrians. In some places, there may be a flashing amber signal...
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Rule 209
Rule 209
Drive carefully and slowly when passing a stationary bus showing a ‘School Bus’ sign as children may be getting on or off.
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Rule 210
Rule 210
You MUST stop when a school crossing patrol shows a ‘Stop for children’ sign (see ‘Signals by authorised persons’ and ‘Traffic sig...
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Rule 211
Rule 211
It is often difficult to see motorcyclists and cyclists, especially when they are waiting alongside you, coming up from behind, coming out o...
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Rule 212
Rule 212
Give motorcyclists, cyclists, horse riders, horse drawn vehicles and pedestrians walking in the road (for example, where there is no pavemen...
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Rule 213
Rule 213
On narrow sections of road, on quiet roads or streets, at road junctions and in slower-moving traffic, cyclists may sometimes ride in the ce...
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Rule 214
Rule 214
Animals. When passing animals, drive slowly. Give them plenty of room and be ready to stop. Do not scare animals by sounding your horn, revv...
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Rule 215
Rule 215
Horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles. Be particularly careful of horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles especially when approaching, overtak...
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Rule 216
Rule 216
Older drivers. Their reactions may be slower than other drivers. Make allowance for this.
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Rule 217
Rule 217
Learners and inexperienced drivers. They may not be so skilful at anticipating and responding to events. Be particularly patient with learne...
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Rule 218
Rule 218
Home Zones and Quiet Lanes. These are places where people could be using the whole of the road for a range of activities such as children pl...
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Rule 219
Rule 219
Emergency and Incident Support vehicles. You should look and listen for ambulances, fire engines, police, doctors or other emergency vehicle...
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Rule 220
Rule 220
Powered vehicles used by disabled people. These small vehicles travel at a maximum speed of 8 mph (12 km/h). On a dual carriageway where the...
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Rule 221
Rule 221
Large vehicles. These may need extra road space to turn or to deal with a hazard that you are not able to see. If you are following a large ...
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Rule 222
Rule 222
Large vehicles can block your view. Your ability to see and to plan ahead will be improved if you pull back to increase your separation dist...
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