Highway code: general rules, techniques, advice

Question 1

Reinforce a signal

Answer 1

use an arm signal if necessary

Question 2

Reason someone else’s signal may be wrong

Answer 2

may not have been cancelled

Question 3

how will police attract your attention to stop you and what you need to do

Answer 3

• flashing blue lights, headlights or sounding their siren or horn, usually from behind
• directing you to pull over to the side by pointing or using left indicator
• pull over and stop when safe, turning off engine
  106

Question 4

how will DVSA officers stop your vehicle

Answer 4

all roads
either
- from front; requesting you follow them to a safe place to stop
- from behind; directing to pull over to side by pointing or left indicator
107

Question 5

What may traffic officers do to stop your vehicle (on safety grounds)

Answer 5

have power on most motorways and some A roads in England and Wales
- flashing amber lights usually from behind
- directing to pull over to side by pointing or left indicator
you must pull over, stop when safe, turn off engine
108

Question 6

When are you allowed to flash headlights?

Answer 6

only to let other road users know of your presence

• not to convey any other message
• never assume flashing headlights is a signal inviting you to proceed (use own judgement, proceed carefully)

Question 7

Rules of the horn

Answer 7

• only when vehicle is moving and need to warn other road users of your presence
• never aggressively
  must not use when
• stationary
• driving in built-up area between 11:30pm and 7am
  except when another road user poses danger

Question 8

Definition of night (hours of darkness)

Answer 8

From 30min after sunset to 30min before sunrise

Question 9

Rule for sidelights

Answer 9

all sidelights and registration plate lights must be lit between sunset and sunrise

Question 10

What should you do with brakes in a stationary queue?

Answer 10

• apply parking brake
• once following traffic has stopped, you should have released the footbrake
  (minimise glare of brake light)

Question 11

When must you use dipped headlights?

Answer 11

• at night in built up areas
• dull daytime weather
• when overtaking
• -> once level, you can change to main beam if necessary unless this would dazzle oncomers

Question 12

How mustn’t you use lights

Answer 12

in any way that can dazzle other road users (inc pedestrians, cyclists)

Question 13

When is it required that you use headlights?

Answer 13

• at night
• -> not required on lit street (generally restricted to 30mph)
• when visibility seriously reduced

Question 14

Rule for fog lights

Answer 14

only use when visibility is seriously reduced

- must switch off once visibility improves (dazzling)

Question 15

Rule for hazard warning lights

Answer 15

• only when stationary (temporarily obstructing traffic)
• or on motorway (or unrestricted dual carriageway) to warn of hazard ahead
• -> only long enough that warning is observed

Question 16

Safest way to brake in normal circumstances

Answer 16

early and lightly

• more firmly as begin to stop
• ease pressure off just before coming to rest

Question 17

How to brake in emergency

Answer 17

Immediately

- avoid so harshly that you lock the wheels (loss of control)

Question 18

How to recover from skid

Answer 18

• remove cause (release brake or accelerator)
• steer in direction of skid
  (if rear of car skids to right, steer right)

Question 19

What to do after driving through deep water

Answer 19

Test brakes lightly at first safe opportunity

- if not fully effective, gently apply light pressure when driving slowly to dry out

Question 20

Consequences of coasting

Answer 20

• no engine braking
• speed increases quickly downhill
• more footbrake usage reduces its effectiveness
• affected steering response
• more difficult to select a gear when needed

Question 21

When must you switch off engine?

Answer 21

• unattended
• if unnecessarily when stationary on public road
  (okay if in traffic)
• generally, >2 mins of stationary

Question 22

Speed limit for built up areas

Answer 22

30mph

street lights usually suggest this unless signs show otherwise

Question 23

Speed limit for single carriageways

Answer 23

60mph

Question 24

Speed limit for dual carriageways

Answer 24

70mph

Question 25

Speed limit for motorways

Answer 25

70mph

Question 26

Regardless of speed limit, when should you slow down?

Answer 26

- Hazardous road layout/conditions eg bends - sharing road with pedestrians, cyclists, horse and motorcyclists - at night - when weather conditions make it safer to do so

Question 27

Rule for stopping distances

Answer 27

Drive at a speed to stop well within visibly clear distance - enough space to pull up safely if car stops/slows suddenly - -> safe rule: never closer than overall stopping distance for your speed - ≥2s gap for roads of faster moving traffic and tunnels - -> double gap on wet roads and even more on icy roads - if you have to stop in tunnel, give ≥5m gap

Question 28

typical stopping distances for 20–40mph

Answer 28

``` 20mph - 3 car lengths 30mph - 6 car lengths 40mph - 9 car lengths ```

Question 29

Condition for overtaking with double white line with broken line on your side

Answer 29

only if manoeuvre can be done before line goes solid | - white direction arrows mean you need to return back in

Question 30

Rule for double white line that is solid for you

Answer 30

must not cross or straddle - unless safe and need to enter adjoining premises or side road - may cross if clear road to - -> pass stationary vehicle - -> overtake pedal cycle, horse, road maintenance vehicle of ≤10mph

Question 31

Rule for white chevrons

Answer 31

- to separate lanes or protect turning traffic if broken border - must not enter unless safe and necessary if solid border - must not enter unless emergency

Question 32

use of reflective white studs

Answer 32

mark lanes or middle of road

Question 33

use of red studs

Answer 33

left edge of road

Question 34

use of amber studs

Answer 34

mark central reservation of motorway or dual carriageway

Question 35

use of green studs

Answer 35

edge of main carriageway marking slip roads or lay-bys

Question 36

use of green/yellow studs

Answer 36

temporary adjustments to lane layouts eg road works

Question 37

stud colours for: - lanes/middle of road - left edge - central reservation - slip roads/lay-bys - temporary adjustments

Answer 37

- white - red - amber - green - green/yellow