Motorway rules practice questions

1. A learner driver with a provisional car licence in England wants to drive on a motorway. When is this allowed?

Answer: Only with an approved driving instructor in a car with dual controls

Learners in England, Scotland and Wales may use motorways, but only with an approved driving instructor in a dual-control car. Practising there with family or friends is illegal.

2. What is the national speed limit for a car on a motorway?

Answer: 70mph

Cars on a motorway have a national limit of 70mph unless signs show a lower limit.

3. Which of these MUST NOT use a motorway?

Answer: A person riding a bicycle

Motorways must not be used by pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, provisional motorcycle licence holders and some slow vehicles.

4. You've just overtaken a slow lorry on a quiet three-lane motorway. Your passenger says, 'Just stay in the middle, it's easier.' What should you do?

Answer: Move back to the left lane when it's safe

Keep in the left lane unless you are overtaking. When you've passed slower traffic, move back to the left when it is safe.

5. You are on a slip road joining a motorway. What should you do?

Answer: Give way to motorway traffic and match the speed of the left lane

Traffic on the motorway has priority. Use the slip road to build up speed and find a safe gap in the left lane.

6. A red X is shown on the sign above your lane. What does it mean?

Answer: The lane is closed; you must not drive in it

A red X means that lane is closed. You must move to an open lane and must not carry on in the closed one.

7. On some motorways the hard shoulder can be used as a running lane. When may you drive in it?

Answer: Only when a speed limit is shown on the sign above it

You may only use the hard shoulder as a lane when a speed limit is shown above it. A red X or a blank sign means it is closed.

8. What is an emergency area on a motorway?

Answer: An emergency-only stopping place with blue signs and an orange SOS symbol

Emergency areas are found where there is no hard shoulder or it is used as a lane. They must only be used in an emergency.

9. Traffic is moving freely on a motorway. Can you overtake a car by passing it on its left?

Answer: No, you should not overtake on the left

Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake. In congested traffic, where lanes are moving at similar speeds, you may keep up with the traffic in your own lane even if that means passing traffic on your right, but don't weave between lanes.

10. Your family is towing a small trailer of camping kit up a three-lane motorway. Traffic is light. Which lane must you NOT use (unless signs or lane closures tell you to)?

Answer: The right-hand lane

On motorways with three or more lanes, vehicles towing trailers, most goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and some large passenger vehicles must not use the right-hand lane, except in special situations such as lane closures.

11. Your car breaks down on a motorway and you cannot reach the left lane or any place of relative safety. What should you do?

Answer: Stay in the car with seat belts on and hazard lights on, and call 999

If you cannot get to the left or a safe place, or cannot get out safely, stay in the vehicle with seat belts and hazard lights on and call 999.

12. Amber lights are flashing on a motorway signal. What should you do?

Answer: Slow down, and only speed up after a non-flashing signal or END sign

Flashing amber lights warn of a hazard ahead, such as an incident or fog. Reduce speed and only speed up again once past a non-flashing signal or END sign, when safe.

13. You're joining a motorway. The signs and markings show the slip road doesn't end but carries on as an extra lane. What should you do?

Answer: Stay in that lane instead of squeezing into the next one

If the slip road continues as an extra lane on the main carriageway, stay in it. You don't need to force your way into the lane next to you.

14. You're in a traffic jam on the motorway. Every lane is crawling at about the same speed, but your lane (on the left) is creeping along slightly faster than the lane to your right. What may you do?

Answer: Keep up with your own lane, even if it passes them

Don't overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake. But in congestion, when lanes are moving at similar speeds, you may keep up with the traffic in your lane even if this means passing traffic in the lane to your right.

15. On the way to a concert, your sat nav says 'exit now', but you've just driven past the slip road. Your mate says, 'Quick, back up along the hard shoulder.' What should you do?

Answer: Drive on to the next junction and come back

You must not reverse, cross the central reservation or drive against the traffic on a motorway. If you miss your exit, carry on to the next one.

16. On the motorway, your manager keeps phoning about your shift. It isn't an emergency. Where may you stop to call back?

Answer: At a service area, or after leaving the motorway

You must not stop on the carriageway, emergency area, hard shoulder, slip road, central reservation or verge except in an emergency. Don't stop on any part of a motorway to make or receive phone calls unless it's an emergency.

17. You've been on the motorway for an hour and now leave by a slip road. 50mph feels slow. Why should you check your speedometer?

Answer: You may be going faster than it feels

After driving fast for a while, your speed may be higher than you realise; 50mph can feel like 30mph. Check your speedometer and slow down for bends on slip roads.

18. On a three-lane motorway, a traffic officer's car and a broken-down van are on the hard shoulder ahead. The middle lane beside you is clear. What should you do?

Answer: Move into the middle lane, if it's safe, to give them room

Keep left unless overtaking, but when you approach stopped vehicles, traffic officers, emergency or recovery workers, move to the next lane if it is safe to do so.

19. Your motorway exit is one mile ahead and you're in the middle lane. What should you do?

Answer: Move into the left lane well before the exit

Watch for signs for your exit, move into the left-hand lane well before reaching it, signal in good time and reduce speed on the slip road.

20. Your friend has a full licence and rides a 49cc moped. Can she use the motorway to get to work faster?

Answer: No, motorcycles under 50cc must not use motorways

Motorways must not be used by motorcycles under 50cc, as well as pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, learner motorcyclists and some slow vehicles.

21. This signal is shown above every lane of the motorway ahead. What must you do?

Answer: Don't pass it unless police or traffic officers direct you

If all lanes are shown closed, the road is closed. You must not go past the sign or use the hard shoulder unless directed by the police or a traffic officer.

22. This signal is shown above your lane on the motorway. What does it tell you?

Answer: It's an advised top speed; a red ring would make it law

A speed shown without a red ring is a temporary advised maximum. One shown inside a red ring is a mandatory limit that you must not exceed. Following either keeps traffic safe and smooth.

23. Near a motorway junction, the signs and markings show that the left lane leads straight off onto the slip road. You want to stay on the motorway. What should you do?

Answer: Keep out of it unless you're taking that exit

At some junctions a lane may lead directly off the motorway. Only get in that lane if you wish to go in the direction shown by the signs or road markings.

24. A warning light made you stop in a motorway emergency area. It's now fixed and you want to drive off. What must you do first?

Answer: Use the emergency phone and follow the operator's advice

Before rejoining the carriageway from an emergency area you must use the emergency telephone and follow the operator's advice. They may need to close a lane for you.

25. You've stopped on the hard shoulder of a motorway and are ready to rejoin. What should you do?

Answer: Build up speed on the hard shoulder and wait for a safe gap

To rejoin from a hard shoulder, build up speed on the hard shoulder, signal and watch for a safe gap in the traffic. Look out for other stopped vehicles or debris.

26. You've broken down on the motorway and are calling for help from behind the barrier. How can you say exactly where you are?

Answer: Read the code on a nearby marker post or location sign

Give your location using your car's SOS button, a mapping app, or the numbers and letters on marker posts or driver location signs at the edge of the road.

27. An overhead motorway signal shows a lower speed and a warning, but the road ahead looks completely clear to you. Why should you still take notice?

Answer: It may warn of a hazard you can't see yet

Motorway signs and signals warn you of hazards ahead, such as an incident, fog, a spillage or road workers on the carriageway, which you may not immediately be able to see.

28. A box blows off your roof rack and lands in a motorway lane. What should you do?

Answer: Stop somewhere relatively safe and call 999

On a motorway or other high-speed road, never try to remove anything from the carriageway yourself. Stop in a place of relative safety and call 999.

29. Your friend asks you to drop her on the motorway hard shoulder because her house is just over the fence. What should you do?

Answer: Refuse, as dropping anyone off there is illegal

You must not pick up or set down anyone, or walk on a motorway, except in an emergency.

30. Driving on an unlit motorway at night, you notice a line of green reflective studs on your left. What do they mark?

Answer: The edge of the main road at a slip road or lay-by

Green studs mark the edge of the main carriageway at lay-bys and slip roads. White studs mark lanes, red the left edge and amber the central reservation.

31. Why does the Highway Code say to use your mirrors earlier on a motorway?

Answer: Traffic is faster, so you have less time to react

Rule 254 says traffic on motorways usually travels faster, so you need to use your mirrors earlier and look much further ahead.

32. On a motorway you see a single signal at the side of the road. Who does it apply to?

Answer: All lanes, unless it's a lane-specific signal

Rule 256 says a single sign or signal may give information for all lanes; lane-specific signals apply only to the lanes they're above.

33. When joining a motorway, what must you not do?

Answer: Cross solid white lines separating lanes or use the hard shoulder

Rule 259 says when joining a motorway, do not cross solid white lines that separate lanes or use the hard shoulder.

34. You've just joined a motorway. What should you do before thinking about overtaking?

Answer: Stay in the left lane long enough to get used to the speed of the traffic

Rule 259 says stay in the left-hand lane long enough to adjust to the speed of traffic before considering overtaking.

35. Before overtaking on a motorway, which check is especially important after your mirrors?

Answer: Your blind spot

Rule 267 says check your mirrors, judge speeds carefully, check your blind spot and signal in good time before overtaking.

36. You break down on the motorway and stop on the hard shoulder. How should you and your passengers get out?

Answer: By the doors furthest from traffic, if it's safe

Rule 277 says exit your vehicle by the side furthest from traffic, if it is safe and possible to do so.

37. You've broken down on the hard shoulder. Your friend wants to change the flat tyre. What does the Highway Code say?

Answer: Don't attempt repairs; wait behind the barrier

Rule 277 says do not attempt even simple repairs on a motorway; wait away from your vehicle, behind a barrier if there is one.

38. You break down on a motorway and can't get to a safe place or out of the car safely. What should you do?

Answer: Stay in the car with your seat belt on, hazards on, and call 999

Rule 279 says if you cannot follow the usual advice, switch on your hazard lights, stay in your vehicle with your seat belt on, and call 999 or press your SOS button.

39. You're towing a trailer on a motorway. What is your speed limit?

Answer: 60mph

Cars towing caravans or trailers have a limit of 60mph on motorways and dual carriageways.

40. You're approaching a motorway junction. When should you change lanes for your exit?

Answer: Well ahead of the junction, if you need to

Rule 266 says look well ahead for signals, signs and road markings and, if necessary, change lanes well ahead of the junction.