Rules of the road practice questions

1. In England, what is the speed limit for a car on a road with street lights (a built-up area) unless signs say otherwise?

Answer: 30mph

In built-up areas in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland the limit is 30mph unless signs show a different limit.

2. What is the default speed limit for a car in a built-up area in Wales?

Answer: 20mph

In Wales the default limit in built-up areas is 20mph. Some roads have signs showing a higher limit.

3. What is the national speed limit for a car on a single carriageway road?

Answer: 60mph

On a single carriageway the national limit for cars is 60mph. It is a maximum, not a target.

4. What is the national speed limit for a car on a dual carriageway?

Answer: 70mph

Cars may drive at up to 70mph on a dual carriageway where the national limit applies.

5. At a roundabout, who should you normally give priority to?

Answer: Traffic coming from your right

Give priority to traffic approaching from your right, unless signs, markings or traffic lights tell you otherwise.

6. You are taking an exit to the right at a roundabout. What should you normally do?

Answer: Signal right in the right lane, then signal left after the exit before yours

For a right exit, signal right and approach in the right lane. Keep to the right on the roundabout and signal left after you pass the exit before yours.

7. When may you enter a yellow box junction even though you cannot clear it straight away?

Answer: When turning right and only held up by oncoming or right-turning traffic

You must not enter a box junction until your exit road or lane is clear. The exception is turning right when you are only held up by oncoming traffic or other right-turning vehicles.

8. A pedestrian has stepped onto a zebra crossing. What must you do?

Answer: Give way to them

You must give way once someone has stepped onto a zebra crossing. You should also give way to people waiting to cross.

9. You've stopped at a pelican crossing outside the shops. Your amber light starts flashing, but a teenager is still halfway across. What should you do?

Answer: Let them finish crossing, then go if it's clear

When the amber light flashes at a pelican crossing, you must give way to anyone still on the crossing. If it is clear, you may go on with care.

10. On the way to college you stop at a crossing by the park that people walking and cycling both use (a toucan crossing). After your red light, what will your lights show?

Answer: Red and amber together, then green

Toucan, puffin and equestrian crossings have no flashing amber phase. The lights follow the same order as normal traffic lights: red, red and amber, then green.

11. You park on a road at night. Which way should your car face?

Answer: Facing the same way as the traffic flow, unless in a recognised parking space

At night you must not park facing against the traffic flow unless you are in a recognised parking space. Your rear reflectors need to face oncoming cars.

12. Where should you NOT overtake?

Answer: When approaching a junction

The Highway Code lists places not to overtake, including approaching or at a junction, where the road narrows, and near crossings.

13. You're behind a large lorry (over 7.5 tonnes) on a national speed limit single carriageway road in England. What is its speed limit?

Answer: 50mph

In England and Wales, goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes have a 50mph limit on single carriageways (40mph in Scotland). Cars have 60mph on the same road.

14. You come to a mini-roundabout marked by a painted white circle. What must you do with the circle?

Answer: Drive round it, not over it, unless you're too big to

All vehicles must pass round the central markings of a mini-roundabout, except large vehicles that physically cannot.

15. At a roundabout you're taking the exit straight ahead. How should you normally signal?

Answer: None on approach; signal left after the exit before yours

For an intermediate exit, choose the appropriate lane on approach; you should not normally need to signal then. Signal left after passing the exit before the one you want.

16. You realise you're going the wrong way along a busy high street. What's the best way to turn round?

Answer: Turn into a quiet side road or go round the block

Choose a safe, quiet place to turn round, such as a side road or a loop round a block. Avoid turning or reversing on busy roads, and avoid U-turns at mini-roundabouts.

17. At a crossroads, you and an oncoming car both want to turn right. Which way is generally safer to pass each other?

Answer: Right side to right side, passing behind each other

When two vehicles turn right from opposite directions, passing right side to right side (offside to offside) is generally safer, as you can see oncoming traffic past the other car.

18. After a power cut, all the traffic lights at the crossroads near your college are dark. How should you treat the junction?

Answer: As an unmarked junction, going ahead with great care

If the traffic lights are not working, treat the situation as you would an unmarked junction and proceed with great care.

19. You're about to turn right from a two-way road into a side road. There's no special lane marked for turning. Where should you position your car?

Answer: Just left of the middle of the road

Well before you turn right, check your mirrors, signal right and take up a position just left of the middle of the road (or in the space marked for right-turning traffic), leaving room for others to pass on your left if possible.

20. On a single carriageway with three lanes, the middle lane is shared by both directions. What should you use it for?

Answer: Only for overtaking or turning right

On a three-lane road with one carriageway, use the middle lane only for overtaking or turning right. Remember that oncoming traffic may want to use it too.

21. You're in a two-lane one-way street in town and need to turn right at the lights at the end. No signs or markings say otherwise. Which lane should you normally use?

Answer: The right-hand lane

In one-way streets, use the left lane to turn left, the right lane to turn right, and the most suitable lane to go straight on, unless signs say otherwise.

22. What does the Highway Code say about a zebra crossing that has a traffic island in the middle?

Answer: It counts as two separate crossings

A zebra crossing with a central island is two separate crossings. A straight-across pelican crossing with an island is one crossing.

23. You want to park near the corner of your friend's street. There are no parking bays. How close to the junction must you NOT park?

Answer: Within 10 metres of it

Do not stop or park opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space.

24. You park a manual car facing downhill next to the kerb. As well as applying the parking brake firmly, what should you do?

Answer: Select reverse and turn the wheels towards the kerb

When parking facing downhill, turn the steering wheel towards the kerb and select reverse gear. Facing uphill, turn away from the kerb and select a forward gear.

25. You need to park overnight on a road with a 40mph speed limit. What must you do?

Answer: Leave your parking lights on

You must use parking lights when parked on a road or lay-by with a speed limit greater than 30mph.

26. You've turned into a side road by mistake. Your passenger says, 'Just reverse back out onto the main road.' What should you do?

Answer: Don't; turn round safely and drive out forwards

Do not reverse from a side road into a main road. Find a safe place to turn and come out forwards.

27. A bus lane sign shows 'Mon–Fri 7–10 am, 4–7 pm'. It's 1pm on a Wednesday. Can you drive in the lane?

Answer: Yes, because it's outside its hours

You should not drive in a bus lane during its period of operation, shown on the signs. Outside those times, other traffic may use it unless signs say otherwise.

28. Which of these may mark out a lane that is reserved for trams?

Answer: White lines, yellow dots or a different road surface

Never drive in a road, lane or route reserved for trams. Tram lanes are marked by white line markings, yellow dots or a different type of road surface.

29. You're driving over a level crossing and have just passed the white stop line when the steady amber light comes on. What should you do?

Answer: Keep going and clear the crossing

If you have already crossed the white line when the amber light comes on, keep going. Never reverse onto or over a crossing.

30. At a level crossing with gates you open yourself and red/green lights, you've opened the gates on both sides. What next?

Answer: Check the light is still green, then cross quickly

At user-operated gates with lights, never cross on red. Open both gates, check the green light is still on, cross quickly, then close the gates once you're clear.

31. When may you stop on a road marked with double white lines?

Answer: Only to pick up or set down passengers, or to load or unload goods

Rule 240 says you MUST NOT stop or park on a road marked with double white lines, even where a broken line is on your side, except to pick up or set down passengers, or to load or unload goods.

32. Where should you NOT park?

Answer: At or near a bus stop

Rule 243 says do not stop or park near a bus or tram stop or taxi rank, among other places.

33. Why shouldn't you park on a bend or near the top of a hill?

Answer: Other drivers won't see your car until they're very close

Rule 243 says do not stop or park on a bend, or near the brow of a hill or a hump bridge.

34. You don't have a Blue Badge. Can you use a disabled parking bay for 'just five minutes'?

Answer: No, you must not park there

Rule 241 says you MUST NOT park in parking spaces reserved for specific users, such as Blue Badge holders, unless entitled to do so.

35. You're visiting a friend in London. Can you park with two wheels on the pavement?

Answer: No, unless signs allow it

Rule 244 says you MUST NOT park partially or wholly on the pavement in London or Scotland, and elsewhere should only do so where signs permit it.

36. You have to leave your car on the road in fog. What should you do?

Answer: Leave parking lights or sidelights on

Rule 251 says it's especially dangerous to park on the road in fog. If you must, leave your parking lights or sidelights on.

37. You're taking the first exit to the left at a roundabout. What should you normally do?

Answer: Signal left and approach in the left lane

Rule 186 says when taking the first exit, unless signs or markings say otherwise, signal left and approach in the left-hand lane, and keep to the left on the roundabout.

38. Traffic is queuing. If you move forward, you'll stop on a pedestrian crossing. What should you do?

Answer: Wait until you can clear the crossing completely

Rule 192 says you should not enter a pedestrian crossing if you are unable to clear it completely.

39. The lights at a pedestrian crossing turn green for you, but someone is still crossing. What should you do?

Answer: Give way to them

Rule 198 says give way to anyone still crossing after the signal for vehicles has changed to green.

40. At a level crossing with half barriers, the barriers are down but you can't see a train. What must you do?

Answer: Wait; never zigzag round the barriers

Rule 293 says never zig-zag around half barriers; they lower automatically because a train is approaching. Wait until they open and the lights stop.

41. You come to an open level crossing with no gates, barriers or lights. What should you do?

Answer: Look both ways, listen, and only cross if no train is coming

Rule 298 says at open crossings with no gates, barriers, attendant or traffic lights, look both ways, listen and make sure there is no train coming before you cross.

42. Which of these does the Highway Code say you MUST NOT do when parking?

Answer: Leave it in a dangerous place or where it blocks the road

Rule 242 says you MUST NOT leave your vehicle or trailer in a dangerous position or where it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road.