Highway code: general rules, techniques, advice Flashcards
Reinforce a signal
use an arm signal if necessary
Reason someone else’s signal may be wrong
may not have been cancelled
how will police attract your attention to stop you and what you need to do
- 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
how will DVSA officers stop your vehicle
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
What may traffic officers do to stop your vehicle (on safety grounds)
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
When are you allowed to flash headlights?
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)
Rules of the horn
- 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
Definition of night (hours of darkness)
From 30min after sunset to 30min before sunrise
Rule for sidelights
all sidelights and registration plate lights must be lit between sunset and sunrise
What should you do with brakes in a stationary queue?
- apply parking brake
- once following traffic has stopped, you should have released the footbrake
(minimise glare of brake light)
When must you use dipped headlights?
- 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
How mustn’t you use lights
in any way that can dazzle other road users (inc pedestrians, cyclists)
When is it required that you use headlights?
- at night
- -> not required on lit street (generally restricted to 30mph)
- when visibility seriously reduced
Rule for fog lights
only use when visibility is seriously reduced
- must switch off once visibility improves (dazzling)
Rule for hazard warning lights
- 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
Safest way to brake in normal circumstances
early and lightly
- more firmly as begin to stop
- ease pressure off just before coming to rest
How to brake in emergency
Immediately
- avoid so harshly that you lock the wheels (loss of control)
How to recover from skid
- remove cause (release brake or accelerator)
- steer in direction of skid
(if rear of car skids to right, steer right)
What to do after driving through deep water
Test brakes lightly at first safe opportunity
- if not fully effective, gently apply light pressure when driving slowly to dry out
Consequences of coasting
- no engine braking
- speed increases quickly downhill
- more footbrake usage reduces its effectiveness
- affected steering response
- more difficult to select a gear when needed
When must you switch off engine?
- unattended
- if unnecessarily when stationary on public road
(okay if in traffic) - generally, >2 mins of stationary
Speed limit for built up areas
30mph
street lights usually suggest this unless signs show otherwise
Speed limit for single carriageways
60mph
Speed limit for dual carriageways
70mph
Speed limit for motorways
70mph
Regardless of speed limit, when should you slow down?
- 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
Rule for stopping distances
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
typical stopping distances for 20–40mph
20mph - 3 car lengths 30mph - 6 car lengths 40mph - 9 car lengths
Condition for overtaking with double white line with broken line on your side
only if manoeuvre can be done before line goes solid
- white direction arrows mean you need to return back in
Rule for double white line that is solid for you
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
Rule for white chevrons
- 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
use of reflective white studs
mark lanes or middle of road
use of red studs
left edge of road
use of amber studs
mark central reservation of motorway or dual carriageway
use of green studs
edge of main carriageway marking slip roads or lay-bys
use of green/yellow studs
temporary adjustments to lane layouts eg road works
stud colours for:
- lanes/middle of road
- left edge
- central reservation
- slip roads/lay-bys
- temporary adjustments
- white
- red
- amber
- green
- green/yellow
