Topic
Motorway rules
Last reviewed against gov.uk on
Motorway rules covers everything specific to motorways — joining via the slip road, lane discipline, the national speed limit, smart-motorway gantries and the red X, and what to do if you break down.
What’s tested
- National speed limit (70 mph cars/motorcycles; lower when towing)
- Lane discipline — left-hand lane unless overtaking
- Smart motorways: variable speed limits, hard shoulder running, red X
- Joining and leaving via slip roads
- Breakdown procedure — emergency areas, hazard lights, leaving the vehicle
Key Highway Code rules
Practise real DVSA revision questions
Work through 20 real DVSA car revision questions, each with the correct answer and a full explanation — then get the full bank for every topic in the app, free to get started.
Common mistakes
- Middle-lane hogging when the left lane is clear (careless driving — police have been able to issue an on-the-spot fixed penalty for it since 2013)
- Driving in a lane closed by a red X
- Stopping on the hard shoulder when it is a running lane on a smart motorway
- Joining a motorway too slowly and forcing traffic behind to brake
Keep going
All 14 topics
- Alertness Staying focused: mirrors, observation, scanning the road, avoiding fatigue and distraction.
- Attitude Considerate driving: patience, following distance, behaviour at crossings and roundabouts.
- Safety and your vehicle Roadworthiness: brakes, tyres, lights, fluids, warning lights and securing the car.
- Safety margins Stopping distances, weather, road surface, and the space you need to react safely.
- Hazard awareness Anticipating risk: spotting clues, planning ahead, reading other road users’ behaviour.
- Vulnerable road users Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, horse riders, children, older and disabled people.
- Other types of vehicle Sharing the road with lorries, buses, motorcycles, trams and emergency vehicles.
- Vehicle handling Driving in rain, fog, snow, dark and strong wind — how conditions change the car.
- Rules of the road Speed limits, junctions, roundabouts, parking, level crossings and one-way streets.
- Road and traffic signs The visual language of UK roads — shape, colour and meaning of every sign and signal.
- Documents Licence, insurance, MOT, V5C log book and SORN — the paperwork to be legally on the road.
- Incidents, accidents and emergencies First aid, CPR, AED, RTC procedure, breakdowns and tunnel safety.
- Vehicle loading Carrying passengers, luggage, roof loads and towing — and how each changes the car.