Topic
Other types of vehicle
Last updated
Other vehicle types covers how to share the road with vehicles that behave differently to a car — lorries that need extra room at junctions, buses pulling out, trams running on rails, and emergency vehicles needing you to make space safely.
What’s tested
- Reading a long vehicle’s signals near junctions and roundabouts
- Why an HGV may need to swing out to turn
- Giving way safely to emergency vehicles without breaking the law
- Tram behaviour and the “no overtaking” rule around trams
- Allowing a bus to pull out from a stop in built-up areas
Key Highway Code rules
Try a real DVSA question
Practice question
From the DVSA question bank
You're following a long vehicle as it approaches a crossroads. What should you do if it signals left but moves out to the right?
Show explanation
The correct answer is B.
A long vehicle may need to swing out in the opposite direction as it approaches a turn, to allow the rear wheels to clear the kerb. Do not try to filter through if you see a gap; as the lorry turns, the gap will close.
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Common mistakes
- Filtering past a lorry that is signalling left into a side road
- Pulling onto a hatched chevron or into a bus lane to let an ambulance past
- Treating tram tracks as a normal road surface (very low grip when wet)
- Sitting close behind a tall vehicle so the driver cannot see you in their mirrors
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.
- Vehicle handling Driving in rain, fog, snow, dark and strong wind — how conditions change the car.
- Motorway rules Joining, lane discipline, speed, breakdowns and smart-motorway running lanes.
- 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.