Topic
Rules of the road
Last reviewed against gov.uk on
Rules of the road covers the everyday legal rules that apply on every journey — speed limits by road type, give-way and stop signs, roundabouts, parking, level crossings, and the difference in Wales (20 mph residential default since 2023).
What’s tested
- National speed limits by road type and vehicle class
- The “streetlights = 30 mph” rule in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland
- Roundabout priority — give way to the right
- Stop sign vs give-way sign — what you must actually do
- Pelican, puffin, toucan, Pegasus and parallel crossings
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
- Rolling through a STOP sign instead of stopping completely
- Assuming the 30 mph default applies in Wales (it is 20 mph in restricted residential roads since September 2023)
- Taking a roundabout exit from the wrong lane
- Parking within 10 m of a junction
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.
- Motorway rules Joining, lane discipline, speed, breakdowns and smart-motorway running lanes.
- 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.