Motorway Rules

1. Question

You’re joining a motorway from a slip road. How should you deal with traffic already on the motorway?

Carry on along the hard shoulder until you see a safe gap
Stop at the end of the slip road and look for a safe gap
Use the slip road to accelerate until you're moving much faster than the motorway traffic
Match your speed to traffic in the left-hand lane and filter into a safe gap

2. Question

What’s the national speed limit on motorways for cars and motorcycles?

30 mph
50 mph
60 mph
70 mph

3. Question

Which vehicles should use the left-hand lane on a three-lane motorway?

Any vehicle that isn't overtaking
Large vehicles only
Emergency vehicles only
Slow vehicles only

4. Question

Which vehicles aren’t allowed to use the right-hand lane of a three-lane motorway? (NI EXEMPT)

Small delivery vans
Motorcycles
Vehicles towing a trailer
Motorcycle and sidecar outfits

5. Question

Your vehicle breaks down on a motorway and you need to call for help. Why might it be better to use an emergency roadside telephone rather than a mobile phone?

It connects you to a local garage
Using a mobile phone will distract other drivers
It allows easy location by the emergency services
Mobile phones don't work on motorways

6. Question

Your vehicle broke down on the hard shoulder of a motorway, but has now been repaired. How should you rejoin the main carriageway?

Move out onto the carriageway, then build up your speed
Move out onto the carriageway using your hazard warning lights
Gain speed on the hard shoulder before moving out onto the carriageway
Wait on the hard shoulder until someone flashes their headlights at you

7. Question

You’re travelling along a motorway. Where would you find a crawler or climbing lane?

On a steep gradient
Before a service area
Before a junction
Along the hard shoulder

8. Question

What do these motorway signs mean?

They're countdown markers to a bridge
They're distance markers to the next telephone
They're countdown markers to the next exit
They warn of a police control ahead

9. Question

Where are amber reflective studs found on a motorway?

Between the hard shoulder and the carriageway
Between the acceleration lane and the carriageway
Between the central reservation and the carriageway
Between each pair of lanes

10. Question

What colour are the reflective studs between the lanes on a motorway?

Green
Amber
White
Red

11. Question

What colour are the reflective studs between a motorway and a slip road?

Amber
White
Green
Red

12. Question

Your vehicle has broken down on a motorway. In which direction should you walk to find the nearest emergency telephone?

With the traffic flow
Facing oncoming traffic
In the direction shown on the marker posts
In the direction of the nearest exit

13. Question

Why is it important to make full use of the slip road as you join a motorway?

Because there's space available to turn round if you need to
To allow you direct access to the overtaking lanes
To allow you to fit safely into the traffic flow in the left-hand lane
Because you can continue on the hard shoulder

14. Question

How should you position yourself when you use the emergency telephone on a motorway?

Stay close to the carriageway
Face the oncoming traffic
Keep your back to the traffic
Stand on the hard shoulder

15. Question

What colour are the reflective studs between the hard shoulder and the left-hand lane of a motorway?

Green
Red
White
Amber

16. Question

On a three-lane motorway, which lane should you use if there’s no traffic ahead?

Left
Right
Centre
Either the right or centre

17. Question

What should you do when going through a contraflow system on a motorway?

Use dipped headlights
Keep a good distance from the vehicle ahead
Switch lanes to keep the traffic flowing
Stay close to the vehicle ahead to reduce queues

18. Question

You’re on a three-lane motorway. Which lane are you in if there are red reflective studs on your left and white ones to your right?

In the right-hand lane
In the middle lane
On the hard shoulder
In the left-hand lane

19. Question

What should you do when you’re approaching roadworks on a motorway?

Speed up to clear the area quickly
Always use the hard shoulder
Obey the speed limit
Stay very close to the vehicle in front

20. Question

Which vehicles are prohibited from using the motorway?

Powered mobility scooters
Motorcycles over 50 cc
Double-deck buses
Cars with automatic transmission

21. Question

What should you do while you’re driving or riding along a motorway?

Look much further ahead than you would on other roads
Travel much faster than you would on other roads
Maintain a shorter separation distance than you would on other roads
Concentrate more than you would on other roads

22. Question

What should you do immediately after joining a motorway?

Try to overtake
Re-adjust your mirrors
Position your vehicle in the centre lane
Stay in the left-hand lane

23. Question

When would you use the right-hand lane on a three-lane motorway?

When you're turning right
When you're overtaking
When you're travelling above the speed limit
When you're trying to save fuel

24. Question

You’re on a motorway that isn’t subject to smart motorway regulations. When should you use the hard shoulder?

When you're stopping in an emergency
When you're leaving the motorway
When you're stopping for a rest
When you're joining the motorway

25. Question

You’re in the right-hand lane of a three-lane motorway. What do these overhead signs mean?

Move to the left and reduce your speed to 50 mph
There are roadworks 50 metres (55 yards) ahead
Use the hard shoulder until you've passed the hazard
Leave the motorway at the next exit

26. Question

When are you allowed to stop on a motorway?

When you need to walk and get fresh air
When you wish to pick up hitchhikers
When you're signalled to do so by traffic signals
When you need to use a mobile telephone

27. Question

You’re travelling in the left-hand lane of a three-lane motorway. How should you react to traffic joining from a slip road?

Increase your speed to ensure they join behind you
Adjust your speed or change lane if you can do so safely
Maintain a steady speed
Switch on your hazard warning lights

28. Question

How should you use the lanes on a motorway?

Use the lane that has the least traffic
Keep to the left-hand lane unless you're overtaking
Overtake using the lane that’s clearest
Stay in one lane until you reach your exit

29. Question

You’re travelling along a motorway. When are you allowed to overtake on the left?

When you can see well ahead that the hard shoulder is clear
When the traffic in the right-hand lane is signalling right
When you warn drivers behind by signalling left
When in queues and traffic to your right is moving more slowly than you are

30. Question

When would you use an emergency refuge area on a smart motorway?

In cases of emergency or breakdown
If you think you'll be involved in a road rage incident
To stop and check where you are
To make a private phone call

31. Question

Traffic officers operate on motorways and some primary routes in England and Wales. What are they authorised to do?

Stop and arrest drivers who break the law
Repair broken-down vehicles on the motorway
Issue fixed penalty notices
Stop and direct anyone on a motorway

32. Question

You’re on a smart motorway. What does it mean when a red cross is displayed above the hard shoulder?

Pull up in this lane to answer your mobile phone
Use this lane as a running lane
This lane can be used if you need a rest
You must not travel in this lane

33. Question

You’re on a smart motorway. What does it mean when a mandatory speed limit is displayed above the hard shoulder?

You shouldn't travel in this lane
The hard shoulder can be used as a running lane
You can park on the hard shoulder if you feel tired
You can pull up in this lane to answer a mobile phone

34. Question

How do smart motorways prevent traffic bunching?

By using higher speed limits
By using advisory speed limits
By using minimum speed limits
By using variable speed limits

35. Question

What helps to reduce traffic bunching on a motorway?

Variable speed limits
Contraflow systems
National speed limits
Lane closures

36. Question

When may you stop on a motorway?

If you have to read a map
When you're tired and need a rest
If your mobile phone rings
In an emergency or breakdown

37. Question

What’s the national speed limit for a car or motorcycle on a motorway?

50 mph
60 mph
70 mph
80 mph

38. Question

You stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway and use the emergency telephone. Where’s the best place to wait for help to arrive?

Next to the phone
Well away from the carriageway
With your vehicle
On the hard shoulder

39. Question

You’re on a motorway. What must you do if there’s a red cross showing above every lane?

Pull onto the hard shoulder
Slow down and watch for further signals
Leave at the next exit
Stop and wait

40. Question

You’re on a smart motorway. What does it mean if a red cross is showing above the hard shoulder and mandatory speed limits above all other lanes?

The hard shoulder can be used as a rest area if you feel tired
The hard shoulder is for emergency or breakdown use only
The hard shoulder can be used as a normal running lane
The hard shoulder has a speed limit of 50 mph

41. Question

On a smart motorway, what does this sign mean?

Use any lane except the hard shoulder
Use the hard shoulder only
Use the three right-hand lanes only
Use all the lanes, including the hard shoulder

42. Question

Where should you stop to rest if you feel tired while you’re travelling along a motorway?

On the hard shoulder
At the nearest service area
On a slip road
On the central reservation

43. Question

You have stopped in an emergency area. What must you do before you rejoin the carriageway? (NI EXEMPT)

Use the emergency telephone
Give an arm signal as you are moving off
Switch on your vehicle's headlights
Move away with your hazard lights on

44. Question

How should you rejoin the motorway after a breakdown on the hard shoulder?

Build up speed on the hard shoulder before looking for a safe gap in the traffic
Move straight out into the left-hand lane as you are not allowed to drive on the hard shoulder
Wait until a vehicle in the left-hand lane signals to you that it's safe to rejoin
Keep your hazard lights flashing until you have safely rejoined the carriageway

45. Question

What’s the speed limit for a car towing a trailer on a motorway?

40 mph
50 mph
60 mph
70 mph

46. Question

When should you use the left-hand lane of a motorway?

When your vehicle breaks down
When you're overtaking slower traffic in the other lanes
When you're making a phone call
When the road ahead is clear

47. Question

You’re driving on a motorway and have to slow down suddenly due to a hazard ahead. How can you warn drivers behind of the hazard?

Switch on your hazard warning lights
Switch on your headlights
Sound your horn
Flash your headlights

48. Question

Your car gets a puncture while you’re driving on the motorway. What should you do when you’ve stopped on the hard shoulder?

Carefully change the wheel yourself
Use an emergency telephone and call for help
Try to wave down another vehicle for help
Only change the wheel if you have a passenger to help you

49. Question

What should you do if you’re driving on a motorway and you miss the exit that you wanted to take?

Carefully reverse along the hard shoulder
Carry on to the next exit
Carefully reverse in the left-hand lane
Make a U-turn at the next gap in the central reservation

50. Question

Your vehicle has broken down on a motorway. What should you do if you aren’t able to get onto the hard shoulder?

Switch on your hazard warning lights
Stop the traffic behind and ask for help
Attempt to repair your vehicle quickly
Stand behind your vehicle to warn others

51. Question

Why is it particularly important to check your vehicle before making a long motorway journey?

You'll have to do more harsh braking on motorways
Motorway services areas don't deal with breakdowns
The road surface will wear down the tyres faster
Continuous high speeds increase the risk of your vehicle breaking down

52. Question

You’re driving on a motorway. What does it mean if the car in front shows its hazard warning lights for a short time?

The driver wants you to overtake
The other car is going to change lanes
Traffic ahead is slowing or stopping suddenly
There's a police speed check ahead

53. Question

You’re driving on the motorway. Which lane should you get into well before you reach your exit?

The middle lane
The left-hand lane
The hard shoulder
The right-hand lane

54. Question

What restrictions apply to people who have a provisional driving licence?

They can't drive over 30 mph
They can't drive at night
They can't drive unaccompanied
They can't drive with more than one passenger

55. Question

Your vehicle breaks down on a motorway and you manage to stop on the hard shoulder. What should you do if you use your mobile phone to call for help?

Stand at the rear of the vehicle while making the call
Phone a friend and ask them to come and collect you
Wait in the car for the emergency services to arrive
Check your location from the nearest marker posts beside the hard shoulder

56. Question

You’re towing a trailer along a three-lane motorway. When may you use the right-hand lane? (NI EXEMPT)

When there are lane closures
When there's slow-moving traffic
When you can maintain a high speed
When large vehicles are in the left and centre lanes

57. Question

What would you expect to find at a contraflow system on a motorway?

Temporary traffic lights
Lower speed limits
Wider lanes than normal
Road humps

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