Theory Test: Motorway Rules

To learn all about the Motorway Rules category, watch the video or read the article below.

The theory test featuring questions from this category is at the bottom of the page.

Topics Include

Lane Rules – using the left-hand lane unless overtaking. How to join and exit a motorway.
Time of Day – when and where to use lights to see and be seen.
Speed – knowing motorway speed restrictions.
Breakdowns – knowing that you can only stop on a motorway in an emergency and how to use hard shoulder emergency phones.

For more detailed information on driving safely on motorways and what motorway signs mean see our motorway page.

Facts to Know

The national speed limit on motorways for cars and motorcycles 70 mph.
When joining a motorway, give way to traffic already on the motorway.
Vehicles towing trailers cannot travel in the right-hand lane of a motorway (unless all other lanes are closed). The maximum speed limit for them is 60 mph.
The left-hand lane can be used by any vehicle.
The left-hand lane should be used for normal driving. Use the centre and right-hand lanes for overtaking.
Green studs run between a motorway and its slip road.
White studs run between the lanes on a motorway.
Amber studs run between the central reservation and the carriageway.
Red studs run between the carriageway and the hard shoulder.
The hard shoulder should normally only be used for stopping in an emergency. You can however travel on the hard shoulder when signs direct you to do so.
An Emergency Refuge Area is an area on a motorway for use in cases of emergency or breakdown.
If you breakdown but can’t get to the hard shoulder you should turn on your hazard warning lights.
When leaving the hard shoulder to rejoin the main carriageway you should gain speed on the hard shoulder before moving out into the carriageway.
If you breakdown on a motorway and need to call for help it may be better to use one of the emergency roadside phones , as this way your location will be accurately known. If you use a mobile phone you can check your location from the marker posts on the left.
Most of the emergency phones are linked to the Highways Agency Control Centre.
Marker posts at 100-metre intervals point you in the direction of the nearest phone.
Highways Agency Traffic Officers are able to stop and direct anyone on a motorway.
A red cross displayed above a lane means do not travel in the lane.
A crawler lane on a motorway is found on a steep gradient.
A number displayed above a lane i.e. 50 means the speed limit for the lane is 50 mph.
If you get puncture on the motorway you should use an emergency phone to call for assistance.
Continuous high speeds make vehicle breakdowns more likely.
If traffic ahead of you slows or stops suddenly you can turn on your hazard warning lights for a short time to warn traffic behind you.
In a contraflow system there are likely to be lower speed limits.
When going through a contraflow: don’t switch lanes, don’t get too close to the vehicle in front.

You Should Stop on a Motorway

If red lights show above every lane
When told to by the police
When signalled by a Highways Agency Officer

If you have to stop on the hard shoulder:

Turn on your hazard lights
Switch on your side lights if visibility is poor
Don’t open the offside, those nearest the carriageway, doors
you and your passengers should leave the car from the nearside doors and wait on the embankment.

The following cannot use the motorway

Farm tractors and other slow-moving vehicles
Cyclists
Learner motorcyclists
Motorcycles under 50cc
Horse riders

Active Traffic Management (ATM)

ATM tries to reduce congestion and make journey times more reliable. Where in use, mandatory speed limit signs will show on the gantries above the motorway lanes.

In ATM area, the hard shoulder is sometimes used as a normal traffic lane. If a speed limit sign is active above the hard shoulder, then the hard shoulder can be used as a normal lane.
If A red cross shows above the hard shoulder, it cannot be used as a normal lane.

For more detailed information on driving safely on motorways and what motorway signs mean see out motorway page.

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Theory Test: Motorway Rules

1 / 25

You are driving on a motorway. You have to slow down quickly due to a hazard. You should

(mark ONE answer)

switch on your hazard lights

switch on your headlights

sound your horn

flash your headlights

2 / 25

You are intending to leave the motorway at the next exit. Before you reach the exit you should normally position your vehicle

(mark ONE answer)

in the middle lane

in the left-hand lane

on the hard shoulder

in any lane

3 / 25

You are on a motorway. There is a contraflow system ahead. What would you expect to find?

(mark ONE answer)

Temporary traffic lights

Lower speed limits

Wider lanes than normal

Speed humps

4 / 25

You are on a three-lane motorway and see this sign. It means you can use

(mark ONE answer)

any lane except the hard shoulder

the hard shoulder only

the three right hand lanes only

all the lanes including the hard shoulder

5 / 25

You are on a three-lane mororway. A red cross is shown above the hard shoulder and mandatory speed limits above all other lanes. This means

(mark ONE answer)

the hard shoulder can be used as a rest area

the hard shoulder is for emergency or breakdown uses only

the hard shoulder can be used as a normal running lane

the hard shoulder has a speed limit of 50 mph

6 / 25

You are on a three-lane motorway. There are red reflective studs on your left and white ones to your right. Where are you?

(mark ONE answer)

In the right-hand lane

In the middle lane

On the hard shoulder

In the left-hand lane

7 / 25

When going through a contraflow system on a motorway you should

(mark ONE answer)

Ensure you do not exceed 30 mph

Keep a good distance from the vehicle ahead

Switch lanes to keep the traffic flowing

Stay close to the vehicle ahead to reduce queues

8 / 25

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

(mark ONE answer)

Green

Amber

White

Red

9 / 25

A crawler lane on a motorway is found

(mark ONE answer)

on a steep gradient

before service area

before a junction

along the hard shoulder

10 / 25

Which of these is not allowed to travel in the right-hand lane of a three-lane motorway?

(mark ONE answer)

A small delivery van

A motorcycle

A vehicle towing a trailer

A motorcycle and sidecar

11 / 25

When joining a motorway you must always

(mark ONE answer)

use the hard shoulder

stop at the end of the acceleration lane

come to a stop before joining the motorway

give way to traffic already on the motorway

12 / 25

You break down on a motorway. You need to call for help. Why may it be better to use an emergency roadside telephone rather than a mobile phone?

(mark ONE answer)

It connects you to a local garage

It allows easy location by the emergency services

Using a mobile phone will distract other drivers

Mobile phones do not work on motorways

13 / 25

After a breakdown you need to rejoin the main carriageway of a motorway from the hard shoulder. You should

(mark ONE answer)

move out onto the carriageway then build up your speed

move out onto the carriageway using your hazard 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

14 / 25

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

(mark ONE answer)

Amber

White

Green

Red

15 / 25

On a three-lane motorway which lane should you normally use?

(mark ONE answer)

Left

Right

Centre

Either the right or centre

16 / 25

You are joining a motorway. Why is it important to make full use of the slip road?

(mark ONE answer)

Because there is space available to turn round if you need to

To allow you direct access to the overtaking lanes

To build up a speed similar to traffic on the motorway

Because you can continue on the hard shoulder

17 / 25

Which THREE of these must not use motorways?

(mark THREE answers)

Learner car drivers

Motorcycles over 50cc

Double-decker buses

Farm Tractors

Horse riders

Cyclists

18 / 25

Immediately after joining a motorway you should normally

(mark ONE answer)

try to overtake

re-adjust your mirrors

position your vehicle in the centre lane

keep in the left-hand lane

19 / 25

You are allowed to stop on a motorway when you

(mark ONE answer)

need to walk and get fresh air

wish to pick up hitchhikers

are told to do so by flashing red lights

need to use a mobile phone

20 / 25

You are travelling along the left-hand lane of a three-lane motorway. Traffic is joining from a slip road. You should

(mark ONE answer)

race the other vehicles

move to another lane

maintain a steady speed

switch on your hazard flashers

21 / 25

On motorways you should never overtake on the left unless

(mark ONE answer)

you can see well ahead that the hard shoulder is clear

the traffic in the right-hand lane is signalling right

you warn drivers behind by signalling left

there is a queue of slow-moving traffic to your right that is moving more slowly than you are

22 / 25

The aim of an Active Traffic Management scheme on a motorway is to

(mark ONE answer)

reduce congestion

reduce rest stops

prevent tailgating

prevent overtaking

23 / 25

Why can it be an advantage for traffic speed to stay constant over a longer distance?

(mark ONE answer)

You will do more start-stop driving

You will use far more fuel

You will be able to use more direct routes

Your overall journey distance time will normally improve

24 / 25

On a motorway what is used to reduce traffic bunching?

(mark ONE answer)

Variable speed limits

Contraflow systems

National speed limits

Lane closures

25 / 25

You are driving at 70 mph on a three-lane motorway. There is no traffic ahead. Which lane should you use?

(mark ONE answer)

Any lane

Middle lane

Right lane

Left lane

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The average score is 83%