All road users
The Official
HIGHWAY
CODE
32832 016 HC Cover DL v0_1.indd 3 21/10/2013 12:33
, Prepared by the Driving Standards Agency for the Department for Transport.
© Crown copyright 2007
Revised 2007 Edition
You may re-use this document/publication (not including the Royal Arms and other
departmental or agency logos) free of charge in any format for research, private study or
internal circulation within an organisation. You must re-use it accurately and not use it in
a misleading context. The material must be acknowledged as Crown copyright and you
must give the title of the source document/publication.
Where we have identified any third-party copyright material you will need to obtain
permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This document/publication is also available at www.gov.uk
For any other use of this material you will need to be aware of the terms of the
Open Government Licence, which are explained at
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/
The publication of facsimile versions of this publication or any other versions that closely
resemble the style and appearance of the original may confuse the public. Any publisher
wishing to reproduce the content of this publication should not replicate the official
version’s style and appearance. Other versions should not be presented as being an
official version.
First published 1931
Fifteenth edition 2007
Sixteenth impression 2013
ISBN 978 0 11 553283 2
The Driving Standards Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport.
The Department for Transport and the Driving Standards Agency recognise and value
their customers. We will treat all our customers with respect and deliver our services in
an objective, polite and fair way.
DOWNLOAD.indd 1 21/10/2013 12:37
, Contents
Introduction 4
Rules for pedestrians 5
Rules for users of powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters 15
Rules about animals 18
Rules for cyclists 21
Rules for motorcyclists 26
Rules for drivers and motorcyclists 28
General rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders 34
Using the road 53
Road users requiring extra care 70
Driving in adverse weather conditions 76
Waiting and parking 80
Motorways 85
Breakdowns and incidents 91
Road works 96
Level crossings 97
Tramways 100
Light signals controlling traffic 102
Signals to other road users 103
Signals by authorised persons 104
Traffic signs 106
Road markings 114
Vehicle markings 117
Annexes
1. You and your bicycle 118
2. Motorcycle licence requirements 118
3. Motor vehicle documentation and learner driver requirements 120
4. The road user and the law 123
5. Penalties 125
6. Vehicle maintenance, safety and security 128
7. First aid on the road 131
8. Safety code for new drivers 133
Other information 135
Index 137
28149 017 HC_TEXT v0_1.indb 3 21/10/2013 12:21
, Introduction
This Highway Code applies to England, Scotland
and Wales. The Highway Code is essential reading
for everyone.
The most vulnerable road users are pedestrians, particularly
children, older or disabled people, cyclists, motorcyclists
and horse riders. It is important that all road users are aware
of the Code and are considerate towards each other. This
applies to pedestrians as much as to drivers and riders.
Many of the rules in the Code are legal requirements, and
if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal
offence. You may be fined, given penalty points on
your licence or be disqualified from driving. In the most
serious cases you may be sent to prison. Such rules are
identified by the use of the words ‘MUST/MUST NOT’. In
addition, the rule includes an abbreviated reference to the
legislation which creates the offence. An explanation of the
abbreviations is on page 124.
Although failure to comply with the other rules of the
Code will not, in itself, cause a person to be prosecuted,
The Highway Code may be used in evidence in any court
proceedings under the Traffic Acts (see page 124) to
establish liability. This includes rules which use advisory
wording such as ‘should/should not’ or ‘do/do not’.
Knowing and applying the rules contained in The Highway
Code could significantly reduce road casualties. Cutting the
number of deaths and injuries that occur on our roads every
day is a responsibility we all share. The Highway Code can
help us discharge that responsibility. Further information on
driving/riding techniques can be found in The Official DSA
Guide to Driving - the essential skills and The Official DSA
Guide to Riding - the essential skills.
4
28149 017 HC_TEXT v0_1.indb 4 21/10/2013 12:21
The Official
HIGHWAY
CODE
32832 016 HC Cover DL v0_1.indd 3 21/10/2013 12:33
, Prepared by the Driving Standards Agency for the Department for Transport.
© Crown copyright 2007
Revised 2007 Edition
You may re-use this document/publication (not including the Royal Arms and other
departmental or agency logos) free of charge in any format for research, private study or
internal circulation within an organisation. You must re-use it accurately and not use it in
a misleading context. The material must be acknowledged as Crown copyright and you
must give the title of the source document/publication.
Where we have identified any third-party copyright material you will need to obtain
permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This document/publication is also available at www.gov.uk
For any other use of this material you will need to be aware of the terms of the
Open Government Licence, which are explained at
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/
The publication of facsimile versions of this publication or any other versions that closely
resemble the style and appearance of the original may confuse the public. Any publisher
wishing to reproduce the content of this publication should not replicate the official
version’s style and appearance. Other versions should not be presented as being an
official version.
First published 1931
Fifteenth edition 2007
Sixteenth impression 2013
ISBN 978 0 11 553283 2
The Driving Standards Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport.
The Department for Transport and the Driving Standards Agency recognise and value
their customers. We will treat all our customers with respect and deliver our services in
an objective, polite and fair way.
DOWNLOAD.indd 1 21/10/2013 12:37
, Contents
Introduction 4
Rules for pedestrians 5
Rules for users of powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters 15
Rules about animals 18
Rules for cyclists 21
Rules for motorcyclists 26
Rules for drivers and motorcyclists 28
General rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders 34
Using the road 53
Road users requiring extra care 70
Driving in adverse weather conditions 76
Waiting and parking 80
Motorways 85
Breakdowns and incidents 91
Road works 96
Level crossings 97
Tramways 100
Light signals controlling traffic 102
Signals to other road users 103
Signals by authorised persons 104
Traffic signs 106
Road markings 114
Vehicle markings 117
Annexes
1. You and your bicycle 118
2. Motorcycle licence requirements 118
3. Motor vehicle documentation and learner driver requirements 120
4. The road user and the law 123
5. Penalties 125
6. Vehicle maintenance, safety and security 128
7. First aid on the road 131
8. Safety code for new drivers 133
Other information 135
Index 137
28149 017 HC_TEXT v0_1.indb 3 21/10/2013 12:21
, Introduction
This Highway Code applies to England, Scotland
and Wales. The Highway Code is essential reading
for everyone.
The most vulnerable road users are pedestrians, particularly
children, older or disabled people, cyclists, motorcyclists
and horse riders. It is important that all road users are aware
of the Code and are considerate towards each other. This
applies to pedestrians as much as to drivers and riders.
Many of the rules in the Code are legal requirements, and
if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal
offence. You may be fined, given penalty points on
your licence or be disqualified from driving. In the most
serious cases you may be sent to prison. Such rules are
identified by the use of the words ‘MUST/MUST NOT’. In
addition, the rule includes an abbreviated reference to the
legislation which creates the offence. An explanation of the
abbreviations is on page 124.
Although failure to comply with the other rules of the
Code will not, in itself, cause a person to be prosecuted,
The Highway Code may be used in evidence in any court
proceedings under the Traffic Acts (see page 124) to
establish liability. This includes rules which use advisory
wording such as ‘should/should not’ or ‘do/do not’.
Knowing and applying the rules contained in The Highway
Code could significantly reduce road casualties. Cutting the
number of deaths and injuries that occur on our roads every
day is a responsibility we all share. The Highway Code can
help us discharge that responsibility. Further information on
driving/riding techniques can be found in The Official DSA
Guide to Driving - the essential skills and The Official DSA
Guide to Riding - the essential skills.
4
28149 017 HC_TEXT v0_1.indb 4 21/10/2013 12:21
