| The Highway Code Introduction |
| The Highway Code - Rules for pedestrians(1-35) |
| The Highway Code - Rules for users of powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters(36-46) |
| The Highway Code - Rules about animals (47 - 58) |
| The Highway Code - Rules for cyclists (59-82) |
| The Highway Code - Rules for Motorcyclists (83-88) |
89) Vehicle condition. You MUST ensure your vehicle and trailer comply
with the full requirements of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use)
Regulations and Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations
(see ‘The road user and the law’). |
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| Fitness to drive |
| 90) | Make sure that you are fit to drive. You MUST report to the Driver
and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) any health condition likely to
affect your driving. Law RTA 1988 sect 94. | | 91) | Driving when you are tired greatly increases your risk of collision.
To minimise this risk
 | make sure you are fit to drive. Do not begin a journey if you are
tired. Get a good night’s sleep before embarking on a long journey | | avoid undertaking long journeys between midnight and 6 am, when
natural alertness is at a minimum | | plan your journey to take sufficient breaks. A minimum break of
at least 15 minutes after every two hours of driving is recommended | | if you feel at all sleepy, stop in a safe place. Do not stop on the
hard shoulder of a motorway. | | the most effective ways to counter sleepiness are to drink, for
example, two cups of caffeinated coffee and to take a short nap
(at least 15 minutes). |
| | 92) | Vision. You MUST be able to read a vehicle number plate, in good
daylight, from a distance of 20 metres (or 20.5 metres where the old
style number plate is used). If you need to wear glasses (or contact
lenses) to do this, you MUST wear them at all times while driving.
The police have the power to require a driver to undertake an
eyesight test.
Laws RTA 1988 sect 96 & MV(DL)R reg 40 & sch 8 | | 93) | Slow down, and if necessary stop, if you are dazzled by bright sunlight. | | 94) | At night or in poor visibility, do not use tinted glasses, lenses or visors
if they restrict your vision. | | |
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| Alcohol and drugs |
| 95) | Do not drink and drive as it will seriously affect your judgement and abilities. You MUST NOT drive with a breath alcohol level higher than 35 microgrammes/100 millilitres of breath or a blood alcohol level of more than 80 milligrammes/100 millilitres of blood. Alcohol will | give a false sense of confidence | | reduce co-ordination and slow down reactions | | affect judgement of speed, distance and risk | | reduce your driving ability, even if you are below the legal limit | | take time to leave your body; you may be unfit to drive in the
evening after drinking at lunchtime, or in the morning after
drinking the previous evening. |
The best solution is not to drink at all when planning to drive because any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive safely. If you are going to drink, arrange another means of transport.
Law RTA 1988 sects 4, 5 & 11(2) | | 96) | You MUST NOT drive under the influence of drugs or medicine. Check
the instructions or ask your doctor or pharmacist. Using illegal drugs is
highly dangerous. Never take them if you intend to drive; the effects
are unpredictable, but can be even more severe than alcohol and may
result in fatal or serious road crashes. Law RTA 1988 sect 4 | | 97) | Before setting off. You should ensure that | you have planned your route and allowed sufficient time | | clothing and footwear do not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner | | you know where all the controls are and how to use them before you need them. Not all vehicles are the same; do not wait until it is too late to find out | | your mirrors and seat are adjusted correctly to ensure comfort, full control and maximum vision | | head restraints are properly adjusted to reduce the risk of neck and spine injuries in the event of a collision |
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| | | you have sufficient fuel before commencing your journey,
especially if it includes motorway driving. It can be
dangerous to lose power when driving in traffic | | ensure your vehicle is legal and roadworthy | | switch off your mobile phone. |
| | 98) | Vehicle towing and loading. As a driver
| you MUST NOT tow more than your licence permits. If you passed
a car test after 1 Jan 1997 you are restricted on the weight of trailer
you can tow | | you MUST NOT overload your vehicle or trailer. You should not
tow a weight greater than that recommended by the manufacturer
of your vehicle | | you MUST secure your load and it MUST NOT stick out
dangerously. Make sure any heavy or sharp objects and any
animals are secured safely. If there is a collision, they might hit
someone inside the vehicle and cause serious injury | | you should properly distribute the weight in your caravan or trailer
with heavy items mainly over the axle(s) and ensure a downward
load on the tow ball. Manufacturer’s recommended weight and
tow ball load should not be exceeded. This should avoid the
possibility of swerving or snaking and going out of control. If this
does happen, ease off the accelerator and reduce speed gently to
regain control | | carrying a load or pulling a trailer may require you to adjust the
headlights |
In the event of a breakdown, be aware that towing a vehicle on a tow
rope is potentially dangerous. You should consider professional
recovery. Laws CUR reg 100 & MV(DL)R reg 43 | | |
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| Seat belts and child restraints |
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| | 100) | The driver MUST ensure that all children under 14 years of age in cars, vans and other goods vehicles wear seat belts or sit in an approved child restraint where required (see table above). If a child is under 1.35 metres (approx 4 feet 5 inches) tall, a baby seat, child seat, booster seat or booster cushion MUST be used suitable for the child’s weight and fitted to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Laws RTA 1988 sects 14 & 15, MV(WSB)R, MV(WSBCFS)R & MV(WSB)(A)R | |  |
| | 101) | A rear-facing baby seat MUST NOT be fitted into a seat protected by
an active frontal airbag, as in a crash it can cause serious injury or death
to the child. Laws RTA 1988 sects 14 & 15, MV(WSB)R,
MV(WSBCFS)R & MV(WSB)(A)R | | 102) | |
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