Safe Driving Preparations and Requirements

What are the essential legal requirements regarding vehicle condition before driving?Before driving, you MUST ensure that your vehicle and any trailer comply with the full requirements of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations and Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations. This ensures the vehicle is roadworthy and legal for use on public roads.
How does tiredness impact driving and what steps should drivers take to mitigate the risk?Driving when tired significantly increases the risk of collision. To minimise this, drivers should not begin a journey if they are already tired and should get sufficient sleep before long journeys. Avoiding long journeys between midnight and 6 am, when natural alertness is lowest, is also recommended. Drivers should plan journeys to include sufficient breaks, with a minimum break of at least 15 minutes after every two hours of driving. If feeling sleepy, stop in a safe place, avoiding emergency areas or hard shoulders of motorways.
What are the vision requirements for driving, and what must drivers do if they wear glasses or contact lenses?Drivers MUST be able to read a vehicle number plate in good daylight from a distance of 20 metres (or 20.5 metres for old-style plates). If glasses or contact lenses are needed to meet this requirement, they MUST be worn at all times while driving. The police have the authority to require a driver to undertake an eyesight test. Additionally, drivers should slow down or stop if dazzled by bright sunlight and avoid using tinted glasses, lenses, or visors that restrict vision at night or in poor visibility.
What are the legal alcohol limits for driving in England, Wales, and Scotland, and why is it best not to drink at all before driving?In England and Wales, drivers MUST NOT have 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. In Scotland, the legal limits are lower, with a breath alcohol limit of 22 microgrammes/100 millilitres of breath and a blood alcohol limit of 50 milligrammes/100 millilitres of blood. Alcohol seriously affects judgment and abilities, including giving a false sense of confidence, reducing co-ordination and slowing reactions, affecting judgment of speed, distance, and risk, and reducing driving ability even below the legal limit. It is best not to drink at all when planning to drive because any amount of alcohol affects safe driving ability.
What are the rules regarding driving under the influence of drugs or medicine?Drivers MUST NOT drive under the influence of drugs or medicine. For medicines, individuals should check with their doctor or pharmacist and not drive if advised that they may be impaired. It is illegal to drive if you have illegal drugs or certain medicines in your blood above specified limits. Illegal drugs are particularly dangerous due to their unpredictable and potentially severe effects. While limits for certain medicines are higher, a statutory medical defence for having a concentration above the limit is only possible if the medicine was prescribed/legitimately supplied at a high dose and the driving was not impaired.
What should drivers ensure before setting off on a journey beyond just vehicle condition and fitness?Before setting off, drivers MUST ensure they have a valid licence and insurance for the vehicle and that the vehicle is legal and roadworthy. They SHOULD also ensure they have planned their route with sufficient time for breaks and delays, have enough fuel or charge, know how to use all controls, wear appropriate clothing and footwear, adjust mirrors and seat correctly for comfort and vision, and properly adjust head restraints. It is also recommended to have a mobile phone with emergency contacts and high-visibility clothing for emergency use.
What are the key considerations and legal requirements when towing a vehicle or trailer?When towing, drivers MUST NOT tow more than their licence permits and MUST ensure both the vehicle and trailer are in a roadworthy condition, including checking tyres, brakes, and lights. They MUST NOT overload the vehicle or trailer and should not exceed the manufacturer's recommended towing weight or tow ball load. Loads MUST be secured and not stick out dangerously. Towing mirrors MUST be used if the vehicle is narrower than the trailer/load or if the rearward view is obstructed. Trailers MUST be fitted with a secondary coupling device. Drivers should be aware of reduced speed limits, increased stopping distances, and MUST NOT drive in the right-hand lane on motorways with three or more lanes. If the trailer swerves, ease off the accelerator and reduce speed gently; do not brake harshly.
What are the rules for wearing seat belts and using child restraints in vehicles?Adults and children aged 14 and over MUST wear a seat belt if one is fitted in cars, vans, minibuses, buses, and coaches. The driver MUST ensure that all children under 14 in cars, vans, and other goods vehicles wear seat belts or sit in an approved child restraint where required. Children under 1.35 metres tall MUST use a suitable baby seat, child seat, booster seat, or booster cushion according to manufacturer instructions. A rear-facing baby seat MUST NOT be fitted in a seat with an active frontal airbag. Drivers carrying children should also ensure they enter from the kerb side, restraints are fitted correctly, children don't sit behind rear seats in certain vehicles without a special seat, child safety door locks are used, and children are kept under control.