THE HIGHWAY CODE
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Motorways (253 to 273)


  1. General (253 to 254)
  2. Motorway signals (255 to 258)
  3. Joining the motorway (259)
  4. On the motorway (260 to 263)

5. Lane discipline (264 to 266)
6. Overtaking (267 to 269)
7. Stopping (270 to 271)
8. Leaving the motorway (272 to 273)

5. Lane discipline (264 to 266)

264
Keep in the left lane unless overtaking.
  • If you are overtaking, you should return to the left lane when it is safe to do so (see also Rules 267 and 268).
  • Be aware of emergency services, traffic officers, recovery workers and other people or vehicles stopped on the hard shoulder or in an emergency area. If you are driving in the left lane, and it is safe to do so, you should move into the adjacent lane to create more space between your vehicle and the people and stopped vehicles.

Laws MT(E&W)R regs 5, 9 & 16(1)(a), MT(S)R regs 4, 8 & 14(1)(a), and RTA 1988, sects 35 & 186, as amended by TMA 2004 sect 6

265

The right-hand lane of a motorway with three or more lanes MUST NOT be used (except in prescribed circumstances) if you are driving

  • any vehicle drawing a trailer
  • a goods vehicle with a maximum laden weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not exceeding 7.5 tonnes, which is required to be fitted with a speed limiter
  • a goods vehicle with a maximum laden weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes
  • a passenger vehicle with a maximum laden weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes constructed or adapted to carry more than eight seated passengers in addition to the driver
  • a passenger vehicle with a maximum laden weight not exceeding 7.5 tonnes which is constructed or adapted to carry more than eight seated passengers in addition to the driver, which is required to be fitted with a speed limiter.
    Laws MT(E&W)R reg 12, MT(E&W)AR (2004), MT(S)R reg 11 & MT(S)AR (2004)
266
Approaching a junction. Look well ahead for signals, signs and road markings. Direction signs may be placed over the road. If you need to, you should change lanes well ahead of a junction. At some junctions, a lane may lead directly off the road. Only get in that lane if you wish to go in the direction indicated by signs or road markings.

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Crown Copyright. The content have been sourced from the 2025 edition of The Official Highway Code, and reproduced under the terms of the Open Government Licence.
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