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Car study notes

Motorway Rules

Joining and leaving, lane discipline, speed limits, hard shoulders and smart motorway signals.

What this topic covers

Joining and leaving, lane discipline, speed limits, hard shoulders and smart motorway signals. The full Car Driving Theory Test app contains 54 questions on this topic.

In the app's syllabus: Speed limits, Lane discipline, Stopping, Lighting, Parking.

Worked examples

Here are a few practice questions from this topic. Try answering each before reading the explanation.

Example 1

Where are amber reflective studs found on a motorway?

A. Between the hard shoulder and the carriageway
B. Between each pair of lanes
C. Between the central reservation and the carriageway ✓ correct
D. Between the acceleration lane and the carriageway

Explanation: On motorways, reflective studs of various colours are fixed in the road between the lanes. These help you to identify which lane you're in when it's dark or in poor visibility. Amber-coloured studs are found on the right-hand edge of the main carriageway, next to the central reservation.

Example 2

You're travelling along a motorway. Where would you find a crawler or climbing lane?

A. Along the hard shoulder
B. Before a junction
C. Before a service area
D. On a steep gradient ✓ correct

Explanation: Large, slow-moving vehicles can hinder the progress of other traffic. On a steep gradient, an extra crawler lane may be provided for slow-moving vehicles to allow faster-moving traffic to flow more easily.

Example 3

Your vehicle breaks down on a motorway and you need to call for help. Why might it be better to use an emergency roadside telephone rather than a mobile phone?

A. Mobile phones do not work on motorways
B. It allows easy location by the emergency services ✓ correct
C. Using a mobile phone will distract other drivers
D. It connects you to a local garage

Explanation: On a motorway, it's best to use a roadside emergency telephone so that the emergency services are able to find you easily. The location of the nearest telephone is shown by an arrow on marker posts at the edge of the hard shoulder. If you use a mobile, find out the number on the nearest marker post before you call. This number will let the operator know where you are and in which direction you're travelling.

Example 4

What does this motorway sign mean?

A. Use all the lanes, including the hard shoulder ✓ correct
B. Use the 3 right-hand lanes only
C. Use the hard shoulder only
D. Use any lane except the hard shoulder

Explanation: You must obey mandatory speed limit signs above motorway lanes, including the hard shoulder. In this case, you can use the hard shoulder as a running lane but you should look for any vehicles that may have broken down and may be blocking the hard shoulder.

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More Car study notes

Get all 54 questions on this topic in the Car Driving Theory Test app.