Motorway Rules
Lane discipline, motorway speed limits, hard shoulders and smart motorway signals.
What this topic covers
Lane discipline, motorway speed limits, hard shoulders and smart motorway signals. The full Motorcycle Theory Test app contains 61 questions on this topic, drawn from the official DVSA bank.
Worked examples
Here are a few practice questions from this topic. Try answering each before reading the explanation.
Example 1
On a motorway you may ONLY stop on the hard shoulder
- A. in an emergency ✓ correct
- B. If you feel tired and need to rest
- C. if you go past the exit that you wanted to take
- D. to pick up a hitchhiker
Explanation: You must not stop on the hard shoulder except in an emergency. Never use it to, have a rest or a picnic, pick up hitchhikers, answer a mobile phone, or check a road map. You must not travel back along the hard shoulder if you go past your intended exit.
Example 2
You are riding at 70 mph on a three-lane motorway. There is no traffic ahead. Which lane should you use?
- A. Any lane
- B. Middle lane
- C. Right-hand lane
- D. Left-hand lane ✓ correct
Explanation: Use the left-hand lane if it’s free, regardless of the speed you’re travelling.
Example 3
The left-hand lane on a three-lane motorway is for use by
- A. any vehicle ✓ correct
- B. large vehicles only
- C. emergency vehicles only
- D. slow vehicles only
Explanation: On a motorway all traffic should use the left-hand lane unless overtaking. Use the centre or right-hand lanes if you need to overtake. If you’re overtaking a number of slower vehicles move back to the left-hand lane when you’re safely past. Check your mirrors frequently and don’t stay in the middle or right-hand lane if the left-hand lane is free.
Example 4
On a motorway the amber reflective studs can be found between
- A. the hard shoulder and the carriageway
- B. the acceleration lane and the carriageway
- C. the central reservation and the carriageway ✓ correct
- D. each pair of the lanes
Explanation: On motorways reflective studs are located into the road to help you in the dark and in conditions of poor visibility. Amber-coloured studs are found on the right-hand edge of the main carriageway, next to the central reservation.
Get all 61 questions on this topic in the Motorcycle Theory Test app.
