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Road Traffic Law |
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Road Traffic LawThe instructions given herein are not comprehensive. These are general guidelines
for all type of road users dealing with situations which commonly arise. For exact
application of law read the relevant legislations. |
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(A) Drivers |
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1 |
You MUST have
a
a valid driving licence.
a
a current vehicle excise licence token
a
valid third party
insurance covering your use of the vehicles;
a
a current fitness certificate
a
the Highway and Motorway code. |
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2 |
The law requires that the conditions of your vehicle, any trailer it is drawing,
its load, and the number of passengers and the way in which they are carried are
such that they do not involve danger of injury to yourself or others. There are
more detailed regulations which require the different parts of your vehicle to be
kept in good condition and working order. These include brakes, steering, lights,
windscreens and windows, exhaust, seat belts and fittings, speedometer and horn. |
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Tyres MUST have a continuous tread depth of at least 1.6 mm on cars, light vans
and light trailers (1 mm for other vehicles) across the centre three quarters of
the width. They MUST also be properly inflated and free from cuts and other defects.
Headlights MUST be properly adjusted to prevent dazzling oncoming traffic. |
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Windscreens and windows MUST be free from obstruction to vision, and MUST be kept
clean. |
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3 |
You and your passengers MUST wear a seat belt in the front and (if fitted) the rear
of the vehicle, unless you are exempt. Exemptions include the holders of medical
exemption certificates, people making local deliveries in a vehicle designed or
adapted for that purpose, and children in the rear of taxis with partitions. |
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It is the driver's legal responsibility to ensure that children under 14 years comply
with the law. |
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4 |
Your eyesight MUST be up to the standard required for the driving test at all times
when you drive.
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5 |
You MUST NOT:
a
drive under the influence of drinking or drugs; |
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6 |
You MUST comply with:
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maximum speed limits
or any special speed limit fixed for your vehicle;
a amber and red 'STOP'
signals, traffic signs giving orders, double white lines and yellow road
markings
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The direction of police officer controlling traffic. |
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You MUST NOT:
a
drive dangerously;
a
drive without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration
for other road users;
a
drive on a footway, footpath or cycle track; |
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8 |
Pedestrians have precedence on the carriageway within the limits of a Zebra crossing,
and on a Pelican crossing when the signal to cross it lit up. You MUST give way
to pedestrians on a Zebra crossing or when an amber light is flashing on a Pelican
crossing. |
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9 |
The carriageway on the approach to a Zebra or Pelican crossing is normally marked
by zigzag lines. In this area you MUST NOT:
a
overtake the moving motor vehicle nearest the crossing;
a
overtake the leading vehicle which has stopped to give way to a pedestrian. |
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10 |
You MUST stop when singled to do so by a school crossing patrol exhibiting a ‘STOP’
for children sign. |
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11 |
You MUST:
a
ensure your front and rear side lights and rear registration plate lights
are lit at night;
a
use headlight at night on all unlit roads and those where the street lights
are more than 185 meters (600 ft) apart;
a
use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced. |
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12 |
You MUST NOT:
a
use headlights in a way which would dazzle or discomfort other road users;
a
use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced;
a
sound your horn at night (11:30 P.M. to 07:00 A.M.) in a built-up area. |
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13 |
There are a number of places where the law specifically forbids you to let your
vehicle stand. In addition there is a more general legal requirement that you MUST
NOT park on the road in such a way that your vehicle or trailer is likely to cause
danger to other road users or an unnecessary obstruction. |
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14 |
You MUST stop your vehicle when required to do so by a uniformed police officer,
who may require you to produce documents including your driving licence, certificate
of insurance and vehicle fitness certificate, and the highway and motorway code. |
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Most of the requirements of the law relating to drivers of motor vehicles also apply
to motorcyclists.
In addition they MUST:
a
wear a safety helmet on all journeys;
a
ensure that exhaust system and silencer are of a reasonable type;
a
carry no more than one passenger on a motorcycle.
Learners MUST comply with the requirements mentioned in the Rules 32 to 35 of this
code. |
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Pillion passengers MUST
a
wear an approved type of safety helmet;
a
sit astride the cycle on a proper seat securely fitted behind the driver’s
seat and with proper resets for the feet. |
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(B) Motorway Driving |
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Motorway MUST NOT be used by pedestrians, holders of provisional ordinary licenses,
pedal cycles, motorcycles under 80cc, certain invalid carriages, slow-moving vehicles
carrying oversized loads, agricultural vehicles, animals, animals drawn vehicles
and construction machinery.
You MUST:
a
drive on the carriageway only;
a
observe one-way driving on the carriageway;
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observe maximum speed limits or any special speed limit for your vehicle;
a
observe flashing red signals when displayed over your lane or at the side
of the carriageway;
a
keep any animals
in the vehicle or (in an emergency) under proper control on the verge.
You MUST NOT:
a
drive in reverse on the carriageway;
a
stop on the carriageway; or on the central reservation or verge. |
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(C) To Pedestrians |
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You have precedence over other road users when you are on the carriageway within
the limits of a Zebra crossing, and on a Pelican crossing when the signal to cross
it lit. But you MUST NOT loiter on a pedestrian crossing.
You MUST NOT:
a
walk on motorway or their slip-roads;
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walk on the carriageway when directed not to do so by a police officer or controlling
traffic;
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hold on to get on a moving motor vehicle or trailer.
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(D)
Cyclists |
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You MUST obey the same rules as apply to drivers at pedestrian crossings and school
crossing patrols In addition you MUST:
ensure that your
brakes are efficient; at night, ensure
your front and rear lights are lit and that your cycle has an efficient red rear
reflector; at night, if you
are wheeling your cycle or are stationary without lights, keep as close as possible
to the nearside edge of the road; stop when required
to do so by a uniformed police officer.
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You MUST NOT:
ride dangerously; ride without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration
for the other road users; ride under the influence of drink or drugs; ride on a footway
or footpath unless there is a right to do so;
leave your cycle on road in such a way that it is likely to cause danger to other
road users, or where waiting is prohibited;
carry a passenger
on a bicycle not constructed or adapted to carry more than one person; hold on to a moving motor vehicle or trailer.
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Training College
