What this topic covers
Motorways have their own rules. Learn lane use, hard-shoulder and smart-motorway procedures, and what to do if you break down.
Practice questions
Q1On a three-lane motorway, which lane should you normally drive in?
Keep to the left-hand lane unless overtaking. The centre and right lanes are for overtaking — return left once you've passed.
Q2What does a red X above a motorway lane mean?
A red X means the lane is closed. Move out of it safely; it may be closed for an incident or to protect people working ahead.
Q3You may stop on a motorway hard shoulder:
The hard shoulder is for emergencies and breakdowns only. On smart motorways without one, use an emergency refuge area.
Q4When joining a motorway from a slip road you should:
Use the slip road to build up to the speed of the motorway traffic, then merge into a safe gap without forcing other drivers to brake.
Q5If your car breaks down on a smart motorway with no hard shoulder, you should try to:
Aim for an emergency refuge area or leave at the next exit if you can. If you must stop, get behind a barrier where possible and call for help.
Q6A learner car driver may drive on a motorway only if they are:
Since 2018, learners in England, Scotland and Wales can take motorway lessons, but only with an approved driving instructor in a dual-control car showing L-plates.
Q7The national speed limit for a car on a motorway is:
Cars and motorcycles may do up to 70 mph on a motorway — lower if signs, your vehicle type or towing rules require it.
Q8On a motorway, red reflective road studs mark:
Red studs mark the left edge, white studs separate the lanes, amber studs mark the right edge by the central reservation, and green studs mark slip-road entrances and exits.
Q9Your car breaks down on the hard shoulder. You should:
Get onto the hard shoulder, leave by the left doors, and wait well away from traffic behind the barrier before phoning for help.
Q10You plan to leave the motorway at the next exit. You should:
Move left in plenty of time, use the countdown markers to judge the exit, and slow down on the slip road, not the carriageway.
Q11Which of these is NOT allowed to use a motorway?
Motorways are closed to mopeds under 50 cc, cyclists, pedestrians, horse riders, learner motorcyclists and certain slow vehicles.
Q12Speed limits shown on overhead gantries on a smart motorway are:
Gantry limits on smart motorways are legally enforceable, often lowered to manage congestion or a hazard. Obey them.
Q13Amber reflective road studs on a motorway mark:
Amber studs run along the central reservation on your right; red mark the left edge, white separate lanes and green mark slip roads.
Q14An emergency area (often orange, with an SOS phone) on a smart motorway is for:
Use an emergency area only if you break down or in an emergency, then call for help on the SOS phone.
Q15On a motorway with three or more lanes, lorries over 7.5 tonnes generally must not use:
Heavy goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes are normally banned from the right-hand lane of a motorway with three or more lanes.
Ready for the real thing?
Mix this topic with all the others in a full, timed mock test.