What is the national speed limit on a single carriageway?

For cars and motorcycles it is 60 mph. It drops to 50 mph for cars towing caravans or trailers, and to 50 mph for buses, coaches and goods vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes. The limit is a maximum, not a target, so drive slower when conditions demand it.

Is the default speed limit in Wales 20 mph?

Yes. Rule 124 of The Highway Code says a 20 mph limit generally applies to roads with street lights in Wales unless signs show otherwise. In England and Scotland the equivalent default is 30 mph. Councils can set different local limits, which must be signed.

Can you wait in a yellow box junction to turn right?

Yes, if the only thing stopping you turning right is oncoming traffic or other vehicles waiting to turn right (rule 174). Otherwise you must not enter the box until your exit road or lane is clear. At signalled roundabouts you must be able to cross the box without stopping.

How far from a junction should you park?

Rule 243 says do not stop or park opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space. Parking closer makes it harder for drivers emerging from the junction, and for pedestrians crossing near it, to see and be seen.

Do you need parking lights when parked at night?

On a road or lay-by with a speed limit above 30 mph, all vehicles must display parking lights (rule 249). On roads of 30 mph or less, cars may park without lights if at least 10 metres from a junction, close to the kerb and facing the direction of traffic.

Rules of the Road: Speed Limits, Junctions & Parking

What are the speed limits for cars in the UK?

For cars and motorcycles the national limits are 60 mph on single carriageways and 70 mph on dual carriageways and motorways. On roads with street lights a 30 mph limit generally applies in England and Scotland, and 20 mph in Wales, unless signs say otherwise. Every limit is a maximum, not a target.

The table shows the main limits from rule 124 and GOV.UK, in mph.

Vehicle	Built-up (England, Scotland)	Built-up (Wales)	Single carriageway	Dual carriageway	Motorway
Cars and motorcycles	30	20	60	70	70
Cars towing caravans or trailers	30	20	50	60	60
Buses and coaches (up to 12 m long)	30	20	50	60	70
Goods vehicles (up to 7.5 tonnes)	30	20	50	60	70

Local limits can differ, for example 20 mph in some built-up areas in England and Scotland, or 50 mph on single carriageways with known hazards. Rule 125 reminds you that driving at the limit is not automatically safe.

Who has priority at a roundabout?

On reaching a roundabout you should normally give priority to traffic approaching from your right, unless signs, road markings or traffic lights direct otherwise (rule 185). Decide your exit early, get into the correct lane, and watch for road users already on the roundabout who may not be signalling correctly, or at all.

Rule 186 sets out lanes and signals, unless signs or markings say otherwise:

First exit left: signal left, approach in the left-hand lane and keep signalling left to leave.
Exit to the right or full circle: signal right, approach in the right-hand lane, then signal left after passing the exit before yours.
Intermediate exit: choose the right lane; you should not normally need to signal on approach. Signal left after passing the exit before yours.

At mini-roundabouts all vehicles must pass round the central markings, except large vehicles physically unable to (rule 188). Treat each part of a double mini-roundabout as a separate roundabout (rule 189).

When can you enter a yellow box junction?

You must not enter a yellow criss-cross box until your exit road or lane is clear (rule 174). The exception is turning right: you may enter and wait if you are only stopped by oncoming traffic or other vehicles waiting to turn right. At signalled roundabouts, only enter if you can cross completely without stopping.

A green light does not change this. Rule 176 says only go forward on green if there is room to clear the junction safely.

Who gives way at a junction?

Traffic on the major road has priority, so you must stop at a STOP line and give way at a GIVE WAY line (rules 171 and 172). When turning into or out of a side road, you should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross, and should not cut across cyclists or horse riders going ahead.

Do not assume a vehicle signalling left will actually turn. Wait and make sure (rule 170).
If traffic lights are not working, treat the junction as unmarked and proceed with great care (rule 176).
When you and an oncoming vehicle both turn right at crossroads, turning right side to right side is generally safer because you keep a clear view of approaching traffic (rule 181).

What are the rules at pedestrian crossings?

You must give way once a pedestrian has moved onto a zebra crossing, and you should give way to people waiting to cross. At a pelican crossing, flashing amber means you must give way to anyone still on the crossing. Never park on a crossing or its zigzag lines, and never overtake the vehicle nearest the crossing (rule 191).

Crossing	Key rule for drivers
Zebra	Give way to pedestrians on the crossing; a central island makes it two crossings (rule 195)
Parallel	As zebra, but also give way to cyclists using the cycle route alongside (rule 195)
Pelican	Flashing amber follows red: give way to anyone crossing, then proceed with caution (rule 196)
Puffin, toucan, equestrian	No flashing amber; the lights follow the normal traffic light sequence (rule 199)

On any crossing, give way to anyone still crossing after your signal turns green (rule 198).

When is overtaking not allowed?

Rule 165 says you must not overtake where you would cross a solid white line on your side, enter a solid-bordered hatched area or an operating bus, tram or cycle lane, or pass the vehicle nearest a pedestrian crossing. You must also not overtake after a No Overtaking sign until a sign cancels it.

Rules 166 and 167 add places where you should not overtake: approaching bends, hump bridges and the brow of a hill, at junctions, where the road narrows, near a school crossing patrol, at a level crossing, or when a road user is signalling right. You may overtake on the left only when the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right and there is room (rule 163).

Where must you not stop or park?

You must not stop or park on a pedestrian crossing or its zigzags, a clearway, a cycle track, or a motorway hard shoulder except in an emergency (rule 240). Rule 243 adds places to avoid, including near a school entrance, at a bus stop, on a bend, and opposite or within 10 metres of a junction.

At night, you must not park facing against the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space (rule 248). On roads with a limit above 30 mph, all vehicles must show parking lights (rule 249). When parking on a hill, turn your wheels away from the kerb facing uphill and towards it facing downhill (rule 252).

What mistakes do learners make on rules of the road questions?

Most slips come from half-remembered numbers and from assuming a green light or a signal gives you the right to go. These are the traps that catch learners most often. Read the whole question, because details like towing, lighting or road type usually decide the answer.

70 mph on a single carriageway. It is 60 mph for cars.
Forgetting towing limits. 50 mph on single carriageways, 60 mph on dual carriageways and motorways.
Entering a box on green. Your exit must be clear first.
Flashing amber at a puffin. Only pelican crossings have a flashing amber phase.
Parking at night facing oncoming traffic. Rule 248 forbids it outside recognised spaces.
Reversing from a side road into a main road. Rule 201 says do not.

Where should you go next?

Rules of the road questions overlap heavily with signs and motorway topics, so practise them together. Start with this topic’s practice questions, then move on to the linked guides, and finish with a full mock test to see how the rules hold up under time pressure.