Source: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/highway-code-rules-159-203
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 22:43:30
Document Index: 490020374

Matched Legal Cases: ['Art 50', 'Art 59', 'Art 50', 'Art 50', 'Art 50', 'Art 59', 'Art 59', 'Art 59', 'Art 59']

Highway Code rules 159 to 203 | nidirect
Rules 159 to 203 of the Northern Ireland Highway Code.
Using the road - general rules
Once moving you should:
keep to the left, unless road signs or markings indicate otherwise - the exceptions are when you want to overtake, turn right or pass parked vehicles or pedestrians in the road
keep well to the left on right-hand bends, this will improve your view of the road and help avoid the risk of colliding with traffic approaching from the opposite direction
drive with both hands on the wheel, where possible, this will help you to remain in full control of the vehicle at all times
be aware of other vehicles especially cycles and motorcycles that may be filtering through traffic, these are more difficult to see than larger vehicles and their riders are particularly vulnerable, so give them plenty of room especially if you are driving a long vehicle or towing a trailer
select a lower gear before you reach a long downhill slope, this will help to control your speed
when towing, remember the extra length will affect overtaking and manoeuvring, and the extra weight will also affect braking and acceleration
161 (mirrors)
All mirrors should be used effectively throughout your journey. You should:
be aware that mirrors do not cover all areas and that there will be blind spots - you will need to look round and check
Remember: mirrors–signal–manoeuvre
not assume you can simply follow a vehicle ahead which is overtaking; there may only be enough room for one vehicle
move quickly past the vehicle you are overtaking, once you have started to overtake, allow plenty of room and move back to the left as soon as you can - but do not cut in
stay in your lane if traffic is moving slowly in queues - if the queue on your right is moving more slowly than you are, you may pass on the left
give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car (see rules 211–215)
164 (large vehicles)
Overtaking these is more difficult. You should:
drop back as this will increase your ability to see ahead and should allow the drivers of large vehicles to see you in their mirrors (getting too close to large vehicles, including agricultural vehicles such as a tractor with a trailer or other fixed equipment, will obscure your view of the road ahead and there may be another slow moving vehicle in front)
if you have to cross or straddle double white lines with a solid line nearest to you (but see rule 129)
the nearest vehicle to a signal-controlled crossing facility, especially when it has stopped to let pedestrians, equestrian traffic or cyclists to cross
Laws RTO 1995 Art 50, TSR regs 8, 25 & 25B, RTRO Art 59(4) & PCR reg 20
Do not overtake if there is any doubt, or where you cannot see far enough ahead to be sure it is safe. For example, when you are approaching:
a corner or a bend
Do not overtake where you might come into conflict with other road users. For example:
between a kerb and a bus or tram when it is at a stop
when a road user is indicating right, even if you believe the signal should have been cancelled - do not take a risk; wait for the signal to be cancelled
168 (being overtaken)
If a driver is trying to overtake you, maintain a steady course and speed, slowing down if necessary to let the vehicle pass. Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass. Speeding up or driving unpredictably when someone is overtaking you is dangerous.
Drop back to maintain a two-second gap if someone overtakes and pulls into the gap in front of you.
Take extra care at junctions. You should:
watch out for cyclists, motorcyclists, powered wheelchairs/mobility scooters and pedestrians as they are not always easy to see - be aware that they may not have seen or heard you if you are approaching from behind
watch out for pedestrians crossing a road into which you are turning - if they have started to cross they have priority, so give way
not assume, when waiting at a junction, that a vehicle coming from the right and signalling left will actually turn. - Wait and make sure
look all around before emerging, do not cross or join a road until there is a gap large enough for you to do so safely
You must stop behind a line at a junction with a ‘Stop’ sign and a solid white line across the road. Wait for a safe gap in the traffic before you move off.
Laws RTO 1995 Art 50 & TSR regs 8, 14 & 24
173 (dual carriageways)
When crossing, or turning right, first assess whether the central reservation is deep enough to protect the full length of your vehicle:
if it is, then you should treat each half of the carriageway as a separate road and wait in the central reservation until there is a safe gap in the traffic on the second half of the road
if the central reservation is too shallow for the length of your vehicle, wait until you can cross both carriageways in one go
174 (box junctions)
These have criss-cross yellow lines painted on the road (see 'Road markings'). You must not enter the box until your exit road or lane is clear.
At signalled roundabouts you must not enter the box unless you can cross over it completely without stopping.
Laws RTO 1995 Art 50 & TSR regs 8 & 26
If the traffic lights are not working, treat the situation as you would an unmarked junction and proceed with great care.
177 (green filter arrow)
This indicates a filter lane only.
Do not enter that lane unless you want to go in the direction of the arrow. You may proceed in the direction of the green arrow when it, or the full green light, shows.
Give other traffic, especially cyclists, time and room to move into the correct lane.
178 (advanced stop lines)
Motorists, including motorcyclists, must stop at the first white line reached, and should avoid blocking the way or encroaching on the marked area at other times, such as for example, if the junction ahead is blocked.
Allow cyclists time and space to move off when the green signal shows.
Laws RTO 1995 Art 50(1) & TSR reg 33(6)
Well before you turn right you should:
take up a position just left of the middle of the road or in the space for traffic turning right
leave room for other vehicles to pass on the left, if possible
Wait until there is a safe gap between you and any oncoming vehicle. Watch out for cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians and other road users. Check your mirrors and blind spots again to make sure you are not being overtaken, then make the turn.
Do not cut the corner. Take great care when turning into a main road; you will need to watch for traffic in both directions and wait for a safe gap.
When turning right at a cross roads where an oncoming vehicle is also turning right, there is a choice of two methods:
turn right side to right side; keep the other vehicle on your right and turn behind it - this is generally the safer method as you have a clear view of any approaching traffic when completing your turn
left side to left side, turning in front of each other. - this can block your view of oncoming vehicles, so take extra care (cyclists and motorcyclists in particular may be hidden from your view)
Use your mirrors and give a left-turn signal well before you turn left. Do not overtake just as you turn left and watch out for traffic coming up on your left before you make the turn, especially if driving a large vehicle.
Cyclists and motorcyclists in particular may be hidden from your view.
On approaching a roundabout take notice and act on all the information available to you, including traffic signs, traffic lights and lane markings which direct you into the correct lane. You should:
give an appropriate signal (see rule 186)
time your signals so as not to confuse other road users
186 (signals and position)
When taking the first exit to the left, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise:
signal left and approach in the left hand lane
When taking an exit to the right or going full circle, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise:
When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise:
For more specific advice on procedures at roundabouts, see Appendix.
In all cases watch out for and give plenty of room to:
cyclists and horse riders who may stay in the left-hand lane and signal right if they intend to continue around the roundabout (allow them to do so)
long vehicles (including those towing trailers) as these might have to take a different course or straddle lanes either approaching or on the roundabout because of their length - watch out for their signals
188 (mini-roundabouts)
All vehicles must pass round the central markings except large vehicles which are physically incapable of doing so. Remember, there is less space to manoeuvre and less time to signal.
avoid making U-turns at mini-roundabouts
beware of others doing this
190 (multiple roundabouts)
At some complex junctions there may be a series of mini-roundabouts at each intersection. Treat each mini-roundabout separately and follow the normal rules.
Law RTRO Art 59(4) & PCR regs 16, 18 & 20
195 (zebra crossings)
Laws RTRO Art 59(4) & PCR reg 21
196 (pelican crossings)
These are signal-controlled crossings where flashing amber follows the red ‘Stop’ light:
you must stop when the red light shows
when the amber light is flashing, you must give way to any pedestrians on the crossing
if the amber light is flashing and there are no pedestrians on the crossing, you may proceed with caution
Laws RTRO Art 59(4) & PCR regs 10, 19 & 22
Laws RTRO Art 59(4) & PCR reg 22
199 (toucan, puffin and equestrian crossings)
These are similar to pelican crossings, but there is no flashing amber phase; the light sequence for traffic at these three crossings is the same as at traffic lights.
Choose an appropriate place to manoeuvre. If you need to turn your vehicle around, wait until you find a safe place. Try not to reverse or turn around in a busy road; find a quiet side road or drive round a block of side streets.
Look carefully before you start reversing. You should:
check any ‘blind spot’ behind you (the part of the road you cannot see easily in the mirrors)
Reverse slowly while:
Law CUR reg 122
Rules and advice for drivers and riders (103 to 158) Up Road users requiring extra care (204 to 225)