Highway Code Test 1 | Road & Traffic Signs Questions (2026)

This is our first free Highway Code practice test, featuring 50 realistic questions designed to help you prepare for your driving license exam. You’ll have 57 minutes to complete the test, just like the real theory exam. To pass, you must answer at least 43 out of 50 questions correctly. At the end of the test, you can review your score along with the correct answers, so you can learn from any mistakes and improve your performance.

1. Objects hanging from your interior mirror may:

Help your concentration

Improve your driving

Restrict your view

Keep you focused

Question 1 of 50

2. Where should you avoid overtaking?

On a dual carriageway

Just after a bend

In a one-way street

Approaching a dip in the road

Question 2 of 50

3. Why is it important to wear or carry bright items in poor daylight conditions?

To enhance visibility for safety

To avoid traffic

To stay warm

For fashion

Question 3 of 50

4. What’s most likely to distract you while you’re driving?

Using the windscreen wipers

Using the mirrors

Using the demisters

Using a mobile phone

Question 4 of 50

5. You're driving your car. When may you use a hand-held mobile phone?

When you've parked safely

When you're receiving a call

When you're driving at less than 30 mph

When your car has automatic transmission

Question 5 of 50

6. Your mobile phone rings while you're driving on the motorway. Before answering, you should:

Reduce your speed to 30 mph

Move into the left-hand lane

Stop in a safe place

Pull up on the hard shoulder

Question 6 of 50

7. What happens to traffic on the other side during congestion?

It may still move

It must stop

Changes direction

Always congested too

Question 7 of 50

8. Why are these yellow lines painted across the road?

Highway Code Sign

To help you keep the correct separation distance

To help you choose the correct lane

To tell you the distance to the roundabout

o make you aware of your speed

Question 8 of 50

9. Your vehicle is fitted with a navigation system. How can you avoid being distracted by it while driving?

Keep driving and enter the destination into the system

Stop immediately on the road to use the system

Stop in a safe place before using the system

Continue driving because the system will automatically adjust your route

Question 9 of 50

10. You're following a large vehicle. Why should you stay a safe distance behind it?

You'll keep out of the wind better

You'll be able to corner more quickly

You'll help the large vehicle to stop more easily

You'll give the driver a chance to see you in their mirrors

Question 10 of 50

11. What distinguishes equestrian crossings?

Standard traffic lights

Pedestrian figures

Narrow crossing spaces

Wider spaces, horse figures

Question 11 of 50

12. When you're moving off from behind a parked car, you should:

Give a signal after moving off

Use the exterior mirrors only

Look round after moving off

Check both interior and exterior mirrors

Question 12 of 50

13. What are triangular signs for?

Road narrows Traffic Sign

To give direction

To give information

To give warning

To give order

Question 13 of 50

14. On a long motorway journey, boredom can cause you to feel sleepy. You should:

Play some loud music

Stop on the hard shoulder for a rest

Ensure a supply of fresh air into your vehicle

Drive faster to complete your journey sooner

Question 14 of 50

15. You're turning right onto a dual carriageway. What should you do before emerging?

Stop, apply the parking brake and then select a low gear

Check that the central reservation is wide enough for your vehicle

Position your vehicle well to the left of the side road

Make sure that you leave enough room for a vehicle behind

Question 15 of 50

16. Windscreen pillars can obstruct your view. You should take particular care when:

Driving on a dual carriageway

Driving on a motorway

Approaching bends and junctions

Approaching a one-way street

Question 16 of 50

17. What do circle signs mean?

Circular Sign

Warning

Information

Mandatory

Advice

Question 17 of 50

18. According to Highway Code Rule 12, what should be considered when crossing bus and cycle lanes?

Lanes are always empty

Only buses use these lanes

Traffic is slower in these lanes

Traffic may be moving faster

Question 18 of 50

19. You're driving on a wet road. What should you do if you have to stop your vehicle in an emergency?

Give an arm signal

Select reverse gear

Keep both hands on the steering wheel

Apply the parking brake and footbrake together

Question 19 of 50

20. What is forbidden under Highway Code Rule 16?

Driving above the speed limit

Crossing roads carelessly

Getting onto a moving vehicle

Using mobile phones while driving

Question 20 of 50

21. What does this sign mean?

Traffic Sign

Contraflow system

Leave at the next exit

One-way street

Change to the left lane

Question 21 of 50

22. When changing lanes or making a turn while driving, which action is most important for safety?

Following traffic signals only

Increasing speed to merge quickly

Checking mirrors and blind spots carefully

Keeping a steady speed without looking around

Question 22 of 50

23. Who has priority when you are going straight ahead at a junction?

All other vehicles

Pedestrians crossing

You, over traffic turning into or out of side roads

Traffic turning into or out of side roads

Question 23 of 50

24. What does this sign mean?

Give Way Traffic Sign

You have the right of way

You must stop for other traffic

A warning sign but upside down

You must stop

Question 24 of 50

25. You are driving on a motorway and want to use your mobile phone. What should you do?

Try to find a safe place on the hard shoulder

Use the next exit and pull up on the slip road

Leave the motorway and stop in a safe place

Move to the left lane and reduce your speed

Question 25 of 50

26. What should you do when moving off from behind a parked car?

Give a signal after moving off

Look around before moving off

Look around after moving off

Use the exterior mirrors only

Question 26 of 50

27. What does this warning sign indicate?

Risk of Ice Traffic Sign

Place of historical interest

Risk of ice

Multi-exit roundabout

Six roads converge

Question 27 of 50

28. What should you do when you're driving through a contraflow system?

Switch lanes to make better progress

Choose an appropriate lane in good time

Follow other motorists closely to avoid long queues

Increase speed to get through the contraflow more quickly

Question 28 of 50

29. What effect can a heavy load on your roof rack have on your vehicle?

Improve road holding

Reduce stability

Make the steering lighter

Reduce the stopping distance

Question 29 of 50

30. What is essential to never ride a horse without?

Just a saddle

Just a bridle

Helmet only

Both a saddle and bridle

Question 30 of 50

31. What type of information is shown on a triangular road sign?

Road Narrows Traffic Sign

Keep left

Minimum speed

Ahead only

Road narrows

Question 31 of 50

32. What does the term ‘blind spot’ mean for a driver?

An area not covered by your mirrors

An area not covered by your headlights

An area covered by your right-hand mirror

An area covered by your left-hand mirror

Question 32 of 50

33. What does this signal mean?

Trams must stop Traffic Sign

Trams must stop

Cars must stop

Both trams and cars must stop

Both trams and cars can continue

Question 33 of 50

34. How should you drive in icy or snowy weather

Only use main roads

Drive as you would in dry conditions

Drive with care, even if roads have been treated

Drive fast to reduce time in bad weather

Question 34 of 50

35. When are you allowed to use hazard warning lights?

When travelling during darkness without headlights

When travelling slowly because you are lost

When parked for shopping on double yellow lines

When stopped and temporarily obstructing traffic

Question 35 of 50

36. What does this sign mean?

No Motorcycle Traffic Sign

No cars

Cars only

Motorcycles only

No motorcycles

Question 36 of 50

37. What does this sign mean?

Traffic Sign

Maximum speed 30 mph

Minimum speed 30 mph

Lay-by 30 miles ahead

Service area 30 miles ahead

Question 37 of 50

38. What effect can rain after a long dry spell have on the road surface?

It may become slippery

It will make the road less slippery

It will clear all debris from the road

It will have no effect

Question 38 of 50

39. What is the maximum fine you can receive for driving without insurance?

£50

£500

£1000

£5000

Question 39 of 50

40. What effect can carrying a heavy load on your roof rack have on your vehicle?

It improves road holding

It reduces stopping distance

It reduces stability

It makes the steering lighter

Question 40 of 50

41. When parking at night on a road with a speed limit of 40 mph, what should you do?

Park facing the traffic

Park near a street light

Leave your dipped headlights on

Leave your parking lights on

Question 41 of 50

42. After joining a motorway, how long should you normally stay in the left-hand lane?

For at least 15 miles

Until the next exit

For a short distance

Long enough to adjust your speed

Question 42 of 50

43. At traffic lights, what does it mean when the amber light shows on its own?

Go if the way is clear

Prepare to go

Stop at the stop line

Go if no pedestrians are crossing

Question 43 of 50

44. What does this traffic sign mean?

Danger Traffic Sign

Danger ahead

Slippery road ahead

Service area ahead

Tyres liable to punctures ahead

Question 44 of 50

45. You want to turn right at a box junction and there is oncoming traffic. What should you do?

Wait before the junction until all traffic has passed

Wait in the box junction if your exit road is clear

Drive on, as you cannot turn right at a box junction

Move slowly into the box junction when signalled by oncoming traffic

Question 45 of 50

46. On a three-lane motorway, what is the right-hand lane normally used for?

Overtaking

Coaches only

Emergency vehicles only

Vehicles towing trailers

Question 46 of 50

47. How will a police officer in a patrol vehicle normally signal for you to stop?

Overtake and give a slowing-down arm signal

Use the siren, overtake, cut in front, and stop suddenly

Pull alongside you, use the siren, and wave you to stop

Flash the headlights, indicate left, and point to the left

Question 47 of 50

48. You are driving on a motorway and see a red cross displayed above the hard shoulder. What does this mean?

This lane can be used if you need a rest

Use this lane as a running lane

You should not travel in this lane

Pull up in this lane to answer your mobile phone

Question 48 of 50

49. What does this sign mean?

No Stopping Traffic Sign

No entry

No stopping

National speed limit applies

Waiting restrictions apply

Question 49 of 50

50. You are driving on a motorway at night with other vehicles ahead of you. Which lights should you use?

Front fog lights

Sidelights only

Main beam headlights

Dipped headlights

Question 50 of 50