The Highway Code and Road Traffic Law

The Highway Code is a guide that all road users in Great Britain need to follow. It contains over 300 different rules and regulations. The Highway code is a guide about how to drive safely on our roads to protect both the driver and those around them. These are the areas that are set out in the guide:

• Waiting and parking.

• Rules for drivers and motorcyclists.

• Road works, level crossings and tramways.

• What to do if you are involved in a break down or accident.

• Motorways rules, such as distance between cars, overtaking and returning to the left hand lane.

• Using the road: Information about overtaking rules, roundabouts, road junctions, and pedestrian crossings.

• Advice on paying extra attention to other road users that need extra care such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

• Advice about driving differently in dangerous weather, details such as the extra breaking distance required in weathers such as rain, snow, ice and fog.

• Rules, techniques and advice for drivers and riders: There is information on signals, how to control a vehicle, lighting requirements, speed limits and other various other advice for drivers.


The rules for drivers and motorcyclists section covered in rules 89 -102 are probably the most important section for relating to road traffic law. The section focuses on the situations regarding when not to drive and details about the strict rules against driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. As stated in The Highway code:

"You MUST NOT drive with a breath alcohol level higher than 35 microgram’s/100 millilitres of breath or a blood alcohol level of more than 80 milligram’s/100 millilitres of blood".


This suggests that drivers under the influence of alcohol tend to give themselves a false sense of confidence whilst behind the wheel when intoxicated. This can reduce co-ordination and affect their judgement of speed and distance.


The Highway Code is in place just to inform and advise how to drive safely. The Highway Code does not constitute as the law but any kind of action that is seen to be against the Highway Code, could be used as evidence of negligence by a driver if an accident were to arise.


Although the Highway Code cannot be directly applied to the law, any kind of provision made within its rules will need to be followed. Any failure to do so could potentially result in the driver having to attend court and being held liable for any kind of negligent act.

I am a legal writer who specialises in road traffic law, if you would like more information about this topic and would like to find a solicitor, I suggest you have a look at lawontheweb.co.uk.