Road positioning

You should normally keep to the left when driving in Great Britain.

However, keep clear of parked vehicles, so that you can respond safely to

• doors opening into the road
• pedestrians stepping out between vehicles
• children, who may be difficult to see and who might run into the road.

Don’t

• drive too close to the kerb, particularly in streets crowded with pedestrians
• weave in and out between parked vehicles. It’s unnecessary and confusing to other drivers.

When necessary, ease over to the left to let a faster vehicle overtake.

The correct position

You should always be in the correct position for the route you’re going to take.

• Keep to the left if you’re going straight ahead or turning left.
• Keep as close to the centre of the road as is safe when you’re turning right.

Your position is important not only for safety, but also to allow the free flow of traffic. A badly positioned vehicle can hold up traffic in either direction.

One-way streets

In one-way streets, all traffic flows in one direction. Position your vehicle according to whether you intend to go ahead, turn left, or turn right.

• To turn left, keep to the left-hand lane.
• To turn right, keep to the right-hand lane, provided there are no obstructions or parked vehicles on the right-hand side of the road you’re in.
• To go ahead, be guided by the road markings. If there’s no specific lane for ahead, select the most appropriate lane, normally the left, in good time.

Before turning right, position your vehicle just to the left of the centre of the road.

Follow the road markings, get into the correct lane as soon as possible and stay in this lane. Watch for drivers making sudden lane changes without using the Mirrors – Signal – Manoeuvre (MSM) routine. Sometimes their positioning or hesitant driving is a clue that they’re unsure of their route and may make a sudden decision to change lane.

Traffic in one-way streets often flows freely. Be aware that vehicles may pass on either side of you.

Lane discipline

You should always follow lane markings, which are there for two reasons.

• They make the best possible use of road space.
• They provide route directions for drivers.

Position yourself in good time

If you find you’re in the wrong lane, don’t try to change by cutting across other drivers. Carry on in your lane and find another way back to your route.

Changing lanes

Select the lane you need as soon as it’s safe to do so. Always check your mirrors and, if necessary, take a quick sideways glance to be sure that you won’t cause another road user to change course or speed. When it’s safe to do so, signal in good time and, when clear, move out.

• Never weave from lane to lane.
• Never drive along straddling two lanes.
• Never change lanes at the last minute.
• Always stay in the middle of your lane until you need to change.

In heavy and slow-moving traffic

Don’t

• change lanes suddenly or unnecessarily
• straddle lanes
• switch from lane to lane in an attempt to get through traffic more quickly
• obstruct ‘keep clear’ markings.

Allow for

• pedestrians crossing
• cyclists riding past on the left
• large vehicles needing to straddle lanes before turning
• motorcyclists filtering between lanes
• doors opening.

Driving ahead

Keep to the left-hand lane wherever possible. Don’t use the right-hand lane just because you’re travelling at speed.

On a carriageway with four or more lanes, peak-time ‘tidal flow’ systems might permit or forbid the use of some lanes on the right, depending on the time of day. Only use the lanes on the right when signs or markings allow you to do so.

Bus and cycle lanes

These are separate lanes shown by signs and road markings. Don’t enter these lanes unless permitted by the signs.

You’ll find more information on lane discipline in section 11, which covers driving on motorways.

Approaching a road junction

Look well ahead for signs and markings.

If you have two lanes in your direction and

• you intend to turn left, stay in the left-hand lane
• you intend to go straight ahead, stay in the left-hand lane unless otherwise indicated
• you intend to turn right, move to the right-hand lane in good time.

Don’t try to gain an advantage by using an incorrect lane. Trying to change back to the proper lane at or near the junction can be dangerous.

If you have three lanes in your direction and you intend to

• turn left, stay in the left-hand lane
• go straight ahead, use the left-hand lane (unless there are left filter signs) or the middle lane, or be guided by road markings • turn right, use the right-hand lane.

Slip road

Some junctions also have a slip road.

Get into the left-hand lane in good time before entering the slip road. You’ll be able to slow down to turn left without holding up other traffic.