Eight Highway Code Rules Many UK Drivers Do Not Know

Several Highway Code rules are less well known than they should be. The ones that most often surprise drivers are giving way to pedestrians at junctions, leaving 1.5 metres when passing cyclists, the phone ban applying while you supervise a learner, and not leaving an engine idling on the road.

In the Highway Code, MUST and MUST NOT mark rules backed by law. Should and should not are advice, but they can still be used in evidence if something goes wrong. The full text is on GOV.UK.

Do I have to give way to pedestrians at a junction?

Yes. Rule 170 says you should give way to pedestrians who are crossing, or waiting to cross, a road you are turning into or out of. If they have already started to cross, they have priority.

In practice: slow down earlier on the approach to a side road, and check the pavement as well as the traffic.

How much room should I leave when overtaking a cyclist?

Rule 163 gives distances:

• Cyclists: at least 1.5 metres at speeds up to 30mph, and more space at higher speeds.

• Horse riders: pass at under 10mph and allow at least 2 metres.

• People walking in the road: at least 2 metres, at low speed.

If there is not room to leave that gap, wait behind. Cyclists are also advised to ride in the centre of their lane in some situations, such as on quiet roads and at junctions, so do not treat that as obstruction.

Can I use my phone while supervising a learner driver?

No. It is illegal to hold and use a phone, sat nav, tablet or any device that can send or receive data while driving, and the law applies in the same way when you are supervising a learner. It also applies when you are stopped at traffic lights or queuing.

The standard penalty is 6 points and a £200 fine. A driver who passed their test in the last two years loses their licence.

Is it illegal to leave the engine running while parked?

On a public road, yes. Rule 123 says you MUST NOT leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running, or leave the engine running unnecessarily while the vehicle is stationary. That covers idling outside a school or a shop. Sitting in a traffic queue is not what the rule is aimed at.

Can I park on the pavement?

Rule 244 says you MUST NOT park partly or wholly on the pavement in London or Scotland. Everywhere else, including Barnsley, you should not do it unless signs permit it. A council can also restrict it on particular streets, and you can still be dealt with for causing an obstruction.

Is middle lane hogging an offence?

It can be. The Highway Code says to keep in the left lane unless overtaking and to move back once you have passed. Staying in the middle lane with an empty lane to your left can be treated by the police as careless driving.

Can I be fined for splashing a pedestrian?

Driving through a puddle so that it soaks someone on the pavement can be treated as driving without reasonable consideration for other road users, which is an offence. Slow down for standing water when people are nearby.

How should I open the car door?

Rule 239 recommends opening the door with the hand furthest from it, so your left hand if the door is on your right. Known as the Dutch Reach, it turns your body so you look over your shoulder for cyclists and motorcyclists before the door opens.

Common questions

Can I use a phone in a cradle?

Hands-free use is allowed, for example through a dashboard holder, voice commands or a built-in system, as long as it does not block your view and you stay in full control of the car.

When can I hold a phone in the car?

When you are safely parked, when calling 999 or 112 in an emergency and it is unsafe to stop, or when making a contactless payment in a stationary vehicle, such as at a drive-through.

Do these rules apply to cyclists as well?

The pedestrian priority rule at junctions applies to cyclists too. At night a bicycle needs a white front light, a red rear light and a red rear reflector.

Keeping your car road legal in Barnsley

Knowing the rules is half of it. The other half is a car with working lights, legal tyres and good brakes. The anycolourcar.com service centre in Barnsley handles servicing and repairs on 01226 574321, and you can browse the cars we have in stock online.

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Updated October 2026.