Road Traffic

It is safest to assume that all the lights on your vehicle must be in working order – if they aren't you may commit an offence. However, there are exemptions in relation to a:

• rear fog lamp on a vehicle which is part of a combination of vehicles, any part of which is not required to be fitted with a rear fog lamp.
• rear fog lamp on a motor vehicle drawing a trailer.
• defective lamp, reflector, dim-dip device or headlamp levelling device on a vehicle in use on a road between sunrise and sunset, if any such lamp, reflector or device became defective during the journey which is in progress or if arrangements have been made to remedy the defect as soon as possible.
• lamp, reflector, dim-dip device, headlamp levelling device or rear marking on a combat vehicle in use on a road between sunrise and sunset.
• front fog lamp or a daytime running lamp on a vehicle which was first registered before 1st March 2018.

Electric scooters, quads, go-peds, mini-motos, hoverboards and Segways
In legal terms, these are all examples of vehicles that may be considered motor vehicles and are therefore subject to all the usual legal requirements that apply to other motor vehicles such as cars or motorcycles.

Therefore, they cannot be used on the road unless they are taxed (if required), registered, have an MOT (if required), are insured and the driver has a valid driving licence for the category of vehicle. If any of these requirements are not met, the vehicle can't legally be driven/ridden on the road.

In reality, many of these types of vehicle will never be 'road legal' because their design fails to meet road-vehicle safety standards.

Note also that it's an offence to use such vehicles on the pavement too.

They cannot be used on council land e.g., parks, unless there is a designated area specifically for them. In some areas, there may be commercially operated parks where they can be used.

They can only legally be used on private land/property with the permission of the land/property owner. However, note that it's against the law for a child under 13 to drive/ride on a tractor or self-propelled vehicle e.g., a quad, when it's being used in agricultural operations.

Electric bikes
Electric bikes known as Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EAPCs) can be used on the road as long as they meet certain requirements (see Q605) and the rider is at least 14 years old.

EAPCs aren't classed as motor vehicles and so don't require insurance and the driver doesn't need a driving licence. Additionally, they are exempt from having to be registered and vehicle tax.

EAPCs cannot be used on the pavement.

Electric scooter trials
In some parts of the country, you can legally rent an electric scooter as part of a government trial – this is explained in Q1062.

It is not illegal to reverse into a main road but it is not advisable - this is for safety reasons. The main road is likely to be very busy and there will be an increased chance of an accident due to the presence of more cars on the road. If an accident occurred due to you reversing onto a main road from a minor road then there may be the possibility of you being prosecuted for driving without due care and attention.

Driving licence requirements
The driving licence legislation for three-wheelers (tricycles), irrespective of whether they are car or motorcycle based, changed considerably on 19.01.13. The two most important changes were that from 19.01.13, new rider/drivers:

• must be a minimum of 21 years of age (for tricycles over 15 kW), and
• require a motorcycle licence (category A or A1) to be able to drive them because they no longer fall within category B1. This only applies if you don't already have a full car licence - see below.

The changes only affect those taking their test after 19.01.13. Those riders/drivers with existing full entitlement to ride/drive category B1 vehicles gained before 19.01.13 will retain that entitlement. However, when the holders of such licences exchange them, DVLA will add a new entitlement 'category A (limited to tricycles - restriction code 79)', to their licence.

Riding a tricycle with a car licence
You can drive/ride a motor tricycle of any power rating if you're over 21 and you have a full car driving licence. If this is not the case you'll need a full category A1 motorbike licence to ride motor tricycles up to a power output of 15 Kilowatts (kW), and a full category A motorbike licence to ride trikes with a power output more than 15 kW.

AM tricycles
At age 16 or over, you must pass your CBT, theory test and then a practical test on a motorcycle without a sidecar with an engine capacity up to 50cc. You may then ride two or three wheeled vehicles no more than 50cc and below 4 kW, with a design speed not exceeding 28mph.

A1 motorcycle licence – three-wheelers not exceeding 15 kW
At age 17 or over, you must pass your CBT, theory test and then a practical test on a motorcycle without a sidecar of between 120 and 125cc. You may then ride a motorcycle up to 125cc with a power output up to 11 kW, or a motor tricycle with a power not exceeding 15 kW.

A motorcycle licence – three-wheelers above 15 kW
Test taken on a motorcycle without a sidecar of at least 595cc and an engine power of at least 40 kW; this gives full access to all motorcycles and motor tricycles. There are two routes to acquire category A:

• Progressive access – riders can get this category from age 21 years, provided they have a minimum of two years' experience on a category A2 motorcycle with a full licence and pass the category A practical motorcycle tests
• Direct access – riders must be at least 24 years old, have a valid CBT certificate (only if they don't have full entitlement to A1 or A2 because then they will have already completed their CBT to get their A1 or A2 entitlement) and pass the theory and category A practical motorcycle tests

Points to note:

1. Provisional B1 entitlement to ride/drive a three-wheeler has been withdrawn from all riders, even if they were using a three-wheeler prior to 19.01.13. After 19.01.13, a provisional licence will only cover riders to ride motor tricycles if they have a physical disability.
2. The rules apply to all three-wheelers regardless of wheel configuration i.e. two wheels at the front and one at the back or visa versa.
3. Driving tests for three-wheeled vehicles will only be available for physically disabled drivers. Able-bodied provisional licence holders who wish to ride motor tricycles will have to pass CBT and practical tests on a two wheeled motorcycle AM, A1 or A without a sidecar.

Insurance
Three-wheelers that are motor vehicles i.e. those constructed or adapted for use on road will require a minimum of third party cover.

MOT
Certificates are required for all vehicles over three years old.

Crash helmet

The types of vehicles not permitted to use the right hand (offside) lane on a motorway, which has three or more lanes open for use by traffic travelling in the same direction are:

• a goods vehicle having a maximum laden weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes,
• a goods vehicle having a maximum laden weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not exceeding 7.5 tonnes, which is required to be fitted with a speed limiter
• a passenger vehicle which is constructed or adapted to carry more than eight seated passengers in addition to the driver the maximum laden weight of which exceeds 7.5 tonnes;
• a passenger vehicle which is constructed or adapted to carry more than eight seated passengers in addition to the driver the maximum laden weight of which does not exceed 7.5 tonnes, which is required to be fitted with a speed limiter.
• a motor vehicle drawing a trailer
• a vehicle which is a motor tractor, a light locomotive or a heavy locomotive.

There are exceptions to this rule, which are:

• when it is necessary for the vehicle to be driven to enable it to pass another vehicle which is carrying or drawing a load of exceptional width.
• for a vehicle to change lane during a period when it would not be reasonably practicable for it to do so without involving danger of injury to any person or inconvenience to other traffic.

A vehicle's speedometer must be kept free from any obstruction that may prevent it from being read and shall at all times it is used on a road be maintained in good working order. The only exceptions to this are when:

• The speedometer became defective during the journey being undertaken, or
• Steps have been taken to have the defect remedied by replacement or repair as soon as possible.
• The vehicle has an approved tachograph.

Generally, yes you can. However, you cannot repair vehicles on a road if,

• it is during the course of a business
• it is for gain or reward
• it causes annoyance to people in the vicinity

The only exception is that if the repairs are carried out following an accident or break down where it was necessary to do the repairs on the spot or within 72 hours.

If it is a one off repair then this is not likely to breach the law but anyone who repeatedly repairs vehicles on the road is likely to commit an offence.

To drive a motor vehicle legally on a road you must:

• have a valid licence that covers the category of vehicle you are driving,
• have insurance that covers you for the vehicle you are driving,
• have an MOT – this usually applies to vehicles over 3 years old,
• make sure the vehicle is taxed – see Q911,
• make sure the vehicle is registered,
• make sure the vehicle is in a roadworthy condition.

If you come form abroad to take up residency in the UK, you must register and tax your vehicle with the DVLA immediately - UK residents are not allowed to drive foreign registered vehicles on UK roads. With regard to insurance, you must have UK insurance for a UK registered vehicle. Therefore, if you insure a UK registered vehicle in another country, you have no insurance to drive on UK roads and are committing an offence.

If you don't have a British licence see Q416 or Q417.

Children under the age of 14 are legally obliged to wear a securely fastened helmet, and it is advisable that all other riders do the same as a safety precaution. It is also recommended that riders wear fluorescent clothing, particularly at night time, to ensure that they can easily be seen by passing motor vehicle drivers. You can also add fluorescent bands to your horse's legs and tail. If you use any lighting to increase your visibility, it should show a white light to the front and red to the rear.

Before taking a horse out on the roads you should ensure that the bridle and saddle are securely fitted and that you are confident controlling the horse. If your horse is nervous around traffic, it would be advisable to initially ride as part of a group, until your horse is more confident. When riding on the roads, you must not ride on the pavements and should avoid riding on cycle lanes.

When riding on the roads you should have consideration for other drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, and should take note of the following safety guidelines:

• Keep to the left.
• Keep both hands on the reins unless you are signalling.
• Keep both feet in the stirrups.
• Do not carry another person.
• Do not carry anything which might affect your balance or get tangled up with the reins.
• If you are leading a horse while walking, you should keep the horse to your left.
• Move in the direction of the traffic flow when on a one-way street.
• Never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends.

Regarding the guidelines above, you should also consider how certain actions affect may affect your concentration levels e.g. talking on mobile phones or listening to music through headphones etc., while riding. You should also ensure that you are fully aware of your surroundings at all times.