Traffic calming and road works

By the end of this topic you can

• You can approach road humps, chicanes and narrowings at a suitably low speed.
• You can work out who has priority at a road narrowing from the signs.
• You can drive safely through road works, contraflows and temporary lights.
• You can keep to temporary speed limits and merge in turn when lanes close.
• You can drive slowly and carefully in Home Zones and Quiet Lanes.

What you need to know and understand

• When approaching traffic calming, reduce your speed and keep it reduced along the whole stretch. Allow cyclists and motorcyclists room to pass through, and do not overtake moving road users there (Highway Code rule 153).
• Give way to oncoming road users at a narrowing if signs tell you to (rule 153).
• In Home Zones and Quiet Lanes people may use the whole road, so drive slowly and be ready to stop (rule 218).
• At road works you MUST NOT exceed any temporary maximum speed limit (rule 288).
• Do not drive through an area marked off by cones, and do not switch lanes to overtake queuing traffic (rule 288).
• Where lanes are restricted, merge in turn if it is safe (rules 134 and 288).
• Contraflows may mean narrower lanes with no permanent barrier between you and oncoming traffic, so slow down and leave more space (rule 290).

Humps, chicanes and narrowings

Road humps are raised sections across the road. Slow down before you reach them so you cross smoothly, rather than braking on top of them. A warning sign may show how far a series of humps extends. Chicanes are bends built into a straight road, often with build-outs on alternate sides. Narrowings, also called pinch points, reduce the road to one lane for a short distance.

At a narrowing, look for priority signs. A red circle with a red arrow on your side means you must give way to oncoming traffic. A blue rectangle with a white arrow on your side means you have priority, but still be ready to give way if someone is already coming through.

20 mph zones, Home Zones and Quiet Lanes

20 mph zones have entry and exit signs and often use humps or chicanes to keep speeds down. Home Zones and Quiet Lanes are places where children may play and people walk or ride in the road. Drive slowly, expect people in the carriageway and give them time to make space for you.

Getting through road works

A Road Works Ahead sign is your cue to take extra care and look for further signs. Concentrate on the road ahead rather than the work going on beside it.

• Keep to any temporary speed limit. These are mandatory, not advisory.
• Get into the correct lane early, as signs direct.
• Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front.
• Watch for works vehicles with amber lights entering or leaving the site.
• Obey temporary traffic lights and Stop and Go boards.
• Take care around cyclists and motorcyclists, who can skid on grit or mud.

Contraflows and lane closures

In a contraflow you may be driving on the other side of a dual carriageway, with only cones between you and oncoming traffic. Lanes can be narrower than usual and marked with temporary studs. Slow down at the start and end, where the road camber changes, and make sure you can see the edges of your lane. On high-speed roads, works vehicles may close lanes and show Keep Left or Keep Right signs, which you MUST obey (rule 289).

Common mistakes

• Braking hard on top of a road hump. Slow down before you reach it.
• Speeding up between humps. Keep a steady low speed along the whole stretch.
• Treating a temporary speed limit as a suggestion. It is the law.
• Changing lanes repeatedly in road works queues. Stay in your lane and merge in turn at the closure.
• Looking at the works instead of the road. Keep your eyes on the traffic ahead.

Test yourself: Traffic calming and road works

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Traffic Calming in GB
• Driving Through Road Works