Country and rural roads

By the end of this topic you can

• You can choose a safe speed for bends, brows and narrow lanes, whatever the speed limit.
• You can use passing places correctly on single-track roads.
• You can pass horses, cyclists and walkers slowly and with plenty of room.
• You can spot clues to hidden hazards, such as hedges, warning signs and mud on the road.
• You can position the car sensibly on bends to improve your view.

What you need to know and understand

• The national speed limit sign is a white circle with a black diagonal stripe; for cars it means 60 mph on a single carriageway.
• The speed limit is the absolute maximum, not a safe or target speed.
• Bends may be sharper than they look and junctions may be partly hidden.
• On single-track roads, pull into a passing place on your left, or wait opposite one on your right.
• You should not park in passing places.
• Pass horse riders at under 10 mph and leave at least 2 metres; leave at least 2 metres for pedestrians walking in the road.
• Leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at up to 30 mph, and more at higher speeds.

Bends, brows and hidden dips

Slow down before a bend, not in it, so you can steer smoothly and keep a light, steady pressure on the accelerator through the curve. Look for clues about how sharp it is: warning signs, chevron boards, the line of hedges or telegraph poles, and how the road markings change.

On a right-hand bend, keeping well to the left improves your view round the corner. Never cut a corner, because a car, cyclist or tractor may be just out of sight. Hidden dips and hill brows can hide a whole vehicle, so never overtake approaching them.

Single-track roads and passing places

• Look well ahead for oncoming vehicles and the next passing place.
• If the passing place is on your left, pull into it. If it is on your right, stop opposite it so the other driver can use it.
• Give way to vehicles coming uphill when you can.
• Be ready to reverse to a passing place if needed, slowly and with good observation.
• Use passing places to let faster traffic behind you overtake, but never park in them.

Sharing the road with animals and people

Country lanes often have no pavement, so walkers may be in the road, usually facing oncoming traffic. Slow down and give them at least 2 metres. Horses can be startled easily: pass at under 10 mph with at least 2 metres of space, and do not rev your engine or sound your horn.

If you meet sheep or cattle, slow down or stop, and wait patiently. Farm vehicles are wide and slow and may leave mud on the road, which can be slippery. Only overtake them when you can see well ahead and there is plenty of room.

Common mistakes

• Driving at 60 mph because the sign allows it. Match your speed to what you can see.
• Braking hard in the middle of a bend. Slow down on the straight before it.
• Overtaking near brows, bends or dips. Wait for a long, clear straight.
• Passing horses too fast or too close. Slow right down and leave at least 2 metres.
• Waiting in the wrong place on single-track roads. Pull into passing places on your left, or wait opposite ones on your right.

Test yourself: Country and rural roads

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

Go deeper

• Animals on the Road
• UK Speed Limits for Cars