Only overtake the vehicle in front if it's really necessary. All manoeuvres need careful planning, but at night the risks are increased, due to reduced visibility. Can you see the road ahead clearly? Can you see whether pedestrians, cyclists or any obstructions are in the road ahead? Ask yourself these questions before committing to overtaking.

You mustn't stop on the hard shoulder, except in an emergency. Never use it to have a rest or a picnic, to pick up hitchhikers, to answer a mobile phone or to check a road map. You mustn't drive back along the hard shoulder if you go past the exit you wanted.

Give way to traffic already on the motorway. If you've matched the speed of traffic in the left-hand lane, you should be able to join where there's a suitable gap in the traffic. Try to avoid stopping at the end of the slip road - but you might have to do so if the motorway is very busy and there isn't a safe gap in the traffi

Lorry drivers may be unaware of objects falling from their vehicle. If you see this happen, and the lorry doesn't stop, drive safely onto the hard shoulder near an emergency telephone. Report the hazard to the authorities. Don't try to retrieve fallen items yourself.

Hatch markings are painted at potentially dangerous areas to separate streams of traffic. For example, they can be seen at sharp bends and at junctions to protect traffic turning right.

If you feel drowsy while driving on a motorway, find a safe and legal place to park as soon as you can. This will mean either leaving the motorway at the next exit or pulling in at the next service area.

When a driver is following you too closely, gradually increase the gap between your vehicle and the one in front. This will create a buffer, giving you more time to react if traffic suddenly slows down or stops.

Compulsory reduced speed limits are often in force throughout roadworks on the motorway. This safety measure is to protect drivers and workers in the road. Be aware of reduced speed limits and slow down in good time.

Your vehicle's tyres have very little grip on icy roads. Stopping distances can easily be 10 times the normal distance on a dry, firm surface. Anti-lock brakes may prevent the wheels from skidding, but they can't increase the tyres' grip.

You shouldn't reverse from a driveway into a main road, because your view will be restricted. When using a driveway, you should reverse in, so that you can drive out forwards.

Don't turn your vehicle around on a busy main road. It's safer to find a quiet side road where you can turn around and then rejoin the main road.

It's against the law to reverse, cross the central reservation or drive against the traffic flow on a motorway. If you've missed your exit, leave the motorway at the next exit. You can either rejoin the motorway in the opposite direction or find another route to your destination.

As you look through the rear of your vehicle, you may not be able to see a child because of their height. Be aware of this before you reverse. If you're uncertain whether a child is behind but hidden from view, get out and check it's clear before reversing.

A skid happens when the driver changes the speed or direction of their vehicle so suddenly that the tyres can't keep their grip on the road. The risk of skidding is much greater on wet or icy roads than in dry conditions. It's the driver's responsibility to recognise the conditions and drive in a manner that takes the conditions into account.

Animals can be unpredictable, and horses can be startled by passing traffic. Reducing your speed and leaving as much space as possible will help to minimise the risk.

Sooner or later, another driver will do something that affects you. This can result in a range of feelings such as anger or fear, and you may struggle to concentrate on your driving. If you find yourself in this situation, it's best to look for a safe place to stop and give yourself time to recover. Any form of retaliation will lead to increased risk.

You should normally overtake on the right, but there are some occasions when you may overtake on the left. These include when you're driving on a dual carriageway or motorway and the traffic is moving slowly in queues, or when a vehicle ahead is positioned to turn right and there's room to pass on the left. On dual carriageways or motorways, don't overtake on the left if traffic is flowing freely.

Where a motorway has a steep uphill gradient, slow-moving, large vehicles might get in the way of other traffic. An extra lane on the left may be provided for these slow-moving vehicles. It allows faster-moving traffic to flow more easily.

You normally join a motorway from a slip road on the left. Join where there's a suitable gap in the traffic travelling in the left-hand lane. You should adjust your speed to fit in with the traffic flow in the left-hand lane, but you must give way to the traffic already on the motorway. Don't try to force your way into the traffic stream.

Reflective studs on the motorway are there to help you in poor visibility. Different colours are used so that you'll know which lane you're in. These are
- red on the left-hand side of the road
- white between lanes
- amber on the right-hand edge of the carriageway
- green between the carriageway and slip roads.