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DVSA revision material with source-checked Lanekind learning corrections. Lanekind is not a DVSA product and is not endorsed by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. The Highway Code is Crown copyright, reproduced under the Open Government Licence.

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LanekindThe Highway CodeBreakdowns and incidentsRule 278

Breakdowns and incidents · Additional rules for motorways

Rule 278: To rejoin the carriageway after a breakdown from a hard shoulder

To rejoin the carriageway after a breakdown from

a hard shoulder, build up speed, indicate and watch for a safe gap in the traffic. Be aware that vehicles, obstructions or debris may be present on the hard shoulder
an emergency area, you MUST use the emergency telephone provided and follow the operator’s advice for exiting the emergency area. A lane may need to be closed so that you can rejoin the carriageway safely.

Rule 278: Emergency area information sign

Law RTA 1988 sect 36

Source note (app): Rule 278 refreshed from the Department for Transport’s GOV.UK Highway Code, checked 2026-09-06. This corrects the imported passage only; the rest of the archive has not been refreshed. © Crown copyright. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Licence details: The National Archives, Open Government Licence v3.0. No government endorsement is implied.

In the Highway Code, MUST and MUST NOT identify legal requirements. Advice using should, should not, do or do not can still be used as evidence in court proceedings under the Traffic Acts to establish liability. The introduction explains this distinction.

The rules either side

The Code reads in order, and each of these names the rule it goes to rather than saying only ‘next’.

Rule 277: If your vehicle develops a problemThe rule before this one Rule 279: Disabled driversThe rule after this one

Additional rules for motorways

3 rules

The rules the Code files beside this one, in its order.

Rule 277: If your vehicle develops a problemleave the carriageway at the next exit or pull into a service area if possible (see Rule 275 for places of relative…Rule 278: To rejoin the carriageway after a breakdown from a hard shoulderbuild up speed, indicate and watch for a safe gap in the traffic.Rule 279: Disabled driversIf you have a disability that prevents you from following the above advice in Rules 277 and 278, you should switch on…

Breakdowns and incidents

Rules 275 to 287

The other groups in this part of the Code, and the rest of it.

Place of relative safety (rule 275)1 rule Breakdowns (rule 276)1 rule Additional rules for motorways3 rules Obstructions (rule 280)1 rule Incidents3 rules Incidents involving dangerous goods2 rules Documentation2 rules

All of Breakdowns and incidentsRules 275 to 287 on one page Road signs and markingsEvery sign this rule refers to, each one on a page you can link to.