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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 CodeMotorwaysRule 264

Motorways · Lane discipline

Rule 264: Keep in the left lane unless overtaking

Keep in the left lane unless overtaking.

If you are overtaking, you should return to the left lane when it is safe to do so (see also Rules 267 and 268).
Be aware of emergency services, traffic officers, recovery workers and other people or vehicles stopped on the hard shoulder or in an emergency area. If you are driving in the left lane, and it is safe to do so, you should move into the adjacent lane to create more space between your vehicle and the people and stopped vehicles.

Source note (app): Rule 264 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 263: Unless directed to do so by a police or traffic officerThe rule before this one Rule 265: The right-hand lane of a motorway with three or more lanes MUST NOT be…The rule after this one

Lane discipline

3 rules

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

Rule 264: Keep in the left lane unless overtakingIf you are overtaking, you should return to the left lane when it is safe to do so (see also Rules 267 and 268).Rule 265: The right-hand lane of a motorway with three or more lanes MUST NOT be…used (except in prescribed circumstances) if you are driving any vehicle drawing a trailer a goods vehicle with a…Rule 266: Approaching a junctionLook well ahead for signals or signs. Direction signs may be placed over the road.

Motorways

Rules 253 to 274

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

General2 rules Motorway signals4 rules Joining the motorway (rule 259)1 rule On the motorway4 rules Lane discipline3 rules Overtaking2 rules Hard shoulder (rule 269)1 rule Stopping3 rules Leaving the motorway2 rules

All of MotorwaysRules 253 to 274 on one page Road signs and markingsEvery sign this rule refers to, each one on a page you can link to.