Revision question · The road

How should you rejoin the motorway after a breakdown on the hard shoulder?

Revision material from the imported DVSA bank includes source-checked Lanekind learning corrections. These corrections are not newly issued official examination questions, and practice does not reproduce a live test paper.

Answer options

Build up speed on the hard shoulder while watching for a safe gap, then signal and merge safely

Move straight out into the left-hand lane as you are not allowed to drive on the hard shoulder

Wait until a vehicle in the left-hand lane signals to you that it's safe to rejoin

Keep your hazard lights flashing until you have safely rejoined the carriageway

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Build up speed on the hard shoulder while watching for a safe gap, then signal and merge safelyThis was the right answer

When safe to rejoin from a hard shoulder after a breakdown, build up speed while checking for a safe gap. Watch for traffic moving from another lane into the left lane, then signal and merge safely. This is different from an emergency area, where you must use the telephone and follow the operator’s advice before rejoining.

Reviewed reading for this question

Rule 278Highway Code rule · Use the emergency-area telephone and follow instructions before leaving it; hard-shoulder rejoining requires building speed while checking for a safe gap.

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