Geography & History 5º Extra unit: The highway code

1. What is the highway code?

The highway code is a set of rules, habits and practices that aim to teach us how to
circulate in safety, and ultimately prevent traffic accidents.

2. Road regulations

2.1. The objective of road regulations

 You know that the highway code is necessary to know basic rules and
recommendations necessary for guaranteeing the safety of pedestrians, drivers and
travellers.

The road regulations have precisely the objective of preventing dangerous behaviour among
the users of the public roadway, given that every small gesture we make such as looking
before crossing the road or driving without using the mobile telephone, can have very positive
effects on circulation.

2.2. The public roadway

 The space destined for the circulation of vehicles and people where the road regulations
must be put into practice is known as the public roadway. Streets, motorways and roads are
three examples of them.

Within public roadway, we have:

 Urban roadways: these are the ones that we find in the cities (streets, avenues, etc.).
On urban roadways there is an area for pedestrians, the pavement, and another for
vehicles, the carriageway.
 Interurban roadways: are those that connect towns and cities (roads, motorways, dual
carriageways, etc.). The interurban roadways have elements that we must know how to
identify such as safety barriers, the hard shoulder, lay-bys, etc.

2.3. Public transport

 Travelling by public transport, whether by train, by bus or by underground are a good way of
moving around and also help combat pollution and the traffic jams in the centre of the
cities.
 First of all, we must always have a civic attitude: avoid dangerous or inappropriate
behaviour and always lead by example. Public transport is for everyone and it is for that
reason it is important to conserve it.

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 Geography & History 5º Extra unit: The highway code

2.4. Cars and motorcycles

 In the same way as pedestrians and the users of public transport, drivers of cars and
motorcycle users must comply with a series of rules on the road.
It is very important to always wear a helmet and respect the rules of circulation, we must
use our five senses on the road, avoid distractions and comply with the basic rules such as
respect the speed limit, wear a seat belt and not use the mobile phone.

2.5. Bicycles, scooters and inline skates and skateboards

In urban areas, it is more and more common to come across cyclists and also inline skaters
and skateboarders. These users of the public roadways, as well as pedestrians and other
drivers, must get used to respecting safety rules and wearing the appropriate safety
devices for their own safety and for other people.

3. The signals

In addition to the traffic rules in order to move about safely, whatever the mode of
transport we use, it is essential to know the meaning of the traffic signals.

There are four types of basic traffic signals.

 Those of the traffic police.
 Traffic lights.
 Road traffic signs.
 Road markings.

3.1. Traffic police

 The signal code used by traffic police forms part of the signs for circulation. Generally
speaking, the traffic police are located in conflictive areas to ensure the traffic
flows during the rush hours. Additionally, they can also be found at accident sites to enable
vehicles to pass or in school zones to prevent accidents.

1-Stop
2-Proceed
3-Increase speed
4-Reduce speed
5- Allow pedestrian
to cross

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 Geography & History 5º Extra unit: The highway code

3.2.Traffic lights
 Traffic lights are signals that are formed by different coloured lights. There are two types
of traffic lights:

 For pedestrians.
 For drivers.

3.3. Road traffic signs

There are five types of road traffic sign that we can easily identify due to their shape and
colour.
 Warning signs: these are triangular with a red border. These indicate specific dangers on
the thoroughfare.
 Prohibition signs: these are circular with a red border. These indicate a specific
prohibition.
 Indication signs: these provide important information. These are square or rectangular
and come in green, blue or white.
 Obligation signs: indicate a circulation rule. These are circular with a white border.
 Priority or exceptional signs: these are called that because they are different to all the
rest. These are the signs for "Give way" and "Stop".

Warning Prohibition Indication

Obligation Priority or exceptional

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 Geography & History 5º Extra unit: The highway code

3.4.Road markings

 Road markings are signals painted directly on the road surface, the purpose of which, like the other
types of signal, is to regulate circulation and direct drivers and pedestrians. The signals may have a
meaning by themselves or may even complement or reinforce the instructions of the road traffic
signs.

Types of road markings

There are also different types of signals among the road markings:
 Longitudinal white signals: these indicate the lanes.
 Transversal white signals: such as pedestrian crossings.
 Horizontal signals: these are vertical signals painted on the floor such as a "Give way" or
"Stop" sign.
 Other markings or writing: a bicycle lane, an area where circulation is prohibited, a level
crossing, etc.

 The bicycle lane

ºmarking painted on the floor and zebra crossings are two examples of road markings that

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Geography & History 5º Extra unit: The highway code

THE HIGHWAY CODE

In order to know

ROAD REGULATIONS TRAFFIC SIGNALS

These are must be obeyed by help to

Rules and * pedestrians Order and control

recommendations * drivers the circulation
* passengers

To guarantee divided into

* Harmony Traffic Traffic Road traffic Road

* Civic awareness police lights signs markings
* Safety

On the when using

Public Public Car and Bicycles,

roadways transport motorcycle scooters and
scateboards
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