Highway Code

The Highway Code is a code of conduct and not a digest of traffic laws. It lays stress on the responsibilities of road users towards each other.

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Road traffic requires the co-operation of all road users for its smooth and efficient operation. This Highway Code tells you how you can co-operate with other road users in reducing the number of accidents.

Always be considerate, courteous, vigilant and sober. Remember that alcohol reduces the alertness of the driver and often the sense of caution. Other road users too must always be sober, particularly cyclists and pedestrians. Many fatal accidents are caused by negligence, lack of consideration for others and the influence of alcohol.

Study and understand the traffic signals and traffic signs set out in this Code and the Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules (R 33), and use them or obey them, as the case may be.

Read this Highway Code, study it and understand it, and then pass on your knowledge to others, especially to children.

Do not let your dog stray. When you take it for a walk, or when it is in your car, keep it under close control.

Make sure that the road is clear before you allow, or take, animals on to the road.

When leading an animal on the road, always place yourself between it and the traffic, and keep the animal to the edge of the road.

When turning, give way to through traffic and to pedestrians who are crossing.

Signals given by police officers directing traffic take precedence over those conveyed by road signs, traffic light signals, road markings and traffic regulations.

Before doing any of the following, give a clear signal and in good time to let other road users know of your intention:

The following are common causes of traffic accidents:

The Highway Code is a code of conduct and not a digest of traffic laws. It lays stress on the responsibilities of road users towards each other.

Road traffic requires the co-operation of all road users for its smooth and efficient operation. This Highway Code tells you how you can co-operate with other road users in reducing the number of accidents.

Always be considerate, courteous, vigilant and sober. Remember that alcohol reduces the alertness of the driver and often the sense of caution. Other road users too must always be sober, particularly cyclists and pedestrians. Many fatal accidents are caused by negligence, lack of consideration for others and the influence of alcohol.

Study and understand the traffic signals and traffic signs set out in this Code and the Road Traffic (Traffic Signs) Rules (R 33), and use them or obey them, as the case may be.

Read this Highway Code, study it and understand it, and then pass on your knowledge to others, especially to children.

If there is no footpath and you have to walk along the road, then walk as close as possible to the edge of the road. Avoid using any mobile communication device while walking along the road.

If you walk on an unlit or dimly lit road at night, always wear or carry something light-coloured or reflective. This will help to make you more visible to motorists.

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Where a pedestrian crossing is available, always use the pedestrian crossing to cross the road. Where a pedestrian crossing is not available, always cross the road by the shortest possible route, which is from one side to the other. Do not risk death or injury by trying to cross at other places in heavy traffic. You must also obey the traffic signs and traffic lights.

While crossing any road, make sure you have a clear view of the road both ways. Take extra care if your view is limited by stationary vehicles or other obstruction. Before crossing, practise the kerb drill for crossing the road mentioned in paragraph 13.

Avoid using any mobile communication device while crossing any road.

Before you risk crossing the road in front of an approaching motor vehicle remember that although you could stop almost immediately, a motor vehicle would have to travel a considerable distance before it stops. Be aware that the stopping distance of a moving vehicle varies with the speed of the vehicle, the distance travelled by the vehicle when a driver reacts, and the braking distance of the vehicle (refer to paragraph 69).

In rainy weather do not rush across the street with your head down, or with an umbrella obscuring your view.

Teach children the kerb drill for crossing the road, which is “look right, look left, then look right again, and if the road is clear, quick march”.

Do not follow other pedestrians blindly without yourself checking that it is safe to cross.

Do not step onto a pedestrian crossing until approaching vehicles have come to a complete stop. When crossing at a pedestrian crossing, be alert for vehicles being driven inconsiderately and without care or attention. If possible, make eye contact with drivers to ensure that they are aware of your presence.

Take extra care at night. Remember that unless a pedestrian crossing is floodlit, it may not show up very clearly. On rainy nights the markings may be almost invisible to an approaching driver.

When you have stepped off the kerb on to a pedestrian crossing you have the right of way but allow approaching vehicles ample time to give way, especially if the road is wet.

Do not stand on the pavement at a pedestrian crossing if you do not intend to cross the road.

Once you are on the pedestrian crossing, look right and left as you cross, because a driver may not have seen you.

Where a pedestrian crossing has a central refuge, each half is a separate crossing and you should treat it as such.

If there is a choice between using a bicycle crossing or a pedestrian crossing to cross a road, use the pedestrian crossing.

When crossing the road at junctions, look out for vehicles negotiating the corner.

At a light controlled crossing, wait on the footway until the traffic, in front of which you intend to cross, has come to a standstill.

If traffic lights have a “green man” signal, do not cross until the signal appears. If possible, make eye contact with drivers to ensure that they are aware of your presence.

Pedestrian signals portray ‘a standing red man’ and a ‘walking green man’.(1) When the ‘walking green man’ is lighted up, you may cross.(2) When the ‘walking green man’ starts flickering, it means that the light will change soon, so —

When push-buttons are provided on the traffic signal pole, push the button if you want the ‘green man’ to appear and wait until the ‘green man’ appears before crossing.

Do not cross the road against a signal to stop given by a police officer controlling traffic.

Where there is a pedestrian overpass or an underpass, you must make use of it. Pedestrian overpasses and underpasses are built for your safety and must always be used when crossing the road.

Do not get on or off a bus while it is moving, or when it is not at a bus stop. Do not step out suddenly from behind a stationary or slowly moving bus. If you want to get on a bus at a bus stop, give a clear signal for it to stop. Do not step onto the road until it has stopped.

Always ride on the left-hand edge of a roadway. Allow other traffic to overtake you safely. Keep a straight course and avoid sudden swerves.

Ride in a single file when possible.

Do not swerve in and out of vehicles in traffic. When traffic is slow, keep your place and do not attempt to get in front of the other vehicles by weaving in and out of the narrow spaces between them.

Keep a safe distance from the rear of a motor vehicle (especially when riding behind a moving vehicle) so as to avoid collision if the vehicle in front stops suddenly.

When riding, maintain awareness of traffic.

Slow down and look out for other road users when approaching road accesses, bends, junctions, and crossings, or when passing a parked motor vehicle. When passing a parked motor vehicle, beware of the vehicle door opening. Allow a margin of safety when passing.

Do not squeeze between a bus at a bus stop and the bus stop kerb.

Avoid staying close to the rear of a turning motor vehicle or squeezing between the turning vehicle and the road kerb.

If a hill is so steep that the bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle or recumbent device you are riding on wobbles before you reach the top, get off and walk with the bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle or recumbent device. Keep your cycling speed under control on downhill roads. If you travel too fast, you will not be able to stop in time in an emergency.

Do not hold on to the back or side of motor vehicles.

Check that your bicycle’s, three-wheeled pedal cycle’s or recumbent device’s front and back lights, brakes, tyres and chain are in safe working condition before setting off. Check the height of the bicycle’s, three-wheeled pedal cycle’s or recumbent device’s handlebars and seat. If you are unable to touch the ground with your foot on either side of the bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle or recumbent device, your seat is too high and you will not have full control of the bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle or recumbent device when coming to a sudden stop in an emergency.

You must switch on your bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle or recumbent device lights at night or when visibility is low. Your bicycle’s, three-wheeled pedal cycle’s or recumbent device’s front light must show a white light, and the rear of your bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle or recumbent device must display a red light or be affixed with a red reflector. The front white light and the rear red light or rear red reflector (as the case may be) must be visible from a reasonable distance. If you ride at night, wear light-coloured clothing. This will help drivers of other vehicles and pedestrians to see you clearly.

Keep both hands on the handlebars of your bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle or recumbent device. When signalling your intention to change direction or make a turn, do so ahead of time and return your hand to the handlebars, before you actually start to turn.

Do not carry anything in your arm that may interfere with the proper control of your bicycle, three-wheeled pedal cycle or recumbent device.

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Always use the safest route, and keep out of heavy traffic as much as possible.

Always obey the law and observe all traffic rules. Never ignore road signs.

Pedal cyclists, riders of power-assisted bicycles or personal mobility devices, and drivers of mobility scooters or motorised wheelchairs must use a bicycle crossing, if there is a choice between using a bicycle crossing or a pedestrian crossing.

Pedal cyclists, riders of power-assisted bicycles or personal mobility devices, and drivers of mobility scooters or motorised wheelchairs should only cross a pedestrian crossing, bicycle crossing, zebra crossing or informal crossing, or the entrance or exit to a car park, at walking speed.

Do not ride a personal mobility device (other than a three-wheeled pedal cycle or recumbent device), or drive a mobility scooter or a motorised wheelchair, on any road.

Before you drive any motor vehicle on the road for which a driving licence is required, you must have a valid driving licence authorising you to drive that motor vehicle, and be covered by valid insurance in respect of that motor vehicle.

Before you move off, look around, even though you may have looked in your mirror, to see that no one is about to overtake you. Give the proper signal before moving off, and only move off when you can do so safely and without inconvenience to other road users. Give way to passing and overtaking vehicles.

Do not exceed legal speed limits. Always obey the “Reduce Speed Now” sign.

Adjust your speed to the conditions of the road on which you are travelling. Such adjustment will enable you to stop in any emergency without skidding or losing control.

A good driver automatically reduces his speed when —

Do not drive, stop or park your motor vehicle on a full‑day bicycle lane at any time or a part‑day bicycle lane at any time during its operating hours.

When driving along, do not hog the middle of the road. Keep well to the left and as near as practicable to the edge of the road (including on dual carriageways) unless ––

You must not cross the centre line at bends, near the crest of a rise or anywhere else where you cannot clearly see the road ahead.

Where continuous double white lines are painted on a road to separate traffic flowing in opposite directions, you may not overtake at the double white lines unless you keep entirely to the left of such lines.

Never cross double white lines. Making a U-turn or a right turn is not allowed on a road where such lines are painted.

Never cross a single continuous or broken white line along the middle of the road unless you can see that the road ahead is clear.Lane Discipline

You must obey the directions indicated by arrows or words marked in the lanes. See illustration above. You must not change lanes so suddenly as to inconvenience or endanger other traffic. Signal early before changing lanes and plan your route well.

In traffic hold-ups, do not “jump the queue”.

Well before you reach a junction, make sure that you are in the appropriate lane.

On a two-lane carriageway, keep to the left-hand lane except when overtaking.

On a three-lane carriageway, you may keep to the central lane when the left-hand lane is occupied by slower moving vehicles. The outer (right-hand) lane is for overtaking only; do not stay in it longer than necessary after overtaking vehicles in the centre lane.

Never overtake unless you can do so without danger to yourself or others. Be specially careful at night, and in heavy rain and mist, as it is more difficult to judge speed and distance at such times.

This rule does not apply —

Return to the appropriate lane on the road as soon as practicable after overtaking, but do not cut in sharply in front of the vehicle you have just overtaken.

Do not overtake when you are at, or when you are approaching —

Do not overtake —

When being overtaken, never increase speed to prevent another driver from passing.

Do not make a U-turn at any road intersection, junction or any opening in a road divider unless permitted to do so by a traffic sign.

To be able to adjust your speed so that you can stop within the space between you and the vehicle in front, you must allow at least one car length for every 16 km/h of your speed.

Watch for the stop light on the car in front and the traffic ahead of the car in front.

Be aware that the stopping distance of a moving vehicle consists of the distance travelled by the vehicle when a driver reacts, and the braking distance of the vehicle.

When approaching a junction, you must observe the following:

When approaching a junction with a major road, slow down gradually and give way to traffic on the major road. Where there is a “STOP” sign, stop at the major road.

Where there are no traffic lights, give way signs or stop signs, give way to all traffic on your right, including cyclists. See illustrations in paragraph 69A.

At a junction look right, then left, then right again. Do not move off until you are sure that it is safe to do so.

Well before you turn right at a junction, take full account of the position and movement of traffic behind you. Signal your intention early, and drive cautiously towards the centre of the junction. Give way to approaching vehicles and crossing pedestrians adjacent to you. Wait until it is safe to cross or wait for the green arrow signal to appear. Turn swiftly to the correct lane, keeping a look-out for pedestrians crossing at the junction.

If you intend to turn left, keep to the left, signal in good time, and do not swing out to the right either before or after making the turn.

When turning left or right, drivers must always give way to vehicles going straight on and to pedestrians.

Slow down when approaching a roundabout, and give way to traffic on your right. Remember — you must always give way to traffic approaching from your right. The general rule is that — traffic from Lane A in this illustration goes to ‘A’; traffic from Lane B goes to ‘B’; and traffic from Lane C goes to ‘C’.If, however, you find your correct lane overcrowded, you may use another lane to reach your destination: Provided that —

Pedestrians, pedal cyclists, riders of power-assisted bicycles or personal mobility devices, and drivers of mobility scooters or motorised wheelchairs have the right of way on pedestrian crossings.

When approaching a pedestrian crossing slow down and do not overtake other vehicles.

When approaching a pedestrian crossing always —

At a pedestrian crossing controlled by light signals or by a policeman, give way to pedestrians, pedal cyclists, riders of power-assisted bicycles or personal mobility devices, and drivers of mobility scooters or motorised wheelchairs who are crossing when the signal to stop is given.

When a school patrol sign is extended at a pedestrian crossing, vehicles travelling in both directions must stop and remain stationary until the whole crossing is clear and the sign has been removed.

Watch for the pedestrian, pedal cyclist, rider of a power-assisted bicycle or personal mobility device, or driver of a mobility scooter or motorised wheelchair who comes out suddenly from behind stationary vehicles and other obstructions. Be very careful near schools and bus stops. When turning at a road junction, give way to pedestrians, pedal cyclists, riders of power-assisted bicycles or personal mobility devices, and drivers of mobility scooters or motorised wheelchairs who are crossing.

When driving (especially on any road without a path beside it) —

Before you reverse make sure that there are no children or other pedestrians or obstructions in the blind area behind you.

Do not reverse from a side road onto a main road.

If your view to the rear is restricted, get help when reversing.

Keep a watch on the traffic behind you by checking your mirror every 5 to 10 seconds while driving along.

Well before you change direction, overtake or stop —

Everytime you intend to turn, stop or slow down, give the correct signal. Signal in good time and maintain the signal long enough to enable others to anticipate your movement. Make sure that your direction indicator gives the signal intended, and that it is cancelled immediately after use.

Hand signals are given not only for the benefit of following traffic but also for oncoming traffic, traffic waiting in side streets and pedestrians. Most cars today have signalling devices but in broad daylight hand signalling is more readily seen and understood. Do not allow passengers to give hand signals. See that children do not hold their arms or dangle toys out of the windows of the car, for their arms or toys may be mistaken for hand signals. It is also dangerous for children to do this.

Do not park (which means to bring a motor vehicle to a stationary position and cause it to wait for any purpose) or let your vehicle stand —

(ia)where it will obscure a traffic sign or obstruct any entrance;

Before opening the door of a vehicle make sure that it will not endanger or inconvenience anybody on the road or footpath. Get out on the side nearest to the kerb whenever it is possible.

When you have to stop, pull in as close as possible to the edge of the road. This applies especially to drivers of buses when setting down or picking up passengers.

Do remember that you are not allowed to leave any broken-down or wrecked vehicle on any public road. If your vehicle breaks down on the road, push it into a break down bay if there is one, otherwise push it as close to the side of the road as possible and arrange for it to be towed away immediately so as not to cause obstruction to the free flow of traffic.

You must drive with your headlights on at night (between 7.00 p.m. and 7.00 a.m. the following day).

Use dipped headlights at night in built-up areas where the street lighting is poor, or during rainy weather.

On unlit or dimly lit roads always use your headlights. When meeting other vehicles and cyclists, dip your headlights. If you are dazzled by the lights of another vehicle, slow down and stop if necessary.

When driving behind another vehicle, dip your headlights.

In daytime whenever visibility is poor or if it is raining switch on your lights. This will enable other road users to see you.

It is advisable when parking in unlit or poorly lit roads at night to leave your side or parking lights on.

Drivers of large vehicles must always —

Any goods vehicle which has an open deck for the carriage of goods and is to be used to carry any person on the floor of the vehicle must comply with the applicable requirements in the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Construction and Use) Rules (R 9). Persons carried in a goods vehicle with an open deck for the carriage of goods must be seated in accordance with the Road Traffic (Carriage of Persons in Goods Vehicles) Rules 2010 (G.N. No. S 663/2010).

All vehicles must be properly maintained to minimise the emission of smoke.

All vehicles must be properly maintained to eliminate excessive noise.

For safety, you must maintain your vehicle in a roadworthy condition. This includes the following:

Sounding your horn when driving is unnecessary, except to warn other road users to avoid an imminent accident or during an emergency. Horns used must not produce an unduly harsh, shrill, loud or multi‑tone sound.

You must give way upon hearing the emergency siren of any motor vehicle used for ambulance, fire brigade, military, police, customs or civil defence purposes (called in this paragraph an emergency vehicle) or seeing the flashing lights of such a vehicle. In addition, you must observe the following:

Drivers must not be distracted while driving. Do not use any mobile communication device or turn your head to talk with your passengers while driving. Children and pets must not be allowed to obstruct or distract the driver.

Reduce your speed when driving past animals, and give them plenty of room. Stop if necessary or if signalled to do so.

Always slow down when approaching any traffic lights and be prepared to stop when the traffic light turns amber or red.

Do not let your dog stray. When you take it for a walk, or when it is in your car, keep it under close control.

Make sure that the road is clear before you allow, or take, animals on to the road.

When leading an animal on the road, always place yourself between it and the traffic, and keep the animal to the edge of the road.

When turning, give way to through traffic and to pedestrians who are crossing.

Signals given by police officers directing traffic take precedence over those conveyed by road signs, traffic light signals, road markings and traffic regulations.

Before doing any of the following, give a clear signal and in good time to let other road users know of your intention:

The following are common causes of traffic accidents: