Motorway rules•Rule 269
Using the hard shoulder safely
This rule is a legal requirement
Hard shoulder. You MUST NOT use the hard shoulder for overtaking. In areas where an Active Traffic Management (ATM) Scheme is in force, the hard shoulder may be used as a running lane. You will know when you can use this because a speed limit sign will be shown above all open lanes, including the hard shoulder. A red cross or blank sign above the hard shoulder means that you MUST NOT drive on the hard shoulder except in an emergency or breakdown. Emergency refuge areas have also been built into these areas for use in cases of emergency or breakdown.
💡Example
You must not use the hard shoulder to overtake, and you may only drive on it when motorway signs show it is open as a running lane. A red cross or no sign above the hard shoulder means you must stay off it unless you have an emergency or breakdown, in which case you should use the hard shoulder or an emergency refuge area. For example, if traffic is slow and you see cars queuing, you must not move onto the hard shoulder to get past, but if your car suddenly loses power you should pull onto the hard shoulder or into a refuge area and switch on your hazard lights.
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