Rule 105 (Signals (rules 103 to 106)) You MUST obey signals given by police officers, traffic officers, traffic wardens (see ‘Signals by authorised persons’) and signs used by school crossing patrols. Laws RTRA sect 28, RTA 1988 sect 35, TMA sect 6 & FTWO art 3
Highway Code · Rule 105
Highway Code Rule 105
General rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders (103 to 158). A legal requirement (MUST / MUST NOT).
- General rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders
- Legal requirement
- OGL v3.0
What the rule says
Law · MUSTRule text reproduced verbatim from the official Highway Code (Crown copyright) under the Open Government Licence v3.0, see the attribution at the foot of this page.
In plain English
Stripped of the formal wording, Rule 105 comes down to one idea: rule 105 (Signals (rules 103 to 106)) You MUST obey signals given by police officers, traffic officers, traffic wardens (see ‘Signals by authorised persons’) and signs used by school crossing patrols. Because it is written with “MUST” or “MUST NOT”, it carries the force of law, ignore it and you are committing an offence, not simply driving badly.
It belongs to the general rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders part of the Code, the habits a confident, considerate driver builds until they are automatic. The aim is not to memorise the sentence word for word, but to understand the hazard it protects you from, so you apply it without having to think when it counts.
If you are learning, treat this rule as one piece of a connected set rather than an isolated fact. The related rules below sit in the same section and reinforce each other, reading them together is how the general rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders part of the Code starts to feel like common sense rather than a list to revise.
Because this is a legal rule, the consequences of ignoring it reach beyond the test: a “MUST” or “MUST NOT” breach can mean a fixed penalty, points on your licence, or in serious cases prosecution. Either way, the safe move is to build the habit early, while a driving instructor can correct it, rather than relearning it under test pressure. That is exactly what the practice routes and coaching in the DriveRoutes app are designed to help with, turning the rules below into the way you naturally drive.
Why rule 105 matters on the road
These are the foundations every other skill builds on. Solid mirror work, sensible speed and good lighting habits quietly prevent the situations the rest of the Code has to deal with.
Common faults examiners record
In the general rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders part of the Code, the faults most often written on the marking sheet tend to be the same handful. Knowing them in advance is the quickest way to drive them out of your own habits:
- Skipping or rushing mirror checks before a manoeuvre.
- Carrying an unsuitable speed for the road and conditions.
- Reacting late because hazards were spotted too close.
On the day
On the day, applying Rule 105 is about doing the safe, deliberate thing slightly earlier than feels necessary: read the situation in good time, observe fully, and act smoothly. The examiner is looking for planned driving, not perfection, and good habits formed in lessons carry you through.
Quick checklist
- Read the situation early and plan your response.
- Observe fully before you commit to anything.
- Keep your speed suitable for the road and conditions.
More from General rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders
Related Highway Code rules
- Rule 104Highway Code Rule 104Rule 104 (Signals (rules 103 to 106)) You should also - watch out for signals given by other road users and proceed only when you are satisfied that it is safe - be aware that an indicator on another…
- Rule 106Highway Code Rule 106Rule 106 (Signals (rules 103 to 106)) Police stopping procedures.
- Rule 103Highway Code Rule 103Rule 103 (Signals (rules 103 to 106)) Signals warn and inform other road users, including pedestrians (see ‘Signals to other road users), of your intended actions.
- Rule 107Highway Code Rule 107Rule 107 (Other stopping procedures (rules 107 to 112)) Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency officers have the power to stop vehicles on all roads, including motorways and trunk roads.
- Rule 108Highway Code Rule 108Rule 108 (Other stopping procedures (rules 107 to 112)) Traffic officers have powers to stop vehicles on most motorways and some ‘A’ class roads, in England and Wales.
- Rule 109Highway Code Rule 109Rule 109 (Other stopping procedures (rules 107 to 112)) Traffic light signals and traffic signs.
Rule 105, your questions
Rule 105 (Signals (rules 103 to 106)) You MUST obey signals given by police officers, traffic officers, traffic wardens (see ‘Signals by authorised persons’) and signs used by school crossing patrols. It is a legal requirement, it uses “MUST” or “MUST NOT”, so breaking it is a criminal offence that can mean a fine, penalty points, or disqualification.
DriveRoutes is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).