Rule 157 (General advice (rules 144 to 158)) Certain motorised vehicles do not meet the construction and technical requirements for road vehicles and are generally not intended, not suitable and not legal for road, pavement, footpath, cycle path or bridleway use. These include most types of miniature motorcycles, also called mini motos, and motorised scooters, also called go peds, which are powered by electric or internal combustion engines. These types of vehicle MUST NOT be used on roads, pavements, footpaths or bridleways. Laws RTA 1988 sects 34, 41a, 42, 47, 63 & 66, HA 1835 sect 72 & R(S)A sect 129
Highway Code · Rule 157
Highway Code Rule 157
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 157 comes down to one idea: rule 157 (General advice (rules 144 to 158)) Certain motorised vehicles do not meet the construction and technical requirements for road vehicles and are generally not intended, not suitable and not… 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 157 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 157 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 156Highway Code Rule 156Rule 156 (General advice (rules 144 to 158)) Do not park in passing places.
- Rule 158Highway Code Rule 158Rule 158 (General advice (rules 144 to 158)) Certain models of motorcycles, motor tricycles and quadricycles, also called quad bikes, are suitable only for off-road use and do not meet legal standard…
- Rule 155Highway Code Rule 155Rule 155 (General advice (rules 144 to 158)) Single-track roads.
- Rule 154Highway Code Rule 154Rule 154 (General advice (rules 144 to 158)) Take extra care on country roads and reduce your speed at approaches to bends, which can be sharper than they appear, and at junctions and turnings, which…
- Rule 153Highway Code Rule 153Rule 153 (General advice (rules 144 to 158)) Traffic-calming measures.
- Rule 152Highway Code Rule 152Rule 152 (General advice (rules 144 to 158)) Residential streets.
Rule 157, your questions
Rule 157 (General advice (rules 144 to 158)) Certain motorised vehicles do not meet the construction and technical requirements for road vehicles and are generally not intended, not suitable and not… 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.
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