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Highway Code · Rule 293

Highway Code Rule 293

Road works, level crossings and tramways (288 to 307). A legal requirement (MUST / MUST NOT).

  • Road works, level crossings and tramways
  • Legal requirement
  • OGL v3.0

What the rule says

Law · MUST

Rule 293 (Level crossings (rules 291 to 299)) Controlled Crossings. Most crossings have traffic light signals with a steady amber light, twin flashing red stop lights (see ‘Light signals controlling traffic’ and ‘Traffic signs’) and an audible alarm for pedestrians. They may have full, half or no barriers.

  • You MUST always obey the flashing red stop lights.
  • You MUST stop behind the white line across the road.
  • Keep going if you have already crossed the white line when the amber light comes on.
  • Do not reverse onto or over a controlled crossing.
  • You MUST wait if a train goes by and the red lights continue to flash. This means another train will be passing soon.
  • Only cross when the lights go off and barriers open.
  • Never zig-zag around half-barriers, they lower automatically because a train is approaching.
  • At crossings where there are no barriers, a train is approaching when the lights show. Laws RTA 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD schedule 14 parts 1 and 4 Rule 293: Stop when the traffic lights show

Rule 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 293 comes down to one idea: rule 293 (Level crossings (rules 291 to 299)) Controlled Crossings. 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 road works, level crossings and tramways 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 road works, level crossings and tramways 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 293 matters on the road

Temporary layouts remove the cues drivers rely on, so the risk of a wrong-lane decision or a late stop climbs. Reading the signs early and committing to the correct lane keeps you and the road workers safe.

Common faults examiners record

In the road works, level crossings and tramways 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:

  • Choosing the wrong lane because the temporary signs were read too late.
  • Braking harshly at a crossing or signal that should have been anticipated.
  • Stopping over a marking or in a box junction when the exit is not clear.

On the day

On the day, applying Rule 293 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 Road works, level crossings and tramways

Related Highway Code rules

Rule 293, your questions

Rule 293 (Level crossings (rules 291 to 299)) Controlled Crossings. 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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