Rule 96 (Alcohol and drugs (rules 95 to 96)) You MUST NOT drive under the influence of drugs or medicine. For medicines, check with your doctor or pharmacist and do not drive if you are advised that you may be impaired. You MUST NOT drive if you have illegal drugs or certain medicines in your blood above specified limits. It is highly dangerous so never take illegal drugs if you intend to drive; the effects are unpredictable, but can be even more severe than alcohol and result in fatal or serious road crashes. Illegal drugs have been specified at very low levels so even small amounts of use could be above the specified limits. The limits for certain medicines have been specified at higher levels, above the levels generally found in the blood of patients who have taken normal therapeutic doses. If you are found to have a concentration of a drug above its specified limit in your blood because you have been prescribed or legitimately supplied a particularly high dose of medicine, then you can raise a statutory medical defence, provided your driving was not impaired by the medicine you are taking. Law RTA 1988 sects 4 & 5
Highway Code Rule 96
Rules for drivers and motorcyclists (89 to 102). A legal requirement (MUST / MUST NOT).
- Rules for drivers and motorcyclists
- 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 96 comes down to one idea: rule 96 (Alcohol and drugs (rules 95 to 96)) You MUST NOT drive under the influence of drugs or medicine. 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 rules for drivers and motorcyclists 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 rules for drivers and motorcyclists 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 96 matters on the road
Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders have little protection in a collision, so a moment of inattention from a driver can cause serious harm. Anticipating and giving them room is one of the clearest signs of a safe, considerate driver.
Common faults examiners record
In the rules for drivers and motorcyclists 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:
- Passing cyclists or horses too closely or too fast.
- Failing to anticipate a pedestrian stepping out near a crossing or parked cars.
- Not giving way at a crossing when someone is clearly waiting.
On the day
Imagine approaching a cyclist on a narrow stretch during the drive. Applying Rule 96 means easing off early, holding back until you can see it is genuinely safe, then passing wide and slow before returning to your line. The examiner is watching for exactly that anticipation, not a squeeze past at speed.
Quick checklist
- Scan ahead for pedestrians, cyclists and riders well before you reach them.
- Give them room and time, pass wide and slow.
- Be ready to stop at crossings and side roads.
More from Rules for drivers and motorcyclists
Related Highway Code rules
- Rule 95Highway Code Rule 95Rule 95 (Alcohol and drugs (rules 95 to 96)) Do not drink and drive as it will seriously affect your judgement and abilities.
- Rule 97Highway Code Rule 97Rule 97 (Before setting off (rule 97)) Before setting off.
- Rule 94Highway Code Rule 94Rule 94 (Fitness to drive (rules 90 to 94)) At night or in poor visibility, do not use tinted glasses, lenses or visors if they restrict your vision.
- Rule 98Highway Code Rule 98Rule 98 (Vehicle towing and loading (rule 98)) Before towing.
- Rule 93Highway Code Rule 93Rule 93 (Fitness to drive (rules 90 to 94)) Slow down, and if necessary stop, if you are dazzled by bright sunlight.
- Rule 99Highway Code Rule 99Rule 99 (Seat belts and child restraints (rules 99 to 102)) You MUST wear a seat belt in cars, vans and other goods vehicles if one is fitted (see table below).
Rule 96, your questions
Rule 96 (Alcohol and drugs (rules 95 to 96)) You MUST NOT drive under the influence of drugs or medicine. 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).