Highway Driving Rules: 7 Important Rules Indian Drivers Should Know

Driving on a highway requires a different approach compared with navigating through city roads. Higher speeds, multiple lanes, heavy vehicles, changing weather and sudden traffic situations can leave little room for error.

The Motor Vehicles (Driving) Regulations, 2017 lay down several rules covering overtaking, merging, speed, safe distance and driving through tunnels. However, many of these requirements are often overlooked by motorists. Here are seven important highway-driving rules that every driver should know.

1. Maintain a Safe Distance From the Vehicle Ahead

Following another vehicle too closely can leave insufficient time to react if the vehicle ahead suddenly slows down or stops. The regulations require drivers to maintain enough distance based on traffic conditions so that they can stop safely when necessary.

The required gap should be increased further during rainfall, storms and other adverse weather conditions. At highway speeds, maintaining sufficient distance becomes particularly important because stopping takes more time and space.

2. Follow the Rules When Overtaking

Overtaking is generally required to be done from the right side, although the regulations provide specific exceptions for safely passing on the left on multi-lane roads and in certain other situations.

Drivers must not overtake when the traffic situation is unclear, across continuous solid lane markings or where signs prohibit the manoeuvre. Overtaking is also restricted at bends and locations where the road ahead is not clearly visible, as well as at junctions, intersections, pedestrian crossings, narrow sections and marked school, hospital or construction zones.

The driver should signal the intention to overtake and return to the left side of the road as soon as it is safe to do so.

3. Do Not Speed Up When Another Vehicle Is Overtaking

A driver being overtaken should not accelerate to prevent the other vehicle from passing. The regulations specifically state that the vehicle being overtaken must not increase its speed or obstruct the overtaking vehicle’s safe return to the left lane.

Maintaining a steady speed and allowing the other vehicle to complete the manoeuvre safely helps avoid unnecessary conflicts and dangerous high-speed situations on the highway.

4. Give Way When Joining a Highway

Drivers entering a National Highway, State Highway or Major District Road from another road must give way to traffic already travelling on that road.

Where an acceleration or merging lane is available, drivers should use it to build up speed before joining the traffic. They should also check the rear-view and side-view mirrors and signal their intention before and while merging.

Simply identifying a gap and moving into fast-moving traffic without checking properly can create a dangerous situation.

5. Reduce Speed During Rain, Fog and Severe Weather

A highway’s posted speed limit does not mean that drivers should always travel at that speed. The regulations require motorists to remain in control of their vehicles while considering road conditions, traffic, visibility, weather and the condition of the vehicle and its load.

During fog, rainfall, snowfall, storms or desert winds, drivers must reduce speed enough to ensure they can stop within the distance they can see ahead. The safe following distance should also be increased during adverse weather.

6. Follow Special Rules Inside Tunnels

Tunnels have their own safety requirements. Drivers must switch on dipped headlights before entering a tunnel.

Overtaking, making a U-turn or reversing inside a tunnel is prohibited. Drivers should also not stop or park inside a tunnel unless it is absolutely unavoidable.

If stopping becomes unavoidable, the driver must switch on the hazard warning lights and place reflective warning triangles 20 metres in front of and behind the vehicle

, as specified in the regulations.

7. Treat the Speed Limit as a Maximum, Not a Target

Highway drivers sometimes assume that travelling at the posted maximum speed is always appropriate. However, the regulations require drivers to choose a speed that allows them to remain in control while taking road conditions, traffic, visibility, weather and the vehicle itself into account.

For example, if heavy rain significantly reduces visibility, travelling at the maximum permitted speed may not allow a driver to stop safely within the visible distance. The rules specifically require lower speeds during adverse weather conditions. At the same time, drivers must not exceed the applicable maximum speed limit.

Following highway rules is not only about avoiding penalties. Maintaining a safe distance, overtaking correctly, merging carefully, adjusting speed to conditions and taking extra precautions in tunnels can reduce risks for everyone using the road.

Disclaimer

This article is intended for general road-safety information and does not constitute legal advice. The rules and regulations referred to above are based on the Motor Vehicles (Driving) Regulations, 2017. Drivers should follow applicable traffic signs, instructions from authorities and the latest laws and regulations in force.:::