Traffic signsUnited Kingdom

151. Car insurance

Car insurance is financial protection for risks associated with owning or using a motor vehicle. Depending on the policy, it can cover liability for injury or damage caused to other people, as well as damage to, theft of or other losses involving the insured vehicle.

The minimum insurance required by law varies between countries. Drivers can often purchase additional cover beyond the compulsory minimum, such as collision, comprehensive, theft, fire or roadside-assistance protection.

152. First aid kit

A first aid kit is a collection of medical supplies intended for providing immediate basic care after an injury or accident. A vehicle first aid kit commonly contains items such as sterile dressings, bandages, adhesive plasters and other basic wound-care materials.

Some countries require certain vehicles to carry a first aid kit, while in others it is only recommended. The kit should be stored where it can be reached when needed, and its contents should be checked regularly so that required items remain complete and usable.

153. Fire extinguisher

A fire extinguisher is a portable safety device used to control or extinguish a small fire. Vehicle fire extinguishers are designed for fires that may involve materials, fuel, electrical equipment or other components, depending on the extinguisher type.

Some countries require certain vehicles to carry a fire extinguisher, while in others it is only recommended. An extinguisher should be securely mounted, readily accessible, suitable for vehicle use and kept in working condition.

154. High-visibility clothing

High-visibility clothing is clothing designed to make a person easier for other road users to see. It commonly uses bright fluorescent material combined with retro-reflective strips that reflect light from vehicle headlights.

High-visibility clothing is especially useful when a driver or passenger must leave a vehicle after a breakdown or emergency. Requirements vary between countries, so drivers should check whether a reflective safety vest must be carried or worn.

155. Towing rope

A towing rope is a strong flexible rope, strap or cable used to connect a disabled vehicle to another vehicle so that it can be towed. It should only be attached to towing points designed for this purpose and must be suitable for the weight of the vehicle.

Towing with a rope requires careful coordination between both drivers because the towed vehicle may have reduced steering and braking assistance. National rules can restrict where and how a vehicle may be towed, and professional recovery is safer when the vehicle cannot be controlled normally.

156. First aid

First aid is the immediate assistance given to a person who is injured or suddenly becomes ill before professional medical help is available. Its purpose is to preserve life, prevent the condition from becoming worse and support recovery.

At a road accident, first aid begins with making sure the scene is safe, assessing the casualty and contacting the emergency services when necessary. Assistance should be limited to actions the helper knows how to perform safely.

157. Concrete step barrier

A concrete step barrier is a concrete vehicle-restraint barrier with a stepped or sloping face profile. It is used along roads or in central reservations to contain and redirect vehicles that leave their intended path and to reduce the risk of entering opposing traffic or reaching dangerous roadside hazards.

Concrete step barriers may be cast in place or made from connected prefabricated sections. Their containment level, impact behaviour and permitted movement depend on the particular barrier system and installation.

158. Barriers

Barriers are physical devices used to block, restrict, guide or separate traffic. They can protect road users, close roads or lanes, control access, separate opposing traffic or shield people and work areas from moving vehicles.

Road barriers may be permanent or temporary and can include gates, boom barriers, concrete barriers, movable barriers and other restraint or closure systems. Drivers must respect barriers and must not pass them when they indicate that a road or area is closed.

159. Vehicle lights

Vehicle lights are lighting and signalling devices fitted to a vehicle to help the driver see, make the vehicle visible and communicate intentions to other road users. They include dipped-beam and main-beam headlights, position lights, daytime running lights, rear lights, brake lights, direction indicators, reversing lights, fog lights and hazard warning lights.

Drivers should use the appropriate lights for the visibility, weather and traffic conditions. Lights must be kept clean and in working condition, and lights that can dazzle other road users should only be used when permitted.

160. Street lights

Street lights are fixed lighting installations used to illuminate roads, intersections, crossings, footpaths and other public traffic areas during darkness. They improve visibility of the roadway, road users and potential hazards.

Street lighting does not replace a driver's responsibility to use the vehicle's required lights or to adapt speed to visibility. Lighting levels can vary considerably between roads, and some roads may be only partly illuminated or completely unlit.

161. Dipped beam

Dipped beam is the low-beam setting of a vehicle's headlights. It illuminates the road ahead while directing the light downward so that it is less likely to dazzle drivers and other road users.

Dipped-beam headlights are normally used at night, in poor visibility and whenever main beam could dazzle another road user. They provide less illumination than main beam but are suitable for normal driving when other traffic is nearby.

162. High beam

High beam, also called main beam, is the headlight setting designed to illuminate the road a long distance ahead. It provides stronger and farther-reaching illumination than dipped beam but can dazzle other road users if used incorrectly.

High beam is mainly useful on dark roads where there is no nearby traffic that could be dazzled. Drivers must switch to dipped beam whenever required by traffic conditions or national rules.

163. Fog lights

Fog lights are vehicle lights designed for use in conditions where visibility is seriously reduced by fog, snow or other severe weather. Front fog lights illuminate the road ahead at a low level, while rear fog lights make the vehicle more visible to road users approaching from behind.

Fog lights should only be used in the conditions permitted by local traffic rules. Rear fog lights are particularly bright and can dazzle or distract following drivers when visibility is good.

164. Front fog lights

Front fog lights are low-mounted vehicle lights designed to improve illumination of the road immediately ahead when visibility is reduced by fog, snow or heavy rain. Their beam is generally wide and directed low towards the road surface.

Front fog lights should only be used in the weather conditions permitted by local traffic rules. They are supplementary lights and should not be used unnecessarily in normal visibility.

165. Rear fog lights

Rear fog lights are bright red lights at the rear of a vehicle that make it easier for following road users to see the vehicle when visibility is severely reduced. They are much brighter than normal rear position lights.

Because rear fog lights can dazzle or distract drivers behind, they should only be used in the weather conditions permitted by local traffic rules and should be switched off when visibility improves.

166. Side lights

Side lights, also called position lights, are low-intensity vehicle lights used to make a vehicle visible and indicate its presence and approximate width. Unlike dipped-beam or high-beam headlights, they are not designed to illuminate the road far enough for normal driving at night.

Side lights are commonly used together with other vehicle lighting and may also be used to make a stationary or parked vehicle visible in darkness. Their required use depends on national traffic rules.

167. Turn signals

Turn signals, also called direction indicators, are flashing lights used to communicate a driver's intention to turn or move laterally, such as when changing lanes. They normally flash on the side towards which the vehicle intends to move.

Turn signals should be activated early enough to give other road users useful warning and should be cancelled once the intended movement has been completed. Signalling does not itself give the driver priority or make an unsafe manoeuvre permissible.

168. Hazard lights

Hazard lights, also called hazard warning lights, make all of a vehicle's direction indicators flash simultaneously. They are used to warn other road users that the vehicle or traffic situation presents an unusual or immediate danger.

Hazard lights may be appropriate after a breakdown, collision or when warning following traffic of a sudden hazard. They should not normally be used as a substitute for proper parking, signalling or vehicle lighting.

169. Dashboard lights

Dashboard lights are illuminated symbols and indicators on a vehicle's instrument panel that provide information about the vehicle's operation, systems and possible faults. They can show functions such as headlights, turn signals, fuel level, engine condition, tyre pressure, braking systems and safety equipment.

Dashboard lights commonly use different colours to indicate importance. Green or blue usually shows that a system is operating, amber or yellow generally indicates that attention may be required, and red often warns of a serious condition requiring prompt action.

170. Bicycle lighting

Bicycle lighting refers to lights and reflectors fitted to a bicycle to help the rider see and be seen, especially in darkness or reduced visibility. Required equipment and the circumstances in which bicycle lights must be used vary by country, so riders should follow the applicable local rules.

171. Bicycle bell

A bicycle bell is a small audible warning device fitted to a bicycle, usually on the handlebars, and used to alert pedestrians, cyclists or other road users when necessary. Requirements to fit or use a bell vary by country and road environment. Riders should use it as a warning device without causing unnecessary disturbance.

172. Headlight flashing

Headlight flashing means briefly flashing a vehicle's headlights to attract another road user's attention. Its permitted use and meaning vary by country and situation, so drivers should not assume that a flash grants priority or authorises a manoeuvre. Headlights should not be flashed in a way that dazzles or distracts other road users.

173. Seat belt

A seat belt is a restraint system designed to hold a vehicle occupant securely in their seat during sudden braking or a collision. It helps reduce the risk of the occupant striking the vehicle interior or being thrown from the vehicle.

A seat belt should fit firmly across the body, with the lap section positioned low across the hips and the shoulder section across the chest. It should not be twisted, placed behind the back or used in a way that reduces its protective effect.

174. Child restraints

Child restraints are safety systems designed to protect children travelling in vehicles. They include rear-facing and forward-facing child seats and booster seats that position and restrain a child according to their size and the restraint system's specifications.

A child restraint should be suitable for the child and vehicle, installed according to the manufacturer's instructions and secured correctly on every journey. Rear-facing restraints must never be placed in front of an active frontal airbag.

175. Head restraints

Head restraints, also called headrests, are vehicle safety devices designed to limit the rearward movement of an occupant's head relative to the body during a collision. They help reduce the risk of injuries to the neck and cervical spine, particularly in rear impacts.

An adjustable head restraint should be positioned so that it supports the back of the head rather than the neck and is as close to the head as practical. Drivers and passengers should adjust the restraint to their body size before travelling.