Just outside Oxford the roads change quickly. Within a few minutes you can go from a 20mph village street to a rural road at 60mph, then onto a lane so narrow that only one car fits at a time. Some of these roads appear on driving test routes from the Cowley test centre, so they are worth learning properly rather than meeting for the first time on your own.
This guide covers what makes country roads different, what the Highway Code asks of you, and some of the local roads where we practise them.
Why country roads are different
Unless signs show otherwise, the national speed limit for cars on a single carriageway road is 60mph. That is a maximum, not a target. The Highway Code asks you to take extra care on country roads, because bends can be sharper than they appear and junctions and turnings may be partly hidden.
The key rule is to drive at a speed that lets you stop well within the distance you can see to be clear. On a winding lane with hedges on both sides, that can be far below the limit.
Limits also change often. On the Horspath and Wheatley test route, for example, Oxford Road drops to 20mph through Horspath village, then Cuddesdon Road runs at 30mph before rising to 60mph outside the built up area. Watching for each change is part of what the examiner is checking.
Bends and hidden junctions
- Slow down before the bend, not in it. Brake on the straight, then drive smoothly round.
- Look for clues. Warning signs, chevrons, the line of hedges and trees, and road markings all tell you how sharp a bend is before you can see round it.
- Be ready for what you cannot see. A tractor, a cyclist, a walker or a parked car may be just out of sight.
Narrow lanes and oncoming traffic
On narrow roads, plan early for meeting someone coming the other way. The Highway Code says that on single track roads you should pull into a passing place on your left, or wait opposite one on your right.
Ladder Hill in Wheatley is a good local example. It is a 20mph narrow lane with formal meeting points, and it appears on a test route from Cowley. Approach it at a speed that gives you time to react, and look well ahead for oncoming traffic. Giving way to an oncoming vehicle on a narrow road is not a fault.
Junctions on narrow roads can have poor visibility too. The stop sign on Wheatley High Street is there because the view to the right is poor and the road is narrow, so you must stop completely and look properly before you go.
Sharing the road
- Horse riders. Slow down to a maximum of 10mph when you see a horse. When it is safe, pass wide and slow, leaving at least 2 metres of space.
- People walking. Many rural roads have no pavement. Slow down, be ready to stop, and give pedestrians plenty of room as you pass.
- Cyclists. Give them as much room as you would a car when you overtake, and only overtake when you can see it is safe. Our guide to overtaking cyclists explains the Highway Code rules.
- Animals. Drive slowly past animals, give them plenty of room and be ready to stop.
- Slow vehicles. Tractors and farm vehicles are common, and they can leave mud on the road. Be patient, and only overtake where you can see a long, clear stretch ahead.
Leave a bigger gap
The Highway Code asks for at least a two second gap to the vehicle in front on faster roads. It should be at least doubled on wet roads, and up to ten times greater when roads are icy. On country roads, a bigger gap also gives you a better view of the road ahead.
In the dark and in bad weather
Most country roads are unlit. Use main beam to see further, but dip it as soon as you see a vehicle coming towards you or catch up with one in front. Rain, fog and ice make every hazard above harder to deal with, and our guide to driving in winter and in the dark covers what the Highway Code says about each.
Country roads on your lessons
We include rural roads in our lessons, so the first time you meet a 60mph bend or a single track lane is with an instructor beside you. Our guide to the Horspath and Wheatley test route walks through the village limits, the 60mph road and Ladder Hill turn by turn, and our page on driving lessons in Wheatley covers learning in that area.
If you have already passed, Pass Plus includes driving on rural roads, and our refresher lessons can help if country roads are what knock your confidence.
Common questions
What is the speed limit on country roads?
Unless signs show otherwise, the national speed limit for cars on a single carriageway road is 60mph. It is a maximum, not a target, and on narrow lanes and bends a safe speed is often much lower.
What should I do if I meet a car on a narrow lane?
Slow down early and look for a passing place. The Highway Code says to pull into a passing place on your left, or wait opposite one on your right. Giving way to an oncoming vehicle on a narrow road is not a fault.
How should I pass a horse?
Slow down to a maximum of 10mph. When it is safe, pass wide and slow, leaving at least 2 metres of space.
Are there country roads on the Oxford driving test?
Some test routes from the Cowley test centre leave the city. The Horspath and Wheatley route, for example, includes 20mph village limits, a 60mph country road and Ladder Hill, a narrow lane with formal meeting points.
