The Pakistan Highway Code was last updated 20 years back. As such it is out dated and incomplete in the context of technological advances in the field of high way safety. It also does not contain any instructions for the use of motorway.

This Highway and Motorway Code (HMC) contains important advice for all road users. It is designed to prevent accidents by ensuring that we all adopt the same rules when using the road. The rules are not just for motorists; they apply also to pedestrians & cyclists. The Highway & Motorway Code is essential reading for everyone. The rules in the code do not give you the right of way in any circumstances - but they do tell you when you should give way to others. Always give way if it can help to avoid an accident or ease congestion.

Highway safety has developed over the years into a comprehensive set of rules. Observance is best achieved by making certain that the rules are seen to be both necessary and fair and that they are as straightforward as possible. The Highway Code helps to ensure that the rules are more easily understood. Most people follow the rules. For those who do not, road traffic law lays down both general bad driving offences and more specific ones aimed at particular types of behavior. Abide by the rules for your own safety and the safety of others. All road users share a personal responsibility to reduce the terrible toll of death and injury on the roads.

Pakistan Highway and Motorway Police
Ministry of Communications

FOR PEDESTRIANS
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
1. Avoid walking next to the kerb with your back to the traffic. If you have to step into the road, watch out for traffic coming from both sides. Walk on the side of oncoming traffic.
2. Where there is a footpath use it. If there is no footpath, walk on the right shoulder of the road. If there is no shoulder, walk along the right edge of the road facing the on-coming traffic. Keep close to the side of the road. Take care at sharp right-hand bends; it may be safer to cross the road well before you reach one so that oncoming traffic has a better chance of seeing you. After the bend, cross back to face the oncoming traffic. Walk in single file if possible, especially on narrow roads or in poor light.

3. Be seen in the dark. Wear something reflective. Light-coloured, bright or fluorescent items will help in poor visibility. At night use reflective materials (e.g. reflective armbands and sashes) which can be seen in headlights up to three times as far away as non-reflective materials.

4. Do not let young children out alone on the pavement or road. When taking children out, walk between them and the traffic and hold their hands firmly. Strap very young children in push-chairs or use reins.

5. You MUST NOT walk on motorway or their slip roads except in an emergency.
HOW TO CROSS THE ROAD
6. Never Allow Children out alone until they can understand traffic rules and use it properly. The age when they can do this is different for each child. Many children under ten cannot judge how fast vehicles are going or how far away they are. Children learn by example, so parents should always use the Code in full when out with children. Parents are responsible for deciding at what age their children can use it safely by themselves.
Parents should not allow small children to cross a road alone and never let the children play on or near the road.
a. Remember that it is safer to cross footbridges, islands, Zebra and Pelican crossings, traffic lights or where there is a police officer, school crossing patrol. Otherwise choose a place where you can see clearly in all directions. Try to avoid crossing between parked cars. Move to a space where drivers can see you clearly.
b. Do stop just before you get to the kerb - where you can see if anything is coming, but where you will not be too close to the traffic. If there is no pavement, stand back from the edge of the road but make sure you can still see approaching traffic.
c. Look around as traffic could come from any direction. Listen also because you can sometimes hear traffic before you see it.
d. If there is any traffic near, let it go past. Then look around again.. Listen to make sure no other traffic is coming.
e. If there is no traffic near, it is safe to cross. Remember, even if traffic is a long way off, it may be approaching very quickly.
When it is safe, walk straight across the road - do not run.
f. If you have started to cross, keep looking and listening in case there is any traffic you did not see -or in case other traffic suddenly appears.
Zebra Crossing
7. When you cross the road at a junction look out for traffic coming round the corner, especially from behind you.
8. When you are on a Zebra Crossing you have the right of way, but allow sufficient time to the approaching vehicles to give way, and keep a lookout to right and left as you cross.
9. Give traffic plenty of time to see you and to stop before you start to cross. Vehicles need more time to stop when rain or ice have made the road slippery. If necessary put one foot on the crossing, the traffic does not have to stop. But do not cross until the traffic has stopped. Do not push a wheelchair or pram on the crossing until the traffic has stopped.
10. When the traffic has stopped, walk straight across but keep looking both ways and listening in case a driver or rider has not seen you and attempts to overtake a vehicle that has stopped.
11. If there is an island in the middle of a crossing, wait on the island and follow previous rules before you cross the second half of the road - it is a separate crossing.
Pelican Crossing
12. For safe crossing of roads by pedestrian at places, other than the intersections, special signals are provided. These crossings are called Pelican crossing. If there is a Pelican crossing nearby, use it.
Do not cross at the side of crossing on the zigzag lines - it is very dangerous. At this type of crossing the traffic lights instruct the traffic when to stop and pedestrians when to cross. When the red figure shows, do not cross. Press the button on the box and wait. When the lights change to show a steady green figure check that the traffic has stopped and then cross with care. (At some Pelicans there is also a bleeping sound or voice to tell blind or partially sighted people when the steady green figure is showing.) After a while, the green figure will begin to flash. This means that you should not start to cross. But if you have already started you will have time to finish crossing safely.
13. A 'staggered' crossing should be treated as two separate crossings. On reaching the central island you MUST press the button again to obtain a steady green figure.

At Traffic Lights

14. Some traffic lights have pedestrian signals similar to those at Pelican crossings. The green figure does not flash but there will be enough time to finish crossing after it goes out. If there are no pedestrian signals, watch carefully and do not cross until the traffic lights are red. Remember that traffic lights may let traffic move in some lanes while other lanes are stopped.

Crossings Controlled by Police

15. Where a police officer, or school crossing patrol is controlling the traffic, do not cross the road until they signal you to do so. Always cross in front of them.

Guard Rails

16. Guard rails are there for your safety. Cross the road only at the gaps provided for pedestrians. Do
not climb over the guard rails or walk between them and the road.

One-way streets

17. Check which way the traffic is moving. Do not cross until it is safe to do so without stopping. In some one-way streets, bus lanes operate in the opposite direction to the rest of the traffic.

Parked Vehicles

18. In case you have to cross between parked vehicles, use the outside edge of the vehicles as if it were the kerb. Stop there and make sure you can see all around and that the traffic can see you. Do not stand in front of or behind any vehicle that has its engine running.

At Night

19. In case there is no pedestrian crossing or central island nearby, cross near a street light so that traffic can see you more easily. It is harder for others to see you at night so wear something reflective.

20. In case you see or hear ambulances, fire engines, police or other emergency vehicles with their blue, red or amber lights flashing or their sirens sounding, KEEP OFF THE ROAD.

21. Only get on or off a bus when it has stopped to allow you to do so. Never cross the road directly behind or in front of a bus. Wait until it has moved off and you can see the road clearly in both directions.

22. Take extra care at railway level crossings.

FOR ALL CATEGORY OF DRIVERS

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

Vehicle

23. You MUST ensure your vehicle is roadworthy. Take special care of lights, brakes, steering, tyres

29. You MUST NOT drive under the influence of drugs or medicines. When taking prescribed medicines, ask your doctor if it is safe to drive.

Eye-Sight

30. You MUST be able to read a vehicle number plate from a distance of 20.5 meters (67ft), which is about five car lengths. If you need glasses (or contact lenses) to do this you MUST wear them when driving.

31. At night or in poor visibility, do not use tinted glasses, lenses or visors. Do not use spray-on or other tinting materials for windows and windscreens.

Beginners

32. Learner drivers in a car MUST be supervised by someone experienced who has held a license for that type of car (automatic or manual) for at least three years and still holds one.

33. If you are learning to ride a motorcycle, scooter or moped you MUST take basic training with an experienced driver before riding on the road. You MUST NOT carry a pillion passenger, pull a trailer. Learner's should not ride a solo motorcycle with an engine capacity in excess of 125 CC.

34. All vehicles under the control of learner MUST display L-plates.

35. Do not drink and drive. Drinking alcohol and taking drugs seriously affects your driving. It reduces your co-ordination, slows down your reactions, affects your judgment of speed, distance and risk, and gives you a false sense of confidence.

Remember: you may still be unfit to drive in the evening after drinking at lunchtime or in the morning after drinking the previous evening.

Seat Belts

36. Wearing seat belts saves lives and reduces the risk of serious injury in an accident. You MUST Wear a seat belt if one is available. Basic guidelines are given in Fig-1.

37. An appropriate child restraint is a baby carrier, child seat, harness or booster seat appropriate to the child's weight.

38. Do not let children sit behind the rear seats in an estate car or hatchback. Make sure that child safety door locks, where fitted, are used when children are in the car. Keep children under control in the car.

39. You MUST exercise proper control of your vehicle at all times. Do not use a hand-held telephone or microphone while you are driving. Find a safe place to stop first. Do not speak into a hands-free microphone, it will take your mind off the road. You MUST NOT stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway to answer or make a call, except in an emergency.

40. You MUST obey all traffic light signals and traffic signs giving orders. Make sure you also know and act on all other traffic signs and road markings.

41. All signals and signs are given in Annex A to D. Give signals to help and warn other road users, including pedestrians. Give them clearly and in plenty of time. Make sure your indicators are canceled after use.

42. Watch out for signals given by other road users and take appropriate action.

43. You MUST obey signals by police officers and signs used by school crossing patrols.

BASICS OF DRIVING

Before Moving

44. Use your mirrors before you move off. Signal if necessary before moving out. Look round as well for a final check. Only move off when it is safe to do so.

While Driving

45. Keep to the left, except where road signs or markings indicate otherwise or when you want to overtake, turn right or pass parked vehicles or pedestrians in the road. Let others overtake you if they want to.

46. You MUST NOT drive on a pavement or footpath except for access to property.

47. Use your mirrors frequently so you always know what is behind and to each side of you. Use them well before you carry out a manoeuvre or change speed; then give the correct signal if you need to. Motorcyclists should always look behind before manoeuvring.
Remember: mirror- signal manoeuvre

48. Watch out for cycles and motorcycles. Two-wheelers are far harder to spot than larger vehicles -but their riders have the same rights as other road users and are particularly vulnerable. Give riders plenty of room, especially if you are driving a long vehicle or towing a trailer.

49. Do not hold up a long queue of traffic. If you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle and the road is narrow or winding, or there is a lot of traffic coming towards you, pull in where you can do so safely so that other vehicles can overtake.

50. While driving a vehicle one should not continuously talk or argue with the fellow passengers. Singing and other such actions, which may distract the attention, should also be avoided.

Littering

51. Do not throw lighted cigarettes or refuse on the road.

Speed Limits

52. Drive slowly in residential areas. In some roads there are features such as road humps and narrowing intended to slow you down. A 32 Km/h maximum speed limit may also be in force. Remember by heart the maximum speed limits as provided in law for various roads. Never exceed the posted speed limit. Where speed limit is not specified do not exceed the limit mentioned in Fig-2.

SPEED LIMITS
(May vary from time to time)

MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE SPEED LIMITS

Note: Primary - motorway, expressway, dual carriageway.
Secondary - Two lanes.
Tertiary- Signal lane, gravel.

53. On wet, muddy or icy roads; during night times and when visibility is poor, the permissible speed limit should be reduced by 16 kmh for each adverse factor or to 32 kmh whichever is higher.

A speed limit does not mean it is safe to drive at that speed. Drive according to the conditions. Slow down if road is wet or icy and in fog. Drive more slowly at night when it is harder to see pedestrians and cyclists.

Stopping Distances

54. Drive at a speed that will allow you to stop well within the distance you can see to be clear. Leave enough space between you and the vehicle in front so that you can pull up safely if it suddenly slows down or stop. The safe rule is never to get closer than the overall stopping distances shown on next page. But in good conditions on roads carrying fast traffic, a two second time gap may be sufficient. The gap should be at least doubled on wet roads and increased further on icy roads. Large vehicles and motorcycles need time to stop than cars. Drop back if someone overtakes and pulls into the gap in front of you. (Fig- 3)
Fog Code
55. Before driving in fog, consider if your journey is essential. If it is, allow extra time. Make sure your windscreen, windows and lights are clean and that all your lights (including brake lights) are working.

When driving in fog:

o See and be seen. if you cannot see clearly use dipped headlights. Use front or rear fog lights if visibility is seriously reduced but switch them off when visibility improves. Use your windscreen wipers and demisters.
o Check your mirror and slow down. Keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front. You should always be able to pull up within the distance you can see clearly.
o Do not hang on to the tail lights of the vehicle in front; it gives a false sense of security. In thick fog, if you can see the vehicle in front you are probably too close unless you are travelling very slowly.
o Be aware of your speed; you may be going much faster than you think. Do not accelerate to get away from a vehicle, which is too close behind you. When you slow down, use your brakes so that your brake lights warn drivers behind you.
o When the word 'Fog' is shown on a roadside signal but the road appears to be clear, be prepared for a bank of fog or drifting smoke ahead. Fog can drift rapidly and is often patchy. Even if it seems to be clearing, you can suddenly find yourself back in thick fog.

Winter Driving

56. Prepare your vehicle for winter. Ensure that the battery is well maintained and that there are appropriate anti-freeze agents in the radiator and windscreen washer bottle.

57. In freezing or near freezing conditions, drive with great care even if the roads have been gritted. Roads may be slippery and surface conditions can change abruptly. Take care when overtaking gritting vehicles, particularly if you are riding a motorcycle.

58. Do not drive in snow unless your journey is essential. If it is, drive slowly but keep in as high a gear as possible to help avoid wheel spin. Avoid harsh acceleration, steering and braking. You MUST use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced by falling snow.

59. Watch out for snow-ploughs, which may throw out snow on either side. Do not overtake them unless the lane you intend to use has been cleared of snow.

Summer Driving

60. Use a coolant instead of ordinary water because in excessive heat your vehicle is likely to get over heated and the engine may also seize.

61. Keep the recommended lyre pressure of the lower readings. Overheated tyres can burst leading to an accident.

62. If the engine gets heated take the following measures:

a. Stop and switch off all systems.
b. Spray / throw cool water on the radiator to bring down the temperature.
c. Don't remove the radiator cap immediately. Using a thick cloth unscrew the radiator cap slowly and without removing it allow the steam to ooze out slowly.
d. For lessening the intensity of steam coming out keep on rotating the cap till it is safe to remove it.
e. Replenish the water with the engine started & check temperature levels. Once the reading is normal, drive.

63. Don't drive at excessive speeds and minimize the load of the A.C. on the engine by manipulating the thermostat.

Consideration to Pedestrians

64. Drive carefully and slowly when there are pedestrians about, especially in crowded shopping streets or residential areas and near bus stops, parked edible's floats or mobile shops. Watch out for pedestrians emerging suddenly into the road, especially from behind parked vehicles.

65. Watch out for children and elderly pedestrians who may not be able to judge your speed and could step into the road in front of you. Watch out for blind and partially sighted people who may be carrying white sticks (white with two red reflective bands for deaf and blind people) or using guide dogs and for people with other disabilities. Give them plenty of time to cross the road. Do not assume that a pedestrian can hear your vehicle coming; they may have hearing difficulties.

66. Drive slowly near school. In some places, there may be a flashing amber signal below the 'School' warning sign which tells you that there may be children crossing the road ahead. When these signals are flashing, drive very slowly until you are well clear of the area. Drive carefully when passing a stationary bus showing a 'School Bus' sign as children may be getting on or off.
67. You MUST stop when a school crossing patrol shows a 'STOP' for children sign.

68. Be careful near a place where children have gathered to purchase things to eat or drink. Children are more interested in eatables than in traffic.
69. At road junctions, give way to pedestrians who are already crossing the road into which you are turning.

70. Give way to pedestrians on a pavement you need to cross, e.g. to reach a driveway.

71. Be prepared for pedestrians walking in the road, especially on narrow country roads. Give them plenty of room. Take extra care on left-hand bends and keep your speed down.

72. As you approach a Zebra crossing, look out for people waiting to cross (especially children, elderly people or people with disabilities). Be ready to slow down or stop to let them cross. When someone has stepped on to a crossing, you MUST give way. Allow more time for stopping on wet or icy roads. Do not wave people across; this could be dangerous if another vehicle is approaching.

73. You MUST NOT overtake or park on a zebra, Puffin or Pelican crossing, including the area marked by zigzag lines. Even when there are no zigzags, do not overtake just before the crossing. (Fig-4)

74. In a queue of traffic, you MUST keep pedestrian crossing clear.
75. At Pelican crossings a flashing amber light will follow the red 'STOP' light. When the amber light is flashing, you MUST give way to any pedestrians on the crossing. A Pelican crossing which goes straight across the road is one crossing even when there is a central island and you MUST wait for pedestrians crossing from the other side of the island. Do not harass pedestrians - for example, by revving your engine.

76. At pedestrian crossing controlled by lights, give way to pedestrians who are still crossing after the signal for vehicles has changed to green.(Fig-5)
77. When passing or meeting a procession or a
body of troops or police on the march, drive at a
speed not greater than 24 kilometers an hour.
78. Slow down near schools, hospitals and mosques.
79. Look and listen for ambulances, fire engines, police or other emergency vehicles with flashing red, amber, blue lights or sounding sirens. Make room for them to pass (if necessary by pulling to the side of
the road and stopping) but do not endanger other road users.
Buses
80. Give way to buses whenever you can do so safely, especially when they signal to pull away from bus stops. Look out for people leaving the bus and crossing the road.

Animals

81. Watch out for animals being led or ridden on the road and take extra care at left-hand bends and on narrow country roads. Drive slowly past animals. Give them plenty of room and be ready to stop. Do not scare animals by sounding your horn or revving your engine.

82. Look out for horse rider's signals and be aware that they may not move to the centre of the road prior to turning right. Riders to horses and ponies are often children - so take extra care.

83. Some roads (often called single-track roads) are only wide enough for one vehicle. They may have special passing places. Pull into a passing place on your left, or wait opposite a passing place on your right, when you see a vehicle coming towards you or the driver behind you wants to overtake. Give way to vehicles coming uphill whenever you can. Do not park in passing places.

LANES AND LINES

84. A single broken line, with long markings and short gaps, along the centre of the road is a hazard warning line. Do not cross it unless you can see that the road is clear well ahead.

85. Where there are double white lines along the road and the line nearest you is unbroken, you MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe to do so and you need to do so to enter adjoining premises, or a side road, to pass a stationary vehicle, or pass a road maintenance vehicle, pedal cycle or horse moving at 16 Km/h or less.

86. Where there are double white lines along the road and the line nearest to you is broken, you may cross the lines to overtake if it is safe, provided you can do so before reaching an unbroken white line on your side.

87. Areas of white diagonal stripes or white chevrons painted on the road are to separate traffic lanes or to protect traffic turning right. Where the marked area is bordered by an unbroken white line, you MUST NOT enter it except in an emergency. Where the line is broken, you should not enter the area unless you can see that it is safe to do so.

88. Short broken white lines divide the road into lanes - keep between them. Coloured reflecting road studs may be used with white lines - white studs to mark the lanes or middle of the road, red studs by the central reservation of a dual carriageway. Green studs may be used across lay-bys and side roads.

89. On some hills an extra uphill 'crawler' lane may be provided. Use this lane if you are driving a slow-moving vehicle or if there are vehicles behind you wishing to overtake.

Lane Discipline

90. If you need to change lane, first use your mirrors to make sure you will not force another driver or rider to swerve or slow down. If it is safe to move over, signal before you do so.
Remember: mirrors- signal manoeuvre

91. Change lane only when it is necessary and do not change more than one lane at a time.

92. At some junctions, lanes may go in different directions. Follow the signs and get into the correct

93. In a traffic hold-up, do not try to 'jump the queue' by cutting into another lane or by overtaking the vehicles in front of you.

94. Where a single carriageway has three lanes and the road marking do not give priority to traffic in either direction, use the middle lane only for overtaking or turning right. Remember - you have no more right to use the middle lane than a driver coming from the opposite direction. Do not use the right-hand lane.

95. Where a single carriageway has four or more lanes, do not use the lanes on the right-hand side of the road unless signs and markings indicate that you can.

96. On a two-lane dual carriageway, use the right-hand lane only for overtaking or turning right.

97. On a three-lane dual carriageway, stay in the left-hand lane. If there are slower vehicles than you in that lane, use the middle lane to overtake them but return to the left-hand lane when it is clear. The right-hand lane is for overtaking (or turning right) ; if you use it for overtaking, move back into the middle lane and then into the left-hand lane as soon as it is safe to do so. (Fig-6)

98. In one-way streets, choose the correct lane for your exit as soon as you can. Do not change lanes suddenly. Unless road signs or markings indicate otherwise, choose the left-hand lane when going to the left, the right-hand lane when going to the right and the most appropriate lane when going straight ahead. Remember - traffic could be passing on both sides.

99. Cycle lanes are shown by road markings and signs. You MUST NOT drive or park in a cycle lane marked by an unbroken white line during its period of operation. DO NOT drive in a cycle lane marked by a broken white line unless it is unavoidable.

Position on Road

100. Keep well to the left of the road, but give pedestrians, cyclists and other slow moving traffic sufficient room. Do Not hug the middle of the road.

Slow Moving Vehicles

101. Slow moving vehicles must keep to the extreme left of the road.

Passing

102. When passing on-coming traffic on a two lane road, both vehicles must move over to the left as much as possible. Each vehicle must be in its respective half of the road.

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