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Rules of the Road · Verified August 2026

Driving Laws in United Kingdom

Everything a visitor needs before driving in United Kingdom — which side to drive on, the alcohol limit, national speed limits and licence requirements.

left
Driving Side
steering wheel on the right
0.08
BAC Limit (g/dL)
general drivers
70
Motorway Limit
mph
recommended
Intl. Driving Permit
for foreign visitors
Speed Limits

National Default Speed Limits

Urban / Built-up

30 mph

Rural / Open Road

60 mph

Motorway / Highway

70 mph

Note: Scotland BAC 0.05.

Defaults only — posted signs always override national defaults. Laws verified August 2026; rules change, so confirm with an official source before you travel.

Alcohol & Driving

Drink-Driving Rules in United Kingdom

General limit: 0.08 g/dL

Reaction time, judgement and night vision all degrade well below any legal threshold — the only limit that guarantees safety is 0.00. Alcohol is a factor in a large share of the world's fatal crashes, and enforcement in United Kingdom can include checkpoints, licence loss and jail.

Live Tracking

United Kingdom on the Live Map

United Kingdom has a WHO-estimated 2.9 road deaths per 100,000 people. See live accident reports and full statistics for United Kingdom.

Before You Go

Emergency Number

Save United Kingdom's emergency number before you drive — find it in our worldwide emergency numbers directory. And check your rental's tires with the tire age checker.

Nearby

Driving Laws in Neighbouring Countries

Ireland Netherlands Belgium Denmark Luxembourg Norway

Questions

FAQ

Which side of the road does United Kingdom drive on?
United Kingdom drives on the left-hand side of the road (like the UK, Japan and Australia).
What is the drink-driving limit in United Kingdom?
The general limit is 0.08 g/dL BAC. Remember: impairment starts well below the legal limit.
Do I need an International Driving Permit in United Kingdom?
An IDP is recommended rather than strictly required for most visitors to United Kingdom — but rental companies and police may still ask for one, and it is cheap insurance.
Is it safe to drive in United Kingdom?
By the numbers, United Kingdom has a WHO-estimated road death rate of 2.9 per 100,000 people (global average about 15), which is among the safest countries in the world to drive in — it ranks 185 of 195 countries from most to least deadly. Traffic drives on the left, which takes getting used to if you normally drive on the right. Most road deaths anywhere happen at night, at higher speeds and on rural roads, so plan long drives in daylight and follow the posted limits.