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Question

Difficulty: MediumSignals by Authorised Persons

You are approaching an intersection where temporary signal failures require a police officer to direct traffic manually. The officer is standing upright with their right arm raised vertically with the palm facing forward, and their left arm extended horizontally to the side with the palm facing rearwards. Which action must you take if you are approaching the officer from behind?

  1. Stop your vehicle before reaching the officerAnswer
  2. B
    Proceed through the junction with caution, as the raised arm only applies to oncoming traffic
  3. C
    Flash your headlights to acknowledge the officer and continue your journey
  4. D
    Treat the signal as an advisory warning and maintain your current driving line

Answer

Stop your vehicle before reaching the officer
Under Highway Code Rule 105 and the official reference for signals by authorised persons, a police officer with their right arm raised vertically (palm forward) and left arm extended horizontally (palm rearward) is simultaneously ordering traffic approaching from the front AND traffic approaching from behind to stop. Drivers approaching from behind must bring their vehicle to a complete stop.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the authorised person directing traffic and their combined arm signals
The police officer is raising their right arm vertically with palm forward and extending their left arm horizontally with palm rearward.
Official signals by police officers direct traffic from multiple directions simultaneously.
2
Determine which part of the signal governs your specific approach
The left arm extended horizontally with the palm facing rearwards applies directly to all traffic approaching from behind the officer.
According to the Highway Code, this specific hand position is the official signal to stop traffic approaching from behind.
3
Apply the mandatory legal duty required by the signal
The driver must bring their vehicle to a complete stop before reaching the officer.
Disobeying a signal given by a police officer controlling traffic is an offence under road traffic law.

Key Concept

Highway Code signals by authorised persons for stopping traffic from both front and behind simultaneously
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Signals by Authorised Persons

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