🛣️ Highway Rules — 2026 Updated

Saudi Highway Rules
Practice Test — 30 Questions

Q: Which side do you overtake on in Saudi Arabia?

You overtake on the left. Traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road, so passing on the left is the rule. Overtaking on the right is a traffic violation.

Q: What is the correct following distance on a highway?

A minimum of 2 to 3 seconds under good conditions, and more in rain or reduced visibility. Leave extra distance behind trucks since they block your view ahead.

Q: What should I do if my car breaks down on the motorway?

Move onto the hard shoulder, switch on hazard lights, and exit from the side away from traffic. Wait well clear of the vehicle rather than inside it.

Q: When can I overtake on a Saudi road?

Only where the centre line is broken and it is safe. A solid line means overtaking is prohibited. Signal, check your blind spot, and return to the right lane after passing.

Q: Is it illegal to sit in the left lane on a Saudi highway?

Yes. The left lane is for overtaking, not cruising. Once a pass is complete you should return to the right lane.

Overtaking, lane discipline, merging, hard shoulder rules and breakdown procedures on Saudi motorways. Prepare thoroughly for your Dallah test.

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Saudi highway driving explained

Highway questions in the Dallah test are mostly about two things: which lane you should be in, and what you do when something goes wrong. Get those right and the rest follows. Saudi motorways are fast, long and often empty, which makes the mistakes that do happen unusually severe.

Which lane should you be in?

This is the single most tested highway concept, and the one most new drivers in Saudi Arabia get wrong. Because traffic drives on the right, the right lane is the default — not the slow lane, the normal lane.

Right lane

Normal driving Where you should be by default, whatever your speed. Return here after every overtake.

Middle lane

Transition and overtaking slower traffic Not a cruising lane. Sitting here indefinitely obstructs traffic and is poor lane discipline.

Left lane

Overtaking only Move in, complete the pass, move back out. Lingering in the left lane without overtaking is a violation.

Hard shoulder

Genuine emergencies only Never for traffic-jumping, rest stops, prayer or phone calls. Treated as a serious violation.

The rule the test keeps coming back to

Overtake on the left, then return to the right. Passing on the right — undertaking — is a violation even when the left lane is blocked by someone who should not be there. Two wrongs do not cancel out on the exam or on the road.

Merging onto a motorway

The slip road exists so you can reach traffic speed before you join. Drivers who arrive at the end of a slip road still doing 60 km/h create a genuine hazard, and the test asks about this.

Accelerate on the slip roadBuild up to roughly the speed of the traffic you are joining. Do not stop unless traffic is completely stationary.

Look early, not lateCheck your mirrors and over your right shoulder while still on the slip road, so you already know where the gap is.

Signal and join smoothlyMerge into the gap at matched speed. Motorway traffic is not obliged to give way to you.

Settle in the right laneStay there until you need to overtake. Do not cut straight across to the middle or left lane.

What to do when things go wrong

Situation	Correct action
Breakdown	Move to the hard shoulder, hazard lights on, get out on the side away from traffic and wait well clear of the vehicle.
Missed your exit	Continue to the next exit and double back. Never reverse, never U-turn.
Brake failure	Downshift for engine braking, apply the handbrake gradually — not sharply — and steer toward the hard shoulder.
Tyre pressure warning	Reduce speed gradually and pull over safely to inspect. A pressure loss at speed can become a blowout.
Debris in your lane	Check mirrors, signal, change lane if safe. If not, slow down — do not swerve.
Drowsiness	Stop at a rest area and actually rest. Coffee and open windows are not a substitute.
Strong crosswind	Reduce speed, firm steady grip, hold your lane position. No sudden movements.

Reversing on a motorway

This comes up repeatedly in the test because it is both instinctive and extremely dangerous. Whatever you have missed — an exit, a turning, a junction — the answer is always to continue to the next exit. There is no situation on a live motorway where reversing is the correct answer.

Following distance and speed on open roads

Keep a minimum 2–3 second gap to the vehicle ahead, and more in rain, fog or a sandstorm.
Behind a truck, leave more than that. You cannot see past it, and debris or a tyre blowout gives you almost no warning.
Some highways post a minimum speed, commonly 60 km/h. Driving far below the flow of traffic is itself a hazard and a violation.
Dip your headlights for oncoming traffic and when following closely. Failing to dip is fineable.
On long descents, use engine braking rather than coasting. Coasting in neutral removes engine braking and can overheat your brakes.

For the numbers themselves, see the speed limits practice test — the two topics overlap heavily in the real exam.

How to revise this topic

Start with the lane table above until you can state without hesitation which lane you belong in and which side you overtake from. Then learn the breakdown and emergency table — those questions are worth easy marks because the correct answer is nearly always the calm, unhurried option. Run the quiz twice, then move on to road rules, which covers junctions and right of way.

Frequently asked questions

Which side do you overtake on in Saudi Arabia?+

You overtake on the left. Traffic in Saudi Arabia drives on the right-hand side of the road, so passing on the left is the rule. Overtaking on the right, known as undertaking, is a traffic violation.

Can I drive on the hard shoulder to avoid traffic?+

No. The hard shoulder is reserved for genuine emergencies such as a breakdown. Using it to bypass congestion is a serious violation and carries a substantial fine.

What should I do if I miss my exit on a Saudi motorway?+

Continue to the next exit and turn back from there. Never reverse and never make a U-turn on a motorway — both are extremely dangerous and are serious violations.

Is there a minimum speed on Saudi highways?+

Some highways post a minimum speed, commonly 60 km/h, shown on a blue circular sign. Driving significantly slower than surrounding traffic is treated as a hazard.

What is the correct following distance on a highway?+

A minimum of 2 to 3 seconds behind the vehicle ahead under good conditions, and more in rain, fog or reduced visibility. Leave extra distance behind trucks, since they block your view of the road ahead.

What should I do if my car breaks down on the motorway?+

Move onto the hard shoulder, switch on your hazard lights, and exit the vehicle from the side away from traffic. Wait well clear of the car rather than sitting inside it, and never attempt repairs on the traffic side.

When can I overtake on a Saudi road?+

Only where the centre line is broken and it is safe to do so. A solid line means overtaking is prohibited. Always signal, check your blind spot, complete the pass promptly, and return to the right lane.

Is it illegal to sit in the left lane on a Saudi highway?+

Yes. The left lane is for overtaking, not cruising. Once you have completed a pass you should return to the right lane. Lingering there obstructs faster traffic and is a lane discipline violation.

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Saudi Highway RulesPractice Test — 30 Questions