When driving on a national road is it permitted to drive on the hard shoulder in order to allow faster-moving traffic to overtake?

Correct Answer

Yes; temporarily when the hard shoulder is clear and it is safe to drive there.

Explanation: On national roads; the hard shoulder is normally for the use of pedestrians and cyclists only. If you want to allow a vehicle behind to overtake; you may pull into the hard shoulder briefly as long as no pedestrians or cyclists are using it and there are no junctions or entrances nearby. In the case of motorways; however; you must not drive on the hard shoulder; except in an emergency.