Authorised persons

The hierarchy of traffic rules is:

1. Authorised persons
2. Traffic lights
3. Priority signs
4. Traffic rules

For example, if you see a STOP sign but the traffic light is green, you may continue because traffic lights take priority over priority signs.

Or if you come to a junction with traffic lights but a police officer is directing traffic, you must follow the officer’s instructions, even if the light is red.

In most cases, instructions are given by the police. If an officer gives you an instruction, follow it immediately and do not argue.

In an emergency, you can always contact the emergency services by calling 112.

If the police have not yet arrived, but the fire brigade or Civil Protection is already at the scene, they may also give instructions that you must follow.

If an officer raises one arm, all road users must stop. The officer will often blow a whistle to attract everyone’s attention, but the whistle itself is not an order.

If you are already on the junction, clear it as quickly as possible.

If an officer extends one or both arms, road users travelling in the direction of the officer’s arms may continue. It does not matter whether the officer extends one arm or both: the instruction is the same.

Road users approaching the officer from the front or from behind must stop.

In this example, the blue car must therefore remain stopped.

If an officer waves a red torch from side to side, the driver towards whom the light is directed must stop.

If the officer makes a circular motion with their arm, they are telling you to speed up. If they move their arm up and down, they are telling you to slow down.

Priority vehicles, such as police cars, fire engines and ambulances, can be recognised by their blue flashing lights and siren.

If you see the flashing lights and hear the siren, you must give way. This may mean slowing down, stopping, or even briefly leaving the carriageway if necessary.

If only the blue flashing lights are on, you do not need to do anything special and may continue driving normally.

There are also authorised crossing supervisors whose instructions you must follow. At junctions without traffic lights, they may stop traffic using a portable C3 road sign.

These crossing supervisors are not authorised persons.