Class B theory course · chapter 6 of 22
The traffic rules and basic duties
The basic rule of consideration and care, seat belts and restraint, mobile-phone use, use of lights, signalling and the driver's duties.
The chapter in numbers
- Lessons
- 3about 13 minutes of reading
- Drawings
- 5diagrams and photographs made for the lessons they sit in
- Exam tips
- 4passages that say what the test tends to ask here
- Terms
- 3words explained where they are first used
Why this chapter
One rule sits underneath everything: be attentive and careful, so that no danger or damage arises. This chapter explains that basic rule and the duties that follow from it, who the rules apply to, and how they connect to signs, markings and right of way. Without it the rest of the theory is a list of disconnected rules.
Written against
The lessons are written against these sources, and the explanations cite them.
- Vegtrafikkloven § 3
- trafikkreglene
- Trafikkreglene
- vegtrafikkloven
- vegvesen.no
What the test asks
The practice questions for this chapter belong to one of the seven official themes of the theory test.
The mock-exam split is our own – Statens vegvesen publishes none.
The lessons, in order
- 1 The basic rule: consideration, attentiveness and cautionThe most important rule of all – to act considerately and not create danger or hinder others. 4 min
- 2 Seat belts, securing children and mobile phone useThe rules that protect those in the car: seat belts, child restraints and the ban on hand-held mobile phones. 4 min
- 3 Use of lights, signalling and the driver's dutiesMandatory driving lights, when and how you signal, and the daily duties that come with driving. 5 min
The lessons are part of full access – 149 kr for a week, 199 kr for a month. Chapter 1 is free, so you can see how the course is written first.
All 22 chapters
- 01Introduction
- 02The human in traffic
- 03The car – construction and systems
- 04Checks and maintenance
- 05The road and the traffic environment
- 06The traffic rules and basic duties
- 07Signs, signals and police directions
- 08Giving way and right of way
- 09Observation and communication
- 10Positioning and lane use
- 11Speed, distance and braking distance
- 12Junctions and roundabouts
- 13Overtaking and meeting
- 14Different roads and surroundings
- 15Light and road-surface conditions
- 16Other road users
- 17Stopping and parking
- 18Eco-friendly driving
- 19Load and trailer
- 20The driver's responsibility
- 21At a traffic accident
- 22Risk and attitudes
Read the whole chapter
Full access opens all 22 chapters, mock exams with new questions every time and the sign drill – 149 kr for a week, 199 kr for a month, no automatic renewal.
The basic rule: consideration, attentiveness and caution
Above all the detailed rules stands one basic rule: you must travel considerately and be attentive and cautious, so that no danger or damage arises, and so that you do not unnecessarily hinder or disturb other traffic. This rule always applies – even where no other rules quite fit.
What does it mean in practice?
- Considerate: you take account of other road users, especially the most vulnerable.
- Attentive: you are focused and keep track of what is happening around you.
- Cautious: you have a good safety margin and are prepared for others to make mistakes.
The basic rule fills the gaps
The traffic rules cannot describe every situation you meet. That is why the test often asks for judgement: do you see the risk early, make room, and choose a solution others have time to understand? The basic rule makes the driver responsible for more than mechanically following signs and lines.
Priority does not remove your duty to prevent an accident you can see coming.
| Word in the rule | What the driver does |
|---|---|
| Consideration | Chooses speed and position that make traffic safer for others, especially children, older people, pedestrians and cyclists. |
| Attentiveness | Actively searches for hazards: mirrors, blind spots, side roads, pedestrians and changes in the traffic picture. |
| Caution | Builds margins into speed, distance and decisions, even when the conditions legally allow more. |
The basic rule also means that it is not enough to be 'in the right'. Even when you have priority, you must avoid an accident if you can. Being right helps little once damage has occurred.
Who counts as a pedestrian?
The rules that protect pedestrians - the duty to give way at a pedestrian crossing among them - apply to more than those walking on their own two feet. It is worth knowing, because it decides which rule applies in the situation ahead of you.
- Anyone on skis or roller skis.
- Anyone using a wheelchair or a kick sledge, or riding a sled.
- Anyone leading a bicycle or moped - that is, pushing it alongside rather than riding or driving it.
- Anyone pushing a pram or a small electric vehicle, such as an e-scooter.
- Anyone using a toy vehicle.
Attentiveness: Being alert, careful and prepared in traffic, so that you avoid creating danger or damage.
Seat belts, securing children and mobile phone use
Some of the simplest rules save the most lives. Seat belts and correct child restraints are among the most effective measures we have against serious injuries, and using a mobile phone behind the wheel is one of the most common causes of inattention.
Seat belt
Set the head restraint high enough to support the back of your head – that is what protects against whiplash.
- Everyone in the car must use a seat belt where a belt is fitted – both in the front and in the rear.
- The driver is responsible for ensuring that passengers under 15 years old are secured.
- The belt must lie flat, close to the body and must not be twisted.
A correct seating position makes the belt work better. Sit upright with your back against the seat, set the head restraint high enough and pull the belt tight over hip and shoulder. Thick outer clothing, slack and a twisted belt let the body gain speed before the belt restrains it.
The belt must load the hips and shoulder – not the stomach or under the arm.
Securing children
Children must use approved restraint equipment adapted to their height and weight – a child seat, booster seat or cushion. The main rule is that children under 135 cm must use such equipment, and that it must fit the child and be correctly installed.
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| The seat matches the child's height and weight | A seat that is too large or too small distributes crash forces incorrectly. |
| The seat is firmly fitted | A loose seat moves before the belt or anchors start restraining it. |
| The belt lies correctly on the child | A belt across the neck, stomach or under the arm can injure instead of protect. |
| The airbag is considered | A rear-facing child seat in front requires the front airbag to be deactivated. |
Mobile phones and distraction
Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is prohibited. Even a brief glance at the screen takes your eyes off the road for long enough that you can drive a long distance blind. If you are going to use a phone, it must be fixed in place and operated without affecting your driving.
Two seconds looking down at 80 km/h: over 40 metres driven without seeing the road.
Hands-free does not mean risk-free. A conversation can steal attention even when both hands are on the wheel. In demanding traffic, reversing, junctions, queues and pedestrian crossings, the safest choice is often to leave the phone completely alone.
Restraint equipment: A seat belt and approved child equipment (child seat, booster seat, cushion) that holds the person in place and reduces injury in an accident.
Use of lights, signalling and the driver's duties
Good communication in traffic is based on fixed, predictable signals. When everyone uses lights and signals in the same way, it becomes easier to understand each other's intentions and avoid misunderstandings.
Mandatory driving lights
Vehicles must have lights on all day, all year. In darkness, tunnels and poor visibility, use dipped headlights; main beam where you do not dazzle others. Correct use of lights is both about seeing yourself and being seen in time.
| Light or signal | Use |
|---|---|
| Dipped headlights / daytime running lights | Normal visibility and meeting other road users. |
| Main beam | Dark road without oncoming or leading traffic that may be dazzled. |
| Horn | Only to warn or prevent danger, not to express irritation. |
| Headlamp flash | A brief warning when necessary; must not be used so others are dazzled or misled. |
Signalling
- Signal in good time before you turn, change lanes or pull out from the kerb.
- The signal must be given long enough for others to notice it, and switched off when the manoeuvre is complete.
- A signal is a warning, not a right – you must still make sure it is clear before carrying out the manoeuvre.
The signal should come before you brake or move, so others have time to interpret your plan. If you indicate only as you turn, the signal is almost worthless; others have already had to guess.
The driver's duties
- Be rested, sober and able to drive safely.
- Have your driving licence and necessary papers with you, and keep the car in a roadworthy condition.
- Follow speed limits, signs, signals and markings.
- Stop and help if you are involved in a traffic incident.
When several forms of control apply at once, follow the one highest up.
Pedestrian streets and home zones
Some streets are built for people to spend time in, not for cars to get through quickly. Separate rules apply there, and they put you firmly at the back of the queue.
| Rule | Pedestrian street | Home zone |
|---|---|---|
| Who may drive there | Only driving the signs allow, for example deliveries or access to a property | Access to the properties in the area |
| Speed | No faster than walking pace | No faster than walking pace |
| Pedestrians | Pedestrians may use the whole street, and you must adapt to them | Pedestrians may use the whole street, and you must adapt to them |
| Parking | Parking is prohibited | Parking only in specially marked spaces |
| When you drive out | You must give way to all other traffic | You must give way to all other traffic |
Parking lights
The daytime running light requirement applies to a car in motion. When the car is standing still on the road, it is the parking lights that must make it visible.
- Typical situations are darkness, fog, heavy drifting snow and heavy rain.
- If the car is in a well-lit street where it is easy to see anyway, parking lights are not required.
- Hazard lights are for when the car is a danger or an obstruction, for example after a breakdown. They do not replace parking lights for ordinary parking.
Signalling: Warning other road users about what you intend to do, most often with indicators, in good time before the manoeuvre.