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Vulnerable Road Users
Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, horse riders, children and older drivers.
Video lesson
Slideshow
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Slide 1
Vulnerable Road Users – Introduction
Who Are Vulnerable Road Users?
As a driver, you'll share the road with people who are more at risk than you because of:
- Inexperience or poor judgement.
- Smaller size.
- Lower speed.
- Unpredictable behaviour.
Most Vulnerable Road Users
- Pedestrians.
- Cyclists.
- Motorcyclists.
- Horse riders.
Remember
Be patient and considerate, especially around:
- Children.
- Older people.
- Disabled people.
- Learner and inexperienced road users.
Key Principle
Patience and awareness save lives.
What it means
People who are at higher risk of injury — pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, horse riders, children, older or disabled people.
Why it matters
They have no metal shell to protect them. A small mistake by a driver can cause serious injury or death.
Common mistakes
- Opening your door without checking for cyclists ('Dutch reach' — open with your far hand to make you look).
- Passing horses too fast or too close.
- Not giving cyclists at least 1.5 metres when overtaking.
- Forgetting that children may run out unpredictably near schools.
Exam tips
- Pass cyclists with at least 1.5 m at speeds up to 30 mph — more at higher speeds.
- Pass horses at no more than 10 mph, giving at least 2 m.
- At zebra crossings, you MUST stop if a pedestrian is waiting (Highway Code Rule H2).
- Treat motorcyclists like cars — check blind spots, they're easy to miss.
Real driving examples
- Approaching a school at home time: slow right down, expect children to step out.
- A horse rider signals you to slow down — do so, pass wide and slow, no revving.
Key facts to memorise
- Pass cyclists with ≥ 1.5 m at up to 30 mph.
- Pass horses at ≤ 10 mph with ≥ 2 m.
- Zebra crossings (Rule H2): you MUST stop for waiting pedestrians.
Test your knowledge
10 questions, instant feedback, scored to your dashboard.
Start Vulnerable Road Users quiz