Awareness and Consideration to other road users

When should hazard warning lights be used?

• Your vehicle has broken down and is causing an obstruction

• On a motorway to warn following drivers/riders of a hazard ahead

• You are involved in a collision or have stopped to give assistance

These lights are for alerting other road users to something they may not be expecting

What should you do when the bus ahead of you starts to indicate that they’re pulling out from the bus stop?

• Slow down and allow the bus to pull out

Whenever possible, always give priority to buses where u can do so safely. You should also be aware of people getting off the bus

Why are indicators designed to self-cancel?

To make sure other drivers and road users are not misled.

• It’s a modern driver aid to reduce the risk of leaving the indicator flashing and misleading other road users. When changing lanes on motorways, be aware that the self-cancel may not work.

What should you do when a vehicle pulls across infront of you causing you to brake hard?

• Ignore their error and stay calm

Make sure you avoid ‘road rage’ in situations as such since other road users make occasional mistakes

What should you do when the vehicles in your lane start to slow down?

• Check your mirrors, slow down, and maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front

• Be aware of vehicles cutting in from other lanes and drop back ensuring you maintain the correct safety gap to the vehicle infront

What should you do when some cows get onto the road ahead and there’s no one controlling them?

• Stop and call the police

This is because its a developing hazard for you and other road users

When driving/riding, what should you use your mirrors for?

• Checking surroundings frequently

• Checking before signalling to change direction

Mirrors should be used first before carrying out a manoeuvre.

They should also be used before:

• changing direction

• overtaking

• slowing down

• stopping

What should you do when you approach a pelican crossing and the lights change from flashing amber to green while some elderly people are halfway across?

• Stop and wait to allow them to cross

All road users should show courtesy to pedestrians and wait patiently until they have cleared the crossing area

What should you look out for at a toucan crossing?

pedestrians and cyclists

Who/ what are most vulnerable at road junctions?

• Motorcyclists

• Cyclists

• Pedestrians

This is because they are difficult to see because of their size and can easily blend into the background or surroundings. They can also be easily hidden in a blind spot or by an obstruction.

What should you when motorcyclists swerve to avoid potholes or wet manhole covers?

• Stay behind the motorcyclist at a safe distance to allow the rider time to make a decision

They may have seen something on the road ahead that you cannot see and may ave to swerve, change speed, or direction, at short notice.

When are motocyclists more vulnerable?

• when vehicles emerge from side roads, a motorway or driveways (because they can easily be missed)

• In extreme weather (e.g: strong winds, icy or frosty conditions which affects their balance)

What should you do when you come across drivers who appear inexperienced?

• Be patient and be prepared for them to make mistakes

You should give them plenty of room, in the same way you would have expected from other drivers when you were learning.

What should you do when a bus is stationary at a bus stop?

• Watch carefully for pedestrians suddenly appearing from the front of the bus

• Be prepared to give way if it moves off

What should you do when you see a slow-moving funeral cortege ahead while travelling along a main road?

• Be patient and follow slowly behind

• If you can, consider an alternative route

Showing respect in these situations is the sign of a careful and considerate driver/rider

What could it mean when your driving/riding on a dual carrigeway and you see an amber flashing beacon ahead (in the UK) ?

• It may be a mobility scooter being used by a disabled person which has a maximum speed of 8 mph.

Amber beacons must be used by persons using a mobility scooter on a dual carriageway.

If you see a vehicle travelling ahead of you with a flashing amber beacon on the roof, what could this mean?

• It could mean that the vehicle is escorting a larger, slow-moving vehicle

Vehicles which may be very long, high, or wide, use an escorting vehicle to let other road users know there’s a slow-moving obstruction ahead. Only overtake this vehicle if it is safe to do so.

What should you do when your driving/riding along and you see a horse rider in a distance struggling to control the horse?

• Stay well back to give the rider a chance to get the animal under control or off the highway

You can make the situation a lot worse if you try to overtake them

What should you do when you come across horse and carriage taxis in tourist areas?

• Proceed with caution monitoring the situation

• Watch out for people getting in and out of the carriage

• Allow them plenty of room

• Watch out for people trying to run across the road to get to the carriage

Some of the customers may be young children who may not be concentrating on the traffic

Why should you be aware when overtaking a horse i.e: by slowing down and giving them plenty of room?

• Because horses can easily be startled by things you may not be able to see and could move suddenly to the right

What should you do when driving/riding along and can see a horse and rider in the distance?

• Give them plenty of room

• drive/ride slowly

• Check your mirror as you pass them

Only overtake when it is safe to do so and make progress gradually to keep noise to a minimum

Why is it that a pair of horses on the road do not get into single file when you come up behind them?

• The horse on the inside may be undergoing training and not experienced with traffic

It is general practice to train horses in pairs, with the experienced horse travelling on the outside

What should you do when you are driving in busy traffic and there are cyclists in front of you?

• Slow down and give them plenty of room

• Wait for a suitable gap in the oncoming traffic before overtaking

Cyclists are vulnerable road users so, you should use your skills to help keep them safe

Why should you be careful when overtaking cyclists?

• They may swerve suddenly to avoid a pothole in the road

• They may not be experienced road users and not know the rules of the road

• A gust of wind could cause them to swerve

What does it mean when there are ‘keep clear’ markings on the road?

• You cannot stop or wait at any time

This also applies to the zig-zag lines and ‘school entrance’ road markings

What should you do if you encounter oncoming traffic on a single-track road that has passing place for vehicles?

• If possible, make use of a passing place on your left or wait opposite a passing place on your right

Wherever possible, give way to traffic coming uphill

What is a developing hazard?

• Anything that causes you to change speed or direction

A developing hazard: where you’re required to respond immediately to a situation

Where might you find these markings?

• On the rear of a long goods vehicle

They are a warning of long goods vehicles or combinations of goods vehicles over 13 metres which must display this type of marking. They should also be displayed on builders’ skips that are sitting on a road

Why are the 20 mph (32km/h) zones?

its for areas where you may find a lot of children or other vulnerable road users. These zones will often be found in housing estates, around schools and playgrounds

After re-fueling, what is it important to do before moving off?

Make sure that the fuel filler cap has been re-fitted correctly before driving off.

• Not replacing the fuel filler cap could cause fuel to spill from your vehicle, endangering other road users

Is it safe to continually use a temporary push-in fuel filler cap after losing your fuel filler cap?

• No, it is there to get you home only and you must not continue to use the vehicle

If fuel spills from your vehicle and it causes an accident, you will be responsible

What should you when ur on a two-way road and the pavement to your nearside has been closed off for repairs?

• Slow down

• Be vigilant to help protect the safety of pedestrians and those working on the repairs

What should you be aware of if you are following a motorcyclist through a section of road that has been prepared for re-surfacing?

• Motorcyclist may need to swerve to avoid raised manhole covers#

• They may also need to travel much slower than you

What should you do when you’re behind a learner driver and they keep stalling their vehicle?

Be patient and wait

Why can it be difficult to see motorcyclists at junctions?

• They are easily hidden in blind spots and obstructions

• They are smaller than other vehicles

• They can easily blend into the background or surroundings

Who should give way when you’re driving on a two-way road and there is a vehicle parked on your side of the road?

• You should give way to the on-coming traffic

Whenever there is an obstruction on your side of the road, you should give way to on-coming traffic

When should you dip your headlights when you’re driving/riding on a 2-way road using ur main beam at night, and a vehicle behind has indicated its intention to pass you?

• as the vehicle comes along side you

When a vehicle overtakes at night, they will generally wait until they are alongside you before putting their headlights onto full beam. That is the cue for you to put yours onto dipped beam. Waiting until the other driver gets in front will dazzle them in their mirrors

What must you do if you’ve been using your front and rear fog lights in poor visibility and conditions start to improve and you can clearly see more than 100 meters?

• Must turn all your fog lamps off

Failure to do so can dazzle other road users. Its an offence to leave fog lights on in good conditions and you may be liable to a fine

Why is it the best practice to reverse into the driveway if you have one?

When pulling out into a road, it is much safer to drive forward as it will give you a better view of the road you are joining

What should you do when you are approaching a zebra crossing ans pedestrians are wanting to cross?

• check mirrors, slow down, and stop

Always check both sides of the crossing in case a pedestrian is nearby or waiting at the edge of the crossing

What should you do if you are following a motorcyclist and the road surface is uneven

• Allow extra room for the motorcyclist to manoeuvre sround possible obstacles

What should you do if you are waiting to emerge from a junction and a vehicle is approaching from the right with a left signal flashing?

Wait patiently until the vehicle has started to turn and you have a clear view of the road to the right

What should you do if a motorcyclist is riding slowly in front of you and are not sure what the rider is intending to do?

Be patient and wait

They may be lost and could change direction without warning

Where would you expect to come across this vehicle?

• when following a slow-moving vehicle

• when placing or picking up cones on a carriageway

What should you do when a bus is stationary at a bus stop on the opposite side of the road?

Watch carefully for pedestrians suddenly appearing from behind the bus

What should you do when you are waiting to pull out onto a main road and you see a funeral cortege coming towards you?

Show respect by being courteous and allowing the cortege to proceed as a group

What should you do when driving/riding during walking events?

• Plan your route to avoid driving/riding in areas where the event is taking place

• Be aware of slow-moving vehicles which may be escorting the walkers

What must you do if you’re driving along a road with a cycle lane divided by a broken white line?

• Keep approx. an open car door’s distance from the broken while line whenever possible

• Keep regular checks in your nearside mirror when in slow-moving traffic

What should you do when there’s a powered wheelchair user in the road ahead, travelling slowly in the same direction as you?

slow down and maintain a safe distance. Only overtake when it is safe to do so