Vulnerable Road Users Category (UK)

Theory Test - Vulnerable Road Users Category

Topics include:

• Animals - understanding that animals can be unpredictable and may move slowly.
  
  
• Motorcyclists - be aware of their presence on the road.
  
  
• Elderly Drivers - be aware that they may be slower to make decisions
  
  
• Children - be aware that they are particularly unpredictable on and around roads.
  
  
• Pedestrians - be aware of their actions as they cross the road.
  
  
• New Drivers - understanding that they may be more hesitant, allow for this and be patient.
  
  
• Cyclists - be aware that they may swerve to avoid obstructions and are often affected by weather conditions.

Again safety is the main concern and this should inform your choice of answers.


Vulnerable road users are:

• Pedestrians
• Children
• Older drivers
• Disabled drivers
• Cyclists
• Motorcyclists
• Animals
• New drivers

No question is going to have 'speed up' as an answer. Questions dealing with how you should interact with vulnerable road users usually require a stay behind, give plenty of room, slow down, be prepared to stop and give way type of answer.

No answer will be sound your horn, flash your headlights or wave them across.

Motorcycles and Cyclists

• Are small and hard to see. Always look out for them at junctions.
  
  
• At roundabouts, if a cyclists is turning right, give them plenty of room.
  
  
• Never overtake a motorcyclist and cyclists just before turning left.
  
  
• If you see a cyclist approach a roundabout in the left-hand lane don't just expect them to be turning left, they may go in any direction.
  
  
• When turning right check for motorcyclists as one may be overtaking you.
  
  
• When overtaking a cyclist allow as much room as you would give to a car.
  
  
• Motorcyclists wear bright clothing and often use a dipped headlight during the day, as this makes them easier to see.
  
  
• When following a slow-moving motorcyclist if you are unsure what the rider is going to do you should stay behind.
  
  
• Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable at junctions.
  
  
• On an uneven road give motorcyclists extra room as they may swerve into the road to avoid potholes.
  
  
• In slow moving traffic, if you intend to change lane you should look for motorcyclists filtering through the traffic.
  
  
• A motorcyclist may look over their shoulder when turning right because they need to check for traffic in their blind area.
  
  
• Cyclists and motorcyclists are vulnerable to strong winds which can blow them off course. On windy days always allow extra room when overtaking them.
  
  
• Cycle lanes marked with a solid white line - you must not drive or park in the cycle lane during the hours it is in use.
  
  
• Cycle lanes marked with a broken white line - you should drive or park in it only if there is no alternative, but not at times when there are waiting restrictions.

Pedestrians

• Always give way to pedestrians who have already started to cross a road. If you turn into a road and people are crossing it you must stop, wait and let them cross.
  
  
• Toucan Crossings - cyclists can use these as well as pedestrians.
  
  
• A pedestrian with a white stick and a red band is deaf and blind.
  
  
• Be patient with elderly pedestrians. Allow them time to cross the road. Be careful, they may misjudge your speed.
  
  
• On country roads pedestrians should walk towards you on your side of the road.
  
  
• At night a pedestrian who is wearing reflective clothing and carrying a bright red light is leading an organized walk.
  
  
• Children are especially hard to see. Take extra care when reversing and when traveling along roads where there are many parked cars.

Horses and Animals

• At a roundabout, if horses are ahead of you you should give them plenty of room and be prepared to stop. If they are approaching the roundabout in the left hand-lane but are signaling right, you should stay well back.
  
  
• When passing horses you should slow down and allow plenty of room.
  
  
• When passing sheep you should allow plenty of room, go very slowly, be ready to stop. If you do stop, turn off your engine and wait until theory have left the road.

Inexperienced and Elderly Drivers

Always be patient with elderly and inexperienced drivers. Expect them to react more slowly.

Other Facts To Know

• Whenever turning right always check your mirrors to make no one is about to overtake you.
  
  
• Powered vehicles used by disabled people have a flashing amber beacon, which indicates a slow moving vehicle.
  
  
• A pedestrian walking with a dog that has a yellow or burgundy coat is likely to be deaf.
  
  
• A person carrying a white stick is likely to be blind. If the stick has a red band, this means the person is also deaf.
  
  
• When approaching any pedestrian crossing be prepared to slow down and stop.
  
  
• At night, if dazzled by vehicles behind, you should set your mirror to anti-dazzle.
  
  
• Give way to buses when they signal to pull out.
  
  
• Always give way to trams as they cannot steer to avoid you.
  
  
• When elderly people are crossing the road be patient and allow them to cross in their own time.

Signs To Know

	Road marking outside a school. You should not wait or park here, as you may obstruct children's view of the crossing area.
	Cycle route ahead.
	Elderly people crossing.
	Pedestrians my be walking in the road as there is no pavement.
	A route for pedestrians and cyclists.
	Sign found on a school bus.
	With-flow pedal cycle lane.

DSA Theory Test Questions - Vulnerable Road Users Category

1	How will a school crossing patrol signal you to stop? Mark one answer. Knowledge and Understanding If a school crossing patrol steps out into the road with a stop sign you must stop. Don’t wave anyone across the road and don’t get impatient or rev your engine. By pointing to children on the opposite pavement By displaying a red light By displaying a stop sign By giving you an arm signal
2	Why should you look particularly for motorcyclists and cyclists at junctions? Mark one answer. Knowledge and Understanding Cyclists and motorcyclists are smaller than other vehicles and so are more difficult to see. They can easily become hidden from your view by cars parked near a junction. They may want to turn into the side road They may slow down to let you turn They are harder to see They might not see you turn
3	You are waiting to come out of a side road. Why should you watch carefully for motorcycles? Mark one answer. Knowledge and Understanding If you’re waiting to emerge from a side road watch out for motorcycles: they’re small and can be difficult to see. Be especially careful if there are parked vehicles restricting your view, there might be a motorcycle approaching. IF YOU DON’T KNOW, DON’T GO. Motorcycles are usually faster than cars Police patrols often use motorcycles Motorcycles are small and hard to see Motorcycles have right of way
4	You are following two cyclists. They approach a roundabout in the left-hand lane. In which direction should you expect the cyclists to go? Mark one answer. Knowledge and UnderstandingCyclists approaching a roundabout in the left-hand lane may be turning right but may not have been able to get into the correct lane due to the heavy traffic. They may also feel safer keeping to the left all the way round the roundabout. Be aware of them and give them plenty of room. Left Right Any direction Straight ahead
5	There are flashing amber lights under a school warning sign. What action should you take? Mark one answer. Knowledge and Understanding The flashing amber lights are switched on to warn you that children may be crossing near a school. Slow down and take extra care as you may have to stop. Reduce speed until you are clear of the area Keep up your speed and sound your horn Increase your speed to clear the area quickly Wait at the lights until they change to green
6	You are following a car driven by an elderly driver. You should Mark one answer. Knowledge and Understanding You must show consideration to other road users. The reactions of older drivers may be slower and they might need more time to deal with a situation. Be tolerant and don’t lose patience or show your annoyance. expect the driver to drive badly flash your lights and overtake be aware that the driver's reactions may not be as fast as yours stay very close behind but be careful
7	Ahead of you there is a moving vehicle with a flashing amber beacon. This means it is Mark one answer. Knowledge and Understanding As you approach the vehicle, assess the situation. Due to its slow progress you will need to judge whether it is safe to overtake. slow moving broken down a doctor's car a school crossing patrol
8	You should never attempt to overtake a cyclist Mark one answer. Knowledge and Understanding If you want to turn left and there’s a cyclist in front of you, hold back. Wait until the cyclist has passed the junction and then turn left behind them. just before you turn left on a left-hand bend on a one-way street on a dual carriageway
9	You see a pedestrian with a dog. The dog has a yellow or burgundy coat. This especially warns you that the pedestrian is Mark one answer. Knowledge and Understanding Take extra care as the pedestrian may not be aware of vehicles approaching. elderly dog training colour blind deaf
10	You see two elderly pedestrians about to cross the road ahead. You should Mark one answer. Knowledge and Understanding Older people may have impaired hearing, vision, concentration and judgement. They may also walk slowly and so could take a long time to cross the road. expect them to wait for you to pass speed up to get past them quickly stop and wave them across the road be careful, they may misjudge your speed
11	You are coming to a roundabout. A cyclist is signalling to turn right. What should you do? Mark one answer. Knowledge and Understanding If you’re following a cyclist who’s signalling to turn right at a roundabout leave plenty of room. Give them space and time to get into the correct lane. Overtake on the right Give a horn warning Signal the cyclist to move across Give the cyclist plenty of room
12	You are waiting to come out of a side road. Why should you watch carefully for motorcycles? Mark one answer. Knowledge and Understanding If you’re waiting to emerge from a side road watch out for motorcycles: they’re small and can be difficult to see. Be especially careful if there are parked vehicles restricting your view, there might be a motorcycle approaching. IF YOU DON’T KNOW, DON’T GO. Motorcycles are usually faster than cars Police patrols often use motorcycles Motorcycles are small and hard to see Motorcycles have a right of way
13	There is a slow-moving motorcyclist ahead of you. You are unsure what the rider is going to do. You should Mark one answer. Knowledge and Understanding If a motorcyclist is travelling slowly it may be that they are looking for a turning or entrance. Be patient and stay behind them in case they need to make a sudden change of direction. pass on the left pass on the right stay behind move closer
14	You are approaching a roundabout. There are horses just ahead of you. You should Mark TWO answers. Knowledge and Understanding Horse riders often keep to the outside of the roundabout even if they are turning right. Give them plenty of room and remember that they may have to cross lanes of traffic. be prepared to stop treat them like any other vehicle give them plenty of room accelerate past as quickly as possible sound your horn as a warning
15	You are on a country road. What should you expect to see coming towards you on YOUR side of the road? Mark one answer. Knowledge and Understanding On a quiet country road always be aware that there may be a hazard just around the next bend, such as a slow-moving vehicle or pedestrians. Pedestrians are advised to walk on the right-hand side of the road if there is no pavement, so they may be walking towards you on your side of the road. Motorcycles Bicycles Pedestrians Horse riders
16	You are reversing around a corner when you notice a pedestrian walking behind you. What should you do? Mark one answer. Knowledge and Understanding Wait until the pedestrian has passed, then look around again before you start to reverse. Don’t forget that you may not be able to see a small child directly behind your vehicle. Be aware of the possibility of hidden dangers. Slow down and wave the pedestrian across Continue reversing and steer round the corner Stop and give way Continue reversing and sound your horn
17	You are turning left into a side road. Pedestrians are crossing the road near the junction. You must Mark one answer. KKnowledge and Understanding Check that it’s clear before you turn into a junction. If there are pedestrians crossing they have priority, so let them cross in their own time. wave them on sound your horn switch on your hazard lights wait for them to cross
18	A toucan crossing is different from other crossings because Mark one answer. Knowledge and Understanding Toucan crossings are shared by pedestrians and cyclists and they are shown the green light together. Cyclists are permitted to cycle across. The signals are push-button operated and there is no flashing amber phase. moped riders can use it it is controlled by a traffic warden it is controlled by two flashing lights cyclists can use it
19	You are driving in town. There is a bus at the bus stop on the other side of the road. Why should you be careful? Mark one answer. Knowledge and Understanding If you see a bus ahead watch out for pedestrians. They may not be able to see you if they’re crossing from behind the bus. The bus may have broken down Pedestrians may come from behind the bus The bus may move off suddenly The bus may remain stationary
20	You are driving in slow-moving queues of traffic. Just before changing lane you should Mark one answer. Knowledge and Understanding In this situation motorcyclists could be passing you on either side. Always check before you change lanes or change direction. sound the horn look for motorcyclists filtering through the traffic give a 'slowing down' arm signal change down to first gear

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