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You, as a driver, aren’t the only person using the road. Most other types of road user are more vulnerable than you are because they’re less well protected in the event of a collision.
Make allowances for cyclists. They have every right to be on the road, but they’re vulnerable. The younger the cyclist, the more vulnerable they’re likely to be.
Allow cyclists plenty of room; they might
Look out for them particularly when you’re
They could be travelling faster than you first think, so never rely solely on a quick glance.
Don’t assume that cyclists will always adopt a position on the left of the road or use cycle lanes; it’s sometimes safer for them to adopt a more central position in the road. Don’t drive aggressively or try to intimidate them.
When travelling at low speeds, such as at junctions, cyclists are likely to be more unstable and therefore more vulnerable. Give them plenty of room.
Make allowances for motorcyclists.
Much of what has been said about cyclists also applies to motorcyclists.
They’re very vulnerable because, like cyclists, they’re much smaller than other vehicles, with a narrow profile that makes them difficult to see. They can also appear to be further away than they actually are, making it difficult to judge when it’s safe to emerge in front of them or turn across their path. However, motorcyclists travel much faster than cyclists, so situations can develop much more quickly than those involving cyclists.
Many road traffic incidents happen because drivers fail to notice motorcyclists, so look out for them when
Think once
Think twice
Think bike!
Pay special attention to motorcycles and scooters displaying L plates. The riders of these machines may be riding on the road with very little experience, so they’re particularly vulnerable.
Windy weather has a big effect on motorcyclists; they can be blown into your path, so
These small vehicles (also known as invalid carriages) can be used on the pavement and on the road. They’re extremely vulnerable when they’re on the road because of
Their small size means they’re not easy to see. On a dual carriageway where the speed limit exceeds 50 mph (80 km/h) they should be displaying an amber flashing light, but on other roads you may not have that advance warning.
Look well ahead when you see buses and coaches at a bus stop. Be aware of
Always drive carefully and slowly in areas where there are likely to be pedestrians, such as residential areas and town centres.
Be particularly careful in Home Zones and Quiet Lanes, where people could be using the whole of the road for a range of activities.
Always look out for pedestrians when
Keep your speed down when driving in an area where there are pedestrians, especially children. If a pedestrian is in collision with a car, the survival rate of the pedestrian reduces drastically the faster the car is travelling.
Several factors make older people more vulnerable.
If they have poor eyesight or hearing, they might not be aware of approaching traffic. They might not be able to judge the speed of approaching traffic when crossing the road. Even when they do realise the danger, they may be unable to move quickly, or they may become flustered.
They may also take longer to cross the road. Be patient and don’t hurry them by revving your engine or edging forwards.
Take special care around people with disabilities.
Visually impaired people may not be able to see you approaching. They may carry a white cane or use a guide dog. The guide dog has a distinctive looptype harness. Remember, the dog is trained to wait if there’s a vehicle nearby.
A person with hearing difficulties isn’t easy to identify, so take extra care if a pedestrian fails to look your way as you approach. Remember they may not be aware of your presence. They may have a guide dog wearing a distinctive yellow or burgundy coat.
Those who are deaf and blind may carry a white cane with a red band or may be using a guide dog with a red and white harness. They may not see or hear instructions or signals.
Take extra care where children might be around, particularly in residential areas and near schools and parks.
Drive carefully and slowly past schools, especially during school start and finish times. Be aware that
Children are impulsive and unpredictable. Therefore, drive slowly in narrow roads where parked cars obscure your view.
Look out for parked ice-cream vans. Children are usually more interested in ice cream than they are in traffic and they may forget to look before running across the road.
Animals are easily frightened by noise and vehicles coming close to them. You should
Give animals as much room as possible.
If someone in charge of animals signals to you to stop, do so and switch off your engine.
Be particularly careful when approaching horses, especially those being ridden by children.
As a driver you should
Be aware that at roundabouts and at junctions where a horse rider is turning right, they may signal right but keep to the left-hand side of the road (and the outside lane round the roundabout) for safety.
As you approach a horse rider from behind
Always pass horses slowly, giving them plenty of room.
Take special care when meeting what appears to be a riding-school group.
Many of the riders might be inexperienced. Horses are potential hazards and you should always take great care when approaching or passing them.
Also look out for horse-drawn vehicles and treat them in a similar way to horses being ridden.
See the Think! road safety advice about horses on the road.
http://think.direct.gov.uk/horses.html
Visit this web page for more advice on passing horses safely.
bhs.org.uk/safety-and-accidents/dead-slow
Over 2 million deer live wild in Great Britain. Increases in the deer population, combined with a rise in traffic volumes, have resulted in a large number of road traffic incidents involving deer each year.
Incidents happen throughout the year, but they’re more likely during May, and from October through to January. The risks increase around dawn and dusk, when deer activity peaks, coinciding with rush hours.
To minimise the risk of collisions with deer
Report any collisions with deer to the police non-emergency number, 101, so that a deer warden can attend. If the animal is dead, then you should report it to the local authority so they can remove it.