The Highway Code – Road users requiring extra care
When learning to drive (and indeed long afterwards) you will encounter all manner of ways used to slow traffic down.
The Highway code gives great advice to help you…
Rule 214
Animals.
When passing animals, drive slowly.
Give them plenty of room and be ready to stop. Do not scare animals by sounding your horn, revving your engine or accelerating rapidly once you have passed them.
Look out for animals being led, driven or ridden on the road and take extra care.
Keep your speed down at bends and on narrow country roads. If a road is blocked by a herd of animals, stop and switch off your engine until they have left the road.
Watch out for animals on unfenced roads.
Rule 215
Horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles.
Be particularly careful of horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles especially when overtaking. Always pass wide and slowly.
Horse riders are often children, so take extra care and remember riders may ride in double file when escorting a young or inexperienced horse or rider. Look out for horse riders’ and horse drivers’ signals and heed a request to slow down or stop. Take great care and treat all horses as a potential hazard.
Rule 216
Older drivers.
Their reactions may be slower than other drivers. Make allowance for this.
Rule 217
Learners and inexperienced drivers.
They may not be so skilful at anticipating and responding to events. Be particularly patient with learner drivers and young drivers. Drivers who have recently passed their test may display a ‘new driver’ plate or sticker (see ‘Safety code for new drivers’).
Rule 218
Home Zones and Quiet Lanes.
These are places where people could be using the whole of the road for a range of activities such as children playing or for a community event. You should drive slowly and carefully and be prepared to stop to allow people extra time to make space for you to pass them in safety.
These 3 brilliant videos help to highlight further dangers.
Watch and share!
Read more about other road users requiring extra care, here.
Highway Code Advice from the DVSA –
The Highway Code applies to England, Scotland and Wales and is essential reading for everyone.
Information reproduced via the OGL
