Vulnerable Road User Safety Principles

This government guidance, from The Highway Code, focuses on road users requiring extra care. It emphasizes the increased risk faced by pedestrians, particularly children, older adults, and disabled people, as well as cyclists, horse riders, and motorcyclists. The text provides specific rules and advice for drivers on how to safely interact with these vulnerable groups, including driving carefully and slowly in various situations, being aware of disabled people and those with reduced visibility or hearing, and taking extra caution near schools. It also covers considerations for interacting with other road users like those driving animals or less experienced drivers, and different types of vehicles such as large vehicles, buses, trams, and emergency services. The overall theme is promoting awareness and responsible driving to ensure the safety of everyone on the road.

• What is the overarching principle for road users regarding vulnerable individuals?
• The Highway Code emphasizes that those who have the potential to cause the most harm on the road have the greatest responsibility to minimize the danger or threat they pose to others. This principle is particularly important when interacting with road users requiring extra care.
• Who are identified as the road users most at risk from road traffic?
• Pedestrians, especially children, older adults, and disabled people, along with cyclists, horse riders, and motorcyclists, are identified as the road users most vulnerable to road traffic. Learner and inexperienced drivers and riders are also highlighted as needing particular awareness.
• What specific precautions should drivers take when in areas with children or vulnerable pedestrians?
• Drivers should drive carefully and slowly in areas like crowded shopping streets, Home Zones, Quiet Lanes, and residential areas. Extra caution is needed near bus and tram stops, when passing parked vehicles (especially ice cream vans), when crossing pavements, cycle lanes or tracks (giving way to pedestrians and cyclists), and when reversing into side roads (giving way to pedestrians). At junctions, drivers should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross. Approaching pedestrians on narrow rural roads or those who have started to cross the road ahead also requires slowing down and giving way. Special attention is needed near schools, driving very slowly when flashing amber signals are present and stopping for school crossing patrols.
• Why are speed limits particularly important for the safety of vulnerable pedestrians?
• Speed significantly impacts the outcome of a collision with a pedestrian. The Highway Code explicitly states that at 40 mph (64 km/h), a vehicle will likely kill any pedestrian it hits, while at 20 mph (32 km/h), there is only a 1 in 20 chance of fatality. Therefore, reducing speed drastically increases pedestrian safety.
• What challenges do motorcyclists and cyclists present for drivers, and what should drivers do?
• Motorcyclists and cyclists can be difficult to see, particularly when waiting alongside, approaching from behind, emerging from or moving off from junctions, at roundabouts, or filtering through traffic. Drivers should always look out for them, especially before emerging from a junction, and should not turn if it would force a cyclist going straight to stop or swerve. Checking mirrors and blind spots carefully is crucial, and drivers should give way to cyclists or motorcyclists filtering on the inside of traffic when turning right.
• How much space should drivers give when overtaking vulnerable road users like cyclists or horse riders?
• When overtaking motorcyclists, cyclists, horse riders, horse-drawn vehicles, and pedestrians walking in the road, drivers should give at least as much room as they would when overtaking a car. In bad weather and at night, extra care and more space should be provided. When passing horses, drivers should slow down to a maximum of 10 mph, pass wide and slowly, allowing at least 2 meters of space, and avoid startling them.
• What is the advice regarding cyclists riding in the center of the lane or two abreast?
• On narrow sections of road, on quiet roads or streets, at road junctions, and in slower-moving traffic, cyclists may ride in the center of the lane or in groups of two abreast for their own safety to ensure they can see and be seen. The Highway Code advises allowing them to do so.
• What considerations are needed when interacting with large vehicles, buses, coaches, and electric vehicles?
• Large vehicles like buses and articulated lorries may require extra space for turning or dealing with hazards, and their drivers may have blind spots. Following drivers should increase their separation distance to improve visibility and planning. Drivers should be patient as large vehicles have lower speed limits. Give priority to buses, coaches, and trams signaling to pull away from stops. Be aware of people getting off these vehicles and crossing the road. Electric vehicles, such as milk floats and trams, can be quiet, and trams move quickly and cannot steer, requiring extra caution. Vehicles with flashing amber beacons indicate slow-moving or stationary vehicles or abnormal loads, requiring approach with caution.