Vulnerable Road Users

Vulnerable road users covers your responsibilities towards pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, horse riders, and older or disabled road users. This is a category where many learner drivers have knowledge gaps — particularly around the specific distances and speeds required when passing cyclists and horses. The Highway Code requires you to give cyclists at least 1.5 metres of space when overtaking, and to pass horses at no more than 10 mph with at least 2 metres of clearance. These figures are regularly tested. Questions also cover the dangers of opening car doors without checking for cyclists, the particular risks motorcyclists face at junctions, and how to behave near pedestrian crossings. Understanding the perspective of vulnerable road users is the key to this category. Ask yourself: what would a cyclist or pedestrian need from drivers to feel safe? The DVSA consistently rewards answers that prioritise the safety of those most at risk. Work through all 60 questions to make sure you have the specific rules and distances firmly in place.