Vulnerable road users quiz

Eight questions on the hierarchy of road users and the rules for passing pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders safely.

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  1. Under the hierarchy of road users, who bears the greatest responsibility to reduce danger?

    1. AWhoever got there first
    2. BWhoever is going fastest
    3. CThose in charge of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm
    4. DPedestrians
    Answer and reason

    C. Those in charge of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm. Those in charge of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm in a collision bear the greatest responsibility to take care. Everyone still has to look out for their own and others' safety. Source: The Highway Code, rule H1

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  2. You are turning into a side road and someone is waiting to cross it. What should you do?

    1. AGive way to them
    2. BTurn before they step out
    3. CSound your horn
    4. DExpect them to wait
    Answer and reason

    A. Give way to them. At a junction you should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which you are turning. Source: The Highway Code, rule H2

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  3. You want to turn left, and a cyclist is going straight ahead alongside you. Turning now would make them brake. What should you do?

    1. ATurn, as long as you signal
    2. BMove closer to the kerb first
    3. CExpect the cyclist to stop
    4. DWait and let the cyclist go ahead
    Answer and reason

    D. Wait and let the cyclist go ahead. Do not turn at a junction if it would make a cyclist going straight ahead stop or swerve. Stop and wait for a safe gap. Source: The Highway Code, rule H3

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  4. As a guide, how much space should you leave when overtaking a cyclist at up to 30 mph?

    1. AAt least 0.5 metres
    2. BAt least 1 metre
    3. CAt least 1.5 metres
    4. DAt least 3 metres
    Answer and reason

    C. At least 1.5 metres. Leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30 mph, and give them more space at higher speeds. Source: The Highway Code, rule 163

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  5. How should you pass a horse rider on the road?

    1. AUnder 10 mph, with at least 2 metres of space
    2. BAt 20 mph, with at least 1 metre
    3. CQuickly, to get past
    4. DWith a short tap of the horn
    Answer and reason

    A. Under 10 mph, with at least 2 metres of space. Pass horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles at speeds under 10 mph and allow at least 2 metres of space. Source: The Highway Code, rule 163, rule 215

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  6. Someone is walking in the road where there is no pavement. How should you pass them?

    1. AAt least 2 metres away and at a low speed
    2. BAt least half a metre away
    3. CAt normal speed, if you signal
    4. DWith a flash of your headlights
    Answer and reason

    A. At least 2 metres away and at a low speed. Allow at least 2 metres of space and keep to a low speed when passing a pedestrian walking in the road. Wait behind if you cannot do so safely. Source: The Highway Code, rule 163

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  7. You are turning right across a queue of stopped traffic. What should you look out for?

    1. AOnly vehicles reversing
    2. BOnly parked cars
    3. CCyclists and motorcyclists on the inside of the queue
    4. DNothing, the queue has stopped
    Answer and reason

    C. Cyclists and motorcyclists on the inside of the queue. When turning right across slow-moving or stationary traffic, look out for and give way to cyclists or motorcyclists on the inside of the traffic you are crossing. Source: The Highway Code, rule 211

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  8. According to the Highway Code, what is the chance that a pedestrian hit by a vehicle at 20 mph is killed?

    1. A1 in 2
    2. B1 in 5
    3. C1 in 20
    4. D1 in 100
    Answer and reason

    C. 1 in 20. At 20 mph there is only a 1 in 20 chance of the pedestrian being killed. At 40 mph your vehicle will probably kill any pedestrian it hits. Source: The Highway Code, rule 207

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Pick an answer to see straight away if you’re right, with the reason and the rule it comes from. Your score shows at the bottom of the screen. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.

These are our own practice questions, written from The Highway Code. They are not questions from the DVSA theory test. How we write and check them.

For any you got wrong, open the rule linked in the answer and read it once more. The Highway Code is one of the three books the theory test’s multiple-choice questions are based on (GOV.UK). Ready for more? Practise theory test questions by topic or take the 50-question mock theory test.

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Sources

  1. The Highway Code, rule H1, GOV.UK
  2. The Highway Code, rule H2, GOV.UK
  3. The Highway Code, rule H3, GOV.UK
  4. The Highway Code, rule 163, GOV.UK
  5. The Highway Code, rule 215, GOV.UK
  6. The Highway Code, rule 211, GOV.UK
  7. The Highway Code, rule 207, GOV.UK
  8. The Highway Code: introduction and the hierarchy of road users (rules H1 to H3), GOV.UK
  9. Theory test: revision and practice, GOV.UK

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.