Theory Test Vulnerable Road Users

To learn all about the Vulnerable Road Users category, watch the video or read the article below.

The theory test featuring questions from this category is at the bottom of the page.

Topics Include

  • Animals – understanding that animals can be unpredictable and may move slowly.
  • Motorcyclists – be aware of their presence on the road.
  • Elderly Drivers – be aware that they may be slower to make decisions
  • Children – be aware that they are particularly unpredictable on and around roads.
  • Pedestrians – be aware of their actions as they cross the road.
  • New Drivers – understanding that they may be more hesitant, allow for this and be patient.
  • Cyclists – be aware that they may swerve to avoid obstructions and are often affected by weather conditions.

Again safety is the main concern and this should inform your choice of answers.

Vulnerable Road Users are

  • Pedestrians
  • Children
  • Older drivers
  • Disabled drivers
  • Cyclists
  • Motorcyclists
  • Animals
  • New drivers

No question is going to have ‘speed up’ as an answer. Questions dealing with how you should interact with vulnerable road users usually require a stay behind, give plenty of room, slow down, be prepared to stop and give way type of answer. No answer will be: sound your horn, flash your headlights or wave them across.

Motorcycles and Cyclists

  • Are small and hard to see. Always look out for them at junctions.
  • At roundabouts, if a cyclists is turning right, give them plenty of room.
  • Never overtake a motorcyclist and cyclists just before turning left.
  • If you see a cyclist approach a roundabout in the left-hand lane don’t just expect them to be turning left, they may go in any direction.
  • When turning right check for motorcyclists as one may be overtaking you.
  • When overtaking a cyclist allow as much room as you would give to a car.
  • Motorcyclists wear bright clothing and often use a dipped headlight during the day, as this makes them easier to see.
  • When following a slow-moving motorcyclist if you are unsure what the rider is going to do you should stay behind.
  • Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable at junctions.
  • On an uneven road give motorcyclists extra room as they may swerve into the road to avoid potholes.
  • In slow moving traffic, if you intend to change lane you should look for motorcyclists filtering through the traffic.
  • A motorcyclist may look over their shoulder when turning right because they need to check for traffic in their blind area.
  • Cyclists and motorcyclists are vulnerable to strong winds which can blow them off course. On windy days always allow extra room when overtaking them.
  • Cycle lanes marked with a solid white line – you must not drive or park in the cycle lane during the hours it is in use.
  • Cycle lanes marked with a broken white line – you should drive or park in it only if there is no alternative, but not at times when there are waiting restrictions.

Pedestrians

  • Always give way to pedestrians who have already started to cross a road. If you turn into a road and people are crossing it you must stop, wait and let them cross.
  • Toucan Crossings – cyclists can use these as well as pedestrians. So, ‘2 can’ cross.
  • A pedestrian with a white stick and a red band is deaf and blind.
  • Be patient with elderly pedestrians. Allow them time to cross the road. Be careful, they may misjudge your speed.
  • On country roads pedestrians should walk towards you on your side of the road.
  • At night a pedestrian who is wearing reflective clothing and carrying a bright red light is leading an organized walk.
  • Children are especially hard to see. Take extra care when reversing and when traveling along roads where there are many parked cars.

Horses and Animals

  • At a roundabout, if horses are ahead of you you should give them plenty of room and be prepared to stop. If they are approaching the roundabout in the left hand-lane but are signaling right, you should stay well back.
  • When passing horses you should slow down and allow plenty of room.
  • When passing sheep you should allow plenty of room, go very slowly, be ready to stop. If you do stop, turn off your engine and wait until they have left the road.

Inexperienced and Elderly Drivers

  • Always be patient with elderly and inexperienced drivers. Expect them to react more slowly.

Others Facts to Know

  • Whenever turning right always check your mirrors to make no one is about to overtake you.
  • Powered vehicles used by disabled people have a flashing amber beacon, which indicates a slow moving vehicle.
  • A pedestrian walking with a dog that has a yellow or burgundy coat is likely to be deaf.
  • A person carrying a white stick is likely to be blind. If the stick has a red band, this means the person is also deaf.
  • When approaching any pedestrian crossing be prepared to slow down and stop.
  • At night, if dazzled by vehicles behind, you should set your mirror to anti-dazzle.
  • Give way to buses when they signal to pull out.
  • Always give way to trams as they cannot steer to avoid you.
  • When elderly people are crossing the road be patient and allow them to cross in their own time.

Signs to Know

Road markings school keep clear

Road marking outside a school. You should not wait or park here, as you may obstruct children’s view of the crossing area.

Cycle route ahead

Theory Road sign elderly people

Elderly people crossing

Pedestrians my be walking in the road as there is no pavement

A route for pedestrians and cyclists.

A route for pedestrians and cyclists

Sign found on School Bus

Sign found on school bus

With flow pedal lane

With-flow pedal cycle lane.

3 votes, 5 avg

Theory Test: Vulnerable Road Users

1 / 29

You are driving in town. There is a bus at the bus stop on the other side of the road. Why should you be careful?

(mark ONE answer)

2 / 29

A toucan crossing is different from other crossings because

(mark ONE answer)

3 / 29

You are turning left into a side road. Pedestrians are crossing the road near the junction.

You must (mark ONE answer)

4 / 29

You are reversing around a corner when you notice a pedestrian walking behind you. What should you do?

(mark ONE answer)

5 / 29

You are on a country road. What should you expect to see coming towards you on YOUR side of the road?

(mark ONE answer)

6 / 29

You are approaching a roundabout. There are horses just ahead of you. You should

(mark TWO answers)

7 / 29

There is a slow-moving motorcyclist ahead of you. You are unsure what the rider is going to do. You should

(mark ONE answer)

8 / 29

You are waiting to come out of a side road. Why should you watch carefully for motorcycles?

(mark ONE answer)

9 / 29

You are coming to a roundabout. A cyclist is signalling to turn right. What should you do?

(mark ONE answer)

10 / 29

You see two elderly pedestrians about to cross the road ahead. You should

(mark ONE answer)

11 / 29

You see a pedestrian with a dog. The dog has a yellow or burgundy coat. This especially warns you that the pedestrian is

(mark ONE answer)

12 / 29

You should never attempt to overtake a cyclist

(mark ONE answer)

13 / 29

There are flashing amber lights under a school warning sign. What action should you take?

(mark ONE answer)

14 / 29

You are following a car driven by an elderly driver. You should

(mark ONE answer)

15 / 29

You are following two cyclists. They approach a roundabout in the left-hand lane. In which direction should you expect the cyclists to go?

(mark ONE answer)

16 / 29

Why should you look particularly for motorcyclists and cyclists at junctions?

(mark ONE answer)

17 / 29

Which sign means there may be people walking along the road?

(mark ONE answer)

Theory Road sign question

18 / 29

You are turning left into a side road from a main road. People are already crossing the side road. You should

(mark ONE answer)

19 / 29

Where would you see this sign?

(mark ONE answer)

Sign found on School Bus

20 / 29

You are coming to a roundabout. A cyclist is signalling to turn right? What should you do?

(mark ONE answer)

21 / 29

In daylight, a motorcyclist is using dipped headlights. Why?

(mark ONE answer)

22 / 29

There is a slow-moving motorcyclist ahead of you. You are unsure what the rider is going to do. You should

(mark ONE answer)

23 / 29

At road junctions which of the following are most vulnerable?

(mark THREE answers)

24 / 29

As you approach a pelican crossing the lights change to green. Elderly people are halfway across. You should

(mark ONE answer)

25 / 29

Powered vehicles used by disabled people are small and hard to see. How do they give early warning when they are on a dual carriageway?

(mark ONE answer)

26 / 29

What does this sign mean?

(mark ONE answer)

27 / 29

What does this sign mean?

(mark ONE answer)

28 / 29

Which THREE should you do when passing sheep on the road?

(mark THREE answers)

29 / 29

Who is especially in danger of not being seen when you reverse your car?

(mark ONE answer)

Your score is

The average score is 89%

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