Restricted View & Vulnerable Road Users

You are turning left at a junction in a long lorry. Which vulnerable road user is most at risk from the vehicle's rear wheels cutting in?

• AA cyclist who has come up the nearside (left) of your vehicle✓
• BA pedestrian standing on the far side of the road you are turning into
• CThe driver of the car following directly behind your trailer at the junction
• DA passenger sitting inside your cab

Answer: When a long vehicle turns left, the rear wheels follow a tighter path and cut in towards the kerb. A cyclist alongside the nearside can be crushed, so the driver must check nearside mirrors and blind spots before turning.

What is the main reason a lorry driver should take extra time checking mirrors before moving off or changing lanes?

• AMirrors on a lorry are fitted for decoration and give no useful extra view
• BLorries have larger blind spots that can hide other road users✓
• CIt is required to save fuel
• DIt resets the tachograph

Answer: Large goods vehicles have significant blind spots, particularly to the nearside and rear, where cyclists, motorcyclists and cars can be hidden. Thorough mirror checks and, where fitted, camera systems help the driver see these areas.

Where is the blind spot on a left-hand area of a typical right-hand-drive lorry most dangerous for vulnerable road users?

• ADirectly above the cab roof, where the driver cannot see through the windscreen
• BClose to the nearside (left) of the cab, low down near the front wheel✓
• CFar ahead of the vehicle, well beyond the reach of the nearside kerb mirror
• DInside the trailer body, which the driver cannot see into while driving along

Answer: The area low down on the nearside next to the cab is a major blind spot where a cyclist or pedestrian can be hidden from view. Drivers must check this area carefully, especially when moving off or turning left.

A motorcyclist is filtering through slow-moving traffic alongside your lorry. What should you do?

• ASpeed up to get ahead of them
• BCheck your mirrors and allow extra room, as they are vulnerable and may be hard to see✓
• CMove towards them to discourage filtering
• DSound your horn continuously until the rider moves over for you

Answer: Motorcyclists are vulnerable and can be hidden in a lorry's blind spots while filtering. The driver should check mirrors, anticipate their position and avoid any sudden movement towards them.

According to the Highway Code, what gap should you leave when overtaking a cyclist at up to 30 mph?

• AAt least 2.5 metres
• BAt least 0.5 metres
• CAt least 1 metre
• DAt least 1.5 metres✓

Answer: Rule 163 says to leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30 mph, and to give them more space at higher speeds. A large vehicle's air turbulence makes extra space even more important.

How does the Highway Code say you should pass a horse rider?

• AAt under 20 mph, leaving at least 1 metre
• BAt under 10 mph, leaving at least 2 metres✓
• CAt any speed, sounding the horn as you pass
• DAt under 30 mph, leaving at least 1.5 metres

Answer: Rule 163 advises passing horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles at speeds under 10 mph and allowing at least 2 metres of space. Sounding the horn could frighten the horse.

Under the hierarchy of road users in the Highway Code, who has the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger they pose to others?

• AEvery road user has exactly equal responsibility, whatever they use
• BPedestrians, because they are the hardest to see
• CDrivers of the vehicles that can cause the greatest harm✓
• DCyclists, because they travel faster than pedestrians

Answer: Rule H1 says those in charge of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm bear the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger they pose. Lorry drivers are at the top of that scale.

You are turning left into a side road. A pedestrian is waiting to cross it. What does the Highway Code say you should do?

• AWave the pedestrian across, then turn behind them
• BSound the horn so the pedestrian waits for you
• CGive way to the pedestrian waiting to cross✓
• DTurn first, as you have priority at the junction

Answer: Rule H2 and rule 170 say you should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which you are turning. Waving people across is not advised, as you cannot see other traffic for them.

You are about to turn left. A cyclist is travelling straight ahead on your nearside. What should you do?

• ASound your horn so the cyclist stops and lets you in
• BWait and not cut across the cyclist going ahead✓
• CMove out to the right first to give yourself more room
• DTurn quickly, before the cyclist reaches the junction

Answer: Rule H3 says you should not cut across cyclists going ahead when turning into or out of a junction. Wait for a safe gap, checking your nearside mirrors as the lorry's rear wheels cut in.

In Greater London, which lorries need a safety permit under the Direct Vision Standard?

• AGoods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes
• BHGVs over 12 tonnes gross vehicle weight✓
• CLorries registered outside the UK
• DHGVs over 44 tonnes gross train weight

Answer: Transport for London's Direct Vision Standard requires HGVs over 12 tonnes gross vehicle weight to hold a safety permit to enter or operate in Greater London, based on how well the driver can see vulnerable road users from the cab.

You are waiting to move off from a pedestrian crossing in a lorry. Why should you check your front mirror or camera?

• AIt shows whether the vehicle behind has stopped too close to your trailer
• BThe mirror shows whether the lights have changed to green
• CSomeone may be hidden just in front of the cab, below your view✓
• DIt lets you check how far the load has moved on the bed

Answer: Pedestrians, especially children, can stand directly in front of a lorry cab where the driver cannot see them through the windscreen. Front mirrors and cameras help cover this blind spot.

When emerging from a junction in a lorry, why should you look especially carefully for motorcyclists?

• AThey are legally required to give way to larger vehicles
• BThey are easier to see than cars, so they are rarely a hazard
• CThey must use the bus lane, so they approach from the nearside
• DThey are small and can be hidden by the cab pillars or mirrors✓

Answer: Motorcyclists are narrow and can be hidden by windscreen pillars or large mirrors. Take extra time to look, moving your head to see around these obstructions.

You need to reverse your lorry but cannot see clearly behind it. What does the Highway Code advise?

• ASound the horn repeatedly while reversing
• BReverse quickly so the manoeuvre is over sooner
• CGet someone to guide you, keeping them in view✓
• DReverse slowly and rely on the reversing alarm

Answer: The Highway Code advises that if you cannot see clearly when reversing, you should get someone to guide you. Keep the helper in sight and stop if you lose sight of them.

At a roundabout, a cyclist stays in the left lane while intending to go right round it. What should you do?

• AAllow for this, give them plenty of room and do not cut across✓
• BFollow closely so that other traffic cannot squeeze in
• COvertake them within the roundabout before the next exit so they are not delayed
• DSound the horn to tell them to use the right-hand lane

Answer: Rule 186 recognises that cyclists and horse riders may stay in the left lane when continuing round a roundabout. Drivers should take extra care, give them plenty of room and not try to overtake them within their lane.