Topic
Vulnerable road users
Last reviewed against gov.uk on
Vulnerable road users covers the people most at risk in a collision — pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, horse riders, children and older or disabled people. The 2022 Hierarchy of Road Users (Rules H1–H3) places responsibility on those who can do the greatest harm.
What’s tested
- The Hierarchy of Road Users (Rules H1, H2, H3)
- Safe passing distance: 1.5 m for cyclists at up to 30 mph (more at higher speeds); 2 m for horses at under 10 mph
- Lifesaver checks before turning across a cyclist or motorcyclist
- School crossing patrols and how they signal
- Disabled pedestrians — white cane, white-and-red cane, assistance dogs
Key Highway Code rules
Practise real DVSA revision questions
Work through 20 real DVSA car revision questions, each with the correct answer and a full explanation — then get the full bank for every topic in the app, free to get started.
Common mistakes
- Passing a cyclist with less than 1.5 m clearance at 30 mph or below
- Missing a motorcyclist in your right-hand mirror before turning right
- Driving through a deep puddle that splashes pedestrians on the pavement
- Treating zebra and parallel (cyclist) crossings as the same thing
Keep going
All 14 topics
- Alertness Staying focused: mirrors, observation, scanning the road, avoiding fatigue and distraction.
- Attitude Considerate driving: patience, following distance, behaviour at crossings and roundabouts.
- Safety and your vehicle Roadworthiness: brakes, tyres, lights, fluids, warning lights and securing the car.
- Safety margins Stopping distances, weather, road surface, and the space you need to react safely.
- Hazard awareness Anticipating risk: spotting clues, planning ahead, reading other road users’ behaviour.
- Other types of vehicle Sharing the road with lorries, buses, motorcycles, trams and emergency vehicles.
- Vehicle handling Driving in rain, fog, snow, dark and strong wind — how conditions change the car.
- Motorway rules Joining, lane discipline, speed, breakdowns and smart-motorway running lanes.
- Rules of the road Speed limits, junctions, roundabouts, parking, level crossings and one-way streets.
- Road and traffic signs The visual language of UK roads — shape, colour and meaning of every sign and signal.
- Documents Licence, insurance, MOT, V5C log book and SORN — the paperwork to be legally on the road.
- Incidents, accidents and emergencies First aid, CPR, AED, RTC procedure, breakdowns and tunnel safety.
- Vehicle loading Carrying passengers, luggage, roof loads and towing — and how each changes the car.