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Difficulty: HardCyclists

You are driving along an urban road in gusty wind conditions. Ahead of you, a cyclist is riding well out from a line of parked cars on the left, positioning themselves near the centre of your lane. What should you do?

  1. A
    Overtake immediately within the same lane before the parked cars, assuming the cyclist will move left into the gutter
  2. Stay back behind the cyclist until they pass the line of parked cars and there is sufficient room to give them at least 1.5 metres of clearanceAnswer
  3. C
    Accelerate past closely on the right, keeping your eyes focused solely on oncoming traffic rather than the cyclist's lateral movements
  4. D
    Pull out sharply to pass without checking your mirrors and blind spot, assuming the parked cars present the only hazard

Answer

Stay back behind the cyclist until they pass the line of parked cars and there is sufficient room to give them at least 1.5 metres of clearance
Cyclists are advised by the Highway Code to ride at least 0.5 metres (and often 1 metre or more) away from the kerb and parked cars to stay clear of opening car doors, debris, and sudden wind buffeting. Drivers must be patient, remain behind the cyclist, and only overtake when it is safe to provide at least 1.5 metres of passing clearance.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Assess the cyclist's road position and environmental hazards
Recognise that the cyclist is riding in the primary position to avoid the door zone of parked cars and to remain stable against gusty winds
Cyclists need extra room away from parked vehicles in case a car door opens unexpectedly, and wind gusts can cause sudden lateral movement
2
Determine safe following distance and overtaking feasibility
Conclude that overtaking cannot be done with the mandatory minimum 1.5 metres of clearance while the cyclist is passing the parked cars
The Highway Code requires drivers to leave at least 1.5 metres of space when overtaking at speeds up to 30 mph, and more space at higher speeds or in adverse weather
3
Select the correct driver action
Hold back at a safe separation distance behind the cyclist until the road clears
Patience ensures vulnerable road users are not crowded or put at risk of a collision

Key Concept

Cyclist road positioning, door-zone avoidance, and safe passing distances in windy conditions
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Cyclists

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