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Difficulty: Very hardCyclists

You are driving on an unlit two-way road at night, approaching a blind left-hand bend. You spot a cyclist ahead travelling in your lane. Simultaneously, you see the headlights of an oncoming vehicle approaching the bend, and you notice a large, deep puddle covering the left side of your lane right next to the cyclist. What is the safest course of action?

  1. Reduce your speed immediately, hold back behind the cyclist, and wait for the oncoming vehicle to pass before overtaking with at least 1.5 metres of clearance.Answer
  2. B
    Accelerate to overtake the cyclist before reaching the puddle and the bend, leaving a small gap to ensure you do not cross into the oncoming vehicle's path.
  3. C
    Keep your vision focused entirely on the oncoming headlights to gauge the width of the road, steering tightly past the cyclist to avoid the water.
  4. D
    Move towards the centre of the road to avoid the puddle and the cyclist, focusing solely on the oncoming vehicle without checking your nearside mirror for the cyclist's movements.

Answer

Reduce your speed immediately, hold back behind the cyclist, and wait for the oncoming vehicle to pass before overtaking with at least 1.5 metres of clearance.
This action prioritizes safety by addressing all hazards in a sequential, controlled manner. By holding back, you prevent a dangerous 'squeeze' situation between the cyclist, the puddle, and the oncoming vehicle. Once the oncoming vehicle has passed, you will have the necessary space to provide the mandatory 1.5 metres of clearance when overtaking the cyclist.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Assess all overlapping hazards in the environment.
Identified a cyclist (vulnerable user), an oncoming vehicle (blocking the opposite lane), a blind bend (restricted visibility), and a puddle (surface hazard).
Continuous scanning and anticipation are required to manage complex traffic situations safely.
2
Anticipate the behavior of other road users.
Recognized that the cyclist will likely swerve right to avoid the puddle, requiring extra space in your lane.
Cyclists need to avoid surface hazards like potholes or deep puddles to maintain balance.
3
Evaluate action options against the safety hierarchy and Highway Code rules.
Determined that overtaking is currently impossible due to the oncoming vehicle and the requirement to leave at least 1.5 metres of clearance for the cyclist.
The Highway Code mandates specific minimum passing distances, which cannot be achieved when a lane is narrowed by oncoming traffic.
4
Execute the safest maneuver.
Slowed down to match the cyclist's pace and held a safe following distance until the oncoming vehicle cleared the bend.
Holding back resolves the immediate conflict, allowing the hazards to disperse before safely completing the overtake.

Key Concept

Hazard prioritization and maintaining safe clearances in dynamic, multi-hazard environments.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Cyclists

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