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Difficulty: MediumMotorcyclists

You are driving in a slow-moving queue of city traffic and intend to turn left into a side road. Why is it essential to check your nearside (left-hand) mirror and blind spot immediately before making the turn?

  1. A
    To confirm that oncoming vehicles are flashing their headlights to give you priority
  2. A motorcyclist or cyclist may be filtering forward on your left-hand sideAnswer
  3. C
    To ensure that the vehicle directly behind you has come to a complete stop
  4. D
    To check that your left direction indicator warning light is illuminated on the dashboard

Answer

A motorcyclist or cyclist may be filtering forward on your left-hand side
In slow-moving or queuing traffic, motorcyclists and cyclists often filter past on either side of vehicles. Before turning left across the path of the kerb or a cycle lane, drivers must check the nearside wing mirror and look over their shoulder into the blind spot to ensure no rider is approaching on the inside.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Assess the driving scenario and identify potential road user conflicts
Recognise that slow or stationary traffic encourages motorcyclists and cyclists to filter along the nearside and offside of queues.
Vulnerable road users are narrow and agile, allowing them to progress through traffic gaps that cars cannot use.
2
Apply mirror and blind spot checks before changing direction
Check the left-hand mirror and look over the left shoulder to cover the vehicle's blind spot immediately prior to initiating the turn.
A filtering motorcyclist may be hidden alongside the vehicle and would be cut off or struck if the turn is made without this observation.

Key Concept

Highway Code Rule 211: Always check mirrors and blind spots for filtering motorcyclists and cyclists before turning across traffic lanes or into side roads.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Motorcyclists

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