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Difficulty: MediumAnimals and Horse Riders

You are driving along a rural road and intend to overtake a horse and rider travelling ahead of you. Once the road ahead is clear and safe, how should you carry out the manoeuvre according to the Highway Code?

  1. A
    Sound your horn from a distance to alert the horse and rider before accelerating past
  2. B
    Flash your headlights to instruct the rider to move onto the grass verge
  3. Pass slowly at a maximum speed of 10 mph, allowing at least 2 metres of clearanceAnswer
  4. D
    Overtake promptly at 20 mph while keeping within 1 metre of the horse to avoid oncoming traffic

Answer

Pass slowly at a maximum speed of 10 mph, allowing at least 2 metres of clearance.
Under Highway Code Rule 215, drivers must pass horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles slowly, driving at a maximum speed of 10 mph and giving at least 2 metres (6.5 feet) of space, only overtaking when it is entirely safe to do so.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Assess the approach and wait for a safe opportunity
Vehicle remains well back without revving the engine or sounding the horn
Horses are flight animals and can be easily startled by sudden noise or proximity.
2
Execute the overtake under strict speed and distance limits
Overtake at 10 mph or less while leaving at least 2 metres (6.5 feet) of lateral clearance
Highway Code Rule 215 mandates a maximum passing speed of 10 mph and a minimum passing distance of 2 metres.

Key Concept

Highway Code rules for safely overtaking horse riders (Rule 215)
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Animals and Horse Riders

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