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Question

Difficulty: MediumPriority and Right of Way

You are driving along a residential street where parked cars obstruct your side of the road. As you approach the obstruction, an oncoming vehicle approaches the narrow section and flashes its headlights. What action should you take?

  1. A
    Pull onto the pavement on the left to allow the oncoming vehicle to pass without slowing down
  2. Slow down, prepare to stop, and only proceed when you are certain that the road is clear and it is safeAnswer
  3. C
    Accelerate through the gap immediately, assuming the oncoming driver is giving you right of way
  4. D
    Flash your headlights in response to demand priority and continue forward without yielding

Answer

Slow down, prepare to stop, and only proceed when you are certain that the road is clear and it is safe.
Because the parked vehicles obstruct your side of the carriageway, oncoming vehicles have natural priority. Under Rules 110 and 111 of The Highway Code, flashing headlights only indicate the presence of a vehicle and must never be interpreted as an invitation to proceed. Therefore, you must slow down, be prepared to stop, and only proceed once you have verified that it is safe to do so.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Assess the road layout and locate the obstruction relative to your vehicle.
Identify that because the parked vehicles are on your side of the road, oncoming traffic has natural priority.
When the obstruction is on your side, oncoming road users have the right of way unless road signs or markings state otherwise.
2
Interpret the oncoming vehicle's flashed headlights according to the Highway Code.
Recognise that headlights are only used to alert road users of presence, not to grant right of way.
Assuming flashing headlights are a signal to go is dangerous, as the other driver may not be yielding.
3
Reduce your speed, prepare to stop safely behind the parked vehicles, and proceed only when clear.
Ensure safe passage without forcing oncoming traffic to brake or mount the kerb.
Defensive driving requires assessing safety independently rather than relying on assumed signals.

Key Concept

Flashing headlights only indicate a vehicle's presence; they must never be interpreted as an invitation to proceed or a grant of right of way.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Priority and Right of Way

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