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Difficulty: EasyOvertaking Rules

You are driving on a rural road and come up behind a horse and rider travelling in the same direction. When it is safe to overtake, what is the correct way to pass them?

  1. A
    Sound your horn to alert the rider before passing quickly to minimise disruption
  2. Pass slowly at 10 mph or less, leaving at least 2 metres of space and keeping engine revs lowAnswer
  3. C
    Flash your headlights repeatedly to encourage the rider to pull over onto the grass verge
  4. D
    Overtake at normal road speed while remaining closely within your lane to pass quickly

Answer

Pass slowly at 10 mph or less, leaving at least 2 metres of space and keeping engine revs low
Horses are large and unpredictable animals that are easily frightened by noise and fast traffic. The Highway Code specifically instructs drivers to slow down to a maximum of 10 mph, keep engine revs low, and allow at least 2 metres of clearance when overtaking horse riders.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the vulnerable road user ahead and recognise the hazard
Recognise that horses are easily frightened by loud noises and fast-moving vehicles
Sudden vehicle movements or sounds can cause an animal to react unpredictably
2
Apply Highway Code Rule 163 and Rule 215 requirements for passing horses
Reduce speed to 10 mph or under, maintain low engine revs, and provide at least 2 metres of clearance when safe to overtake
This ensures the safety of the horse, rider, and surrounding road users

Key Concept

Highway Code rules on overtaking vulnerable road users (horses and riders)
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Overtaking Rules

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