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Question

Difficulty: EasySafe and Courteous Overtaking

You are driving on a narrow country road and catch up to a horse and rider travelling ahead of you. How should you safely and courteously overtake them?

  1. A
    Sound your horn to alert the rider, then accelerate past swiftly
  2. Drive past slowly, give plenty of room, and keep engine revs lowAnswer
  3. C
    Flash your headlights repeatedly to instruct the rider to pull over onto the verge
  4. D
    Move out to pass immediately without checking your blind spots, as the horse is moving slowly

Answer

Drive past slowly, give plenty of room, and keep engine revs low
Horses can be easily frightened by loud noises and fast-moving vehicles. The Highway Code advises slowing down to a maximum of 10 mph, keeping engine revs low, and passing with at least 2 metres of clearance when safe to do so.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Assess the situation ahead and drop back to a safe following distance behind the horse and rider.
Avoids crowding the animal and prevents agitation from engine noise.
Horses are large, easily startled animals that may behave unpredictably if pressured.
2
Wait for a clear section of road, check all mirrors and blind spots, and pass slowly with wide clearance.
Completes a safe and courteous overtaking manoeuvre in line with Highway Code rules.
Drivers must pass horses at no more than 10 mph, allowing at least 2 metres of lateral clearance while keeping engine revs low.

Key Concept

Safe and courteous passing of equestrian road users by minimising noise, reducing speed, and allowing wide clearance
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Safe and Courteous Overtaking

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