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Question

Difficulty: HardChildren

Travelling down a single-carriageway suburban road with parked vehicles lining the kerb, you observe a young child on a scooter travelling quickly along the footway towards an obscured private access junction. How should you manage this situation?

  1. A
    Speed up to pass the access point before the child reaches the edge of the carriageway.
  2. B
    Flash the main beam headlights to instruct the child to stay on the pavement.
  3. Ease off the accelerator, cover the brake pedal, and be ready to pull up safely if the child crosses into your path.Answer
  4. D
    Give a prolonged blast of the horn to startle the child into stopping before the kerb.

Answer

Ease off the accelerator, cover the brake pedal, and be ready to pull up safely if the child crosses into your path.
Children on wheeled toys such as scooters frequently move faster than walking pace and may enter the carriageway without checking for vehicles. Easing off the accelerator and covering the brake significantly reduces thinking and stopping distance, giving the driver total control to halt smoothly if the child enters the road.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the vulnerable road user and physical environment
Recognise that a young child on a scooter moving quickly towards an obscured junction may not appreciate road danger or check for approaching traffic.
Children often lack mature distance and speed judgment and can act unpredictably.
2
Anticipate potential movement into the carriageway
Expect that the child could continue through the dropped kerb or driveway directly into the road.
Obstructions such as parked cars reduce the child's view of traffic and your view of their path.
3
Adopt a defensive driving posture by reducing speed and covering the brake
Thinking and braking distances are significantly shortened, allowing an immediate stop if necessary.
Defensive speed management ensures maximum safety without creating panic or unexpected hazards.

Key Concept

Child pedestrian and wheeled-toy hazard anticipation
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Children

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