Pedestrians, children and older people

By the end of this topic you can

• You can spot places where pedestrians are likely and slow down in good time.
• You can recognise signs that a person may not see or hear you.
• You can drive correctly near schools, school buses and school crossing patrols.
• You can pass pedestrians in the road with plenty of room.
• You can wait patiently without hurrying people.

What you need to know and understand

• At 40 mph your vehicle will probably kill any pedestrian it hits, so lower speeds near people save lives.
• A flashing amber light under a School sign means children may be crossing. Drive very slowly until clear of the area.
• You must stop when a school crossing patrol shows a Stop for children sign.
• Take care passing a stopped bus or coach with a School Bus sign, as children may be getting on or off.
• A white cane means a person is blind or partially sighted. A white cane with a red band, or a dog with a red and white harness, means the person is deafblind.
• Leave at least 2 metres when passing people walking in the road, and keep your speed low.
• Give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross the road you are turning into or out of.

Where to expect people

• Busy shopping streets, residential roads, Home Zones and Quiet Lanes.
• Near bus and tram stops, where people may cross in front of or behind the vehicle.
• Next to parked cars, and especially ice-cream vans, where children may run out without looking.
• Driveways and entrances where you cross the pavement. Give way to people on it.
• Narrow country roads with no pavement. Slow down, be ready to stop and give plenty of room.
• Places where the pavement is closed and people have to walk in the road.

People who need extra time or care

Children are small, hard to see behind parked cars and often do not judge speed well. Older people may cross slowly and may not see or hear you. Disabled people may need more time, and deaf people may not hear your engine at all, particularly if you drive a quiet electric car.

Never rev your engine or edge forward to hurry someone across. If a person is using a mobility scooter or powered wheelchair on the road, remember these travel at a maximum of 8 mph, so you will catch up with them quickly.

School times

1. Slow down as soon as you see school warning signs, especially at the start and end of the school day.
2. Look for flashing amber lights under a School sign and reduce your speed to a crawl if they are on.
3. Watch for young cyclists as well as walkers.
4. Stop for a school crossing patrol showing a Stop for children sign, and do not move off until the children and the patrol are clear of the road.
5. Do not stop or park near the school entrance, even briefly.

Common mistakes

• Driving at the speed limit past rows of parked cars near shops or homes. The limit is a maximum, not a target.
• Passing a stopped ice-cream van at normal speed. Slow right down and look for children.
• Assuming people can hear you. Many cannot, so look for clues like a white cane or hearing dog.
• Squeezing past walkers on a country lane. Wait until you can give at least 2 metres.
• Hurrying older pedestrians by edging forward. Wait calmly.

Test yourself: Pedestrians, children and older people

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Highway Code Rules for Pedestrians
• Road Users Requiring Extra Care