Photo: Mathias Reding / Pexels. Illustrative photograph.
Rules 204 to 218 of the Highway Code for Great Britain list the people drivers must take most care around: children, older and disabled pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, horse riders, older drivers and learners. The principle in Rule 204 is that those who can cause the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger they pose. This guide covers what each rule asks of you, with the speed facts and the MUST rules picked out.
Why speed matters most near pedestrians (Rule 207)
| Speed | What the Highway Code says |
|---|---|
| 40 mph (64 km/h) | You will probably kill any pedestrian you hit |
| 20 mph (32 km/h) | There is only a 1 in 20 chance of the pedestrian being killed |
So the Code’s advice is simple: where children or older people may step out, slow down.
Where to drive carefully and slowly (Rule 206)
- Crowded shopping streets, Home Zones, Quiet Lanes and residential areas
- Past bus and tram stops, where people may step out suddenly
- Past parked vehicles, especially ice cream vans, where children may run out
- Crossing a pavement, cycle lane or track to reach a driveway: give way to pedestrians and cyclists
- Reversing into a side road: look all round and give way to pedestrians crossing
- Turning at junctions: give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross
- Through road works and past roadside recovery vehicles, where people may be working
- Where a closed pavement sends pedestrians into the road
- Narrow rural roads with no footway: slow down, be ready to stop and leave plenty of room
- At zebra and parallel crossings: you MUST give way to pedestrians and cyclists on the crossing
Pedestrians who need extra time or may not see you (Rule 207)
| Who | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Children | May not judge your speed and could step out | Reduce speed |
| Older pedestrians | May need more time to cross | Be patient; do not rev your engine or edge forward |
| People with hearing impairments | May not hear your vehicle | Do not rely on them hearing you |
| People with walking difficulties | Need more time | Wait |
| Blind or partially sighted people | May carry a white cane or use a guide dog | Assume they cannot see you |
| Deafblind people | May carry a white cane with a red band, or use a dog with a red and white harness | Assume they can neither see nor hear signals |
Plan for the person you cannot see yet
A clear view is not proof of a clear road. Someone on foot or on a bike can be hidden by a parked van, a bus, a pillar or bad weather, so adjust your speed before they appear rather than after.
- A wave is not a check. If another driver flashes or waves you on, they can only see their own side. Check every part of your own path yourself.
- Do not wave people across. You cannot control traffic in the other lanes, so inviting someone into the road can put them in danger.
- Check again while you turn. As the car swings, the area beside and behind it changes, and someone can move into a blind spot.
- Outside school hours still needs care. A school warning light that is off does not mean children are absent, so judge the actual street.
Schools, school buses and crossing patrols (Rules 208 to 210)
- Rule 208: near schools, drive slowly and watch for children on foot and on bikes. A flashing amber light under a “School” sign means children may be crossing ahead. Drive very slowly until you are clear of the area.
- Rule 209: a stationary bus showing a “School Bus” sign in its front or rear window may have children getting on or off. Drive carefully and slowly past it.
- Rule 210: you MUST stop when a school crossing patrol shows a “Stop for children” sign.
The School Bus sign is pictured in the Highway Code’s vehicle markings section: see vehicle markings explained. Crossing patrol signals: signals by police and crossing patrols.
Cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders (Rules 211 to 215)
These have their own guides, so here is only the short version:
- They are hard to see, especially at junctions, when filtering and when coming up behind you. Look for them before you emerge (Rule 211).
- Give them at least as much room as you would a car when overtaking, and more at night and in bad weather (Rule 212).
- Cyclists may ride in the middle of the lane on narrow roads and at junctions, and may ride two abreast (Rule 213).
- Horses: slow to a maximum of 10 mph and pass at least 2 metres wide (Rule 215).
Full detail: cyclists, motorcycles, horses, and animals and livestock (Rule 214).
Older drivers and learners (Rules 216 and 217)
- Older drivers: their reactions may be slower. Make allowance for this.
- Learners and inexperienced drivers: may be less skilled at anticipating and responding to events. Be particularly patient with learner and young drivers. Newly qualified drivers may display a “new driver” plate or sticker (Annex 8).
On L plates yourself? Rule 217 is the reason other drivers are asked to give you space. Do not let a driver behind push you into going faster than you are comfortable with: see tailgating and driving under pressure.
Home Zones and Quiet Lanes (Rule 218)
In these streets people may use the whole road, for example children playing or community events. Drive slowly and carefully, and be ready to stop to give them time to make room. More in traffic calming and quiet lanes.
Common questions
Do I have to stop for a school bus in the UK?
The Highway Code for Great Britain does not tell you to stop for a stationary school bus, unlike the rules in some other countries. Rule 209 says drive carefully and slowly past a bus showing a School Bus sign. You MUST stop for a school crossing patrol showing a “Stop for children” sign.
What does a flashing amber light under a School sign mean?
Children may be crossing ahead. Drive very slowly until you are clear of the area (Rule 208).
What does a white cane with a red band mean?
The person may be deafblind. A dog with a red and white harness means the same (Rule 207).
What is the chance of killing a pedestrian at 20 mph?
The Highway Code says there is only a 1 in 20 chance of the pedestrian being killed at 20 mph, while at 40 mph you will probably kill any pedestrian you hit.
Do other drivers have to give way to learners?
No special priority applies, but Rule 217 asks drivers to be particularly patient with learner and young drivers.
Is this on the theory test?
Yes, under vulnerable road users: see the vulnerable road users topic guide.
Back to the main guide: Learning to Drive in Great Britain. Related: Highway Code rules for pedestrians, driving near lorries and buses, the hierarchy of road users.
Sources
- Department for Transport, “The Highway Code: Road users requiring extra care (204 to 225)” (gov.uk)
- Department for Transport, “The Highway Code: Vehicle markings” (gov.uk)