Vulnerable Road Users And Observation

Vulnerable road users rely on others to use careful observation when driving. So, what types of road user should we consider as ‘vulnerable’? There are actually quite a few groups I think who would match this description including pedestrians, motorcyclists, cyclists, scooters used by the elderly or disabled and others.

One thing that driving in a car is very good at is making you feel protected. That’s because, to quite a significant extent, you are. The metal and glass box that surrounds you when in a motor vehicle is designed to withstand a very high level of impact forces, with Euro NCAP cars rated 5 being the safest that is available in standardised assessment.

The problem with the feeling of protection that a car provides is that it can lead to complacency. During the lessons that we all have in the lead up to our practical driving test, we’re taught the required level of observation that you should follow when in control of a motor vehicle.

Why should this observation be followed throughout our driving lifetime? There are two very good reasons. Firstly, it is to keep us safe. Say for example you fail to look far enough ahead and don’t see a road closure or obstacle – you’ll hit it, endangering your life. Secondly, any failure in observation immediately heightens the risk to every other road user, including the vulnerable groups highlighted above.

The problem is that idea that ‘mirror signal manoeuvre’ just isn’t enough. We should of course be taking in information from our blind spots, looking well ahead, travelling at appropriate speed for the road conditions etc – which means that if you can’t see far enough to know what hazards are coming up then you need to slow down in anticipation. The speed limit is after all a maximum, not a ‘must-travel-at’.

Coming back to what a car provides – this safe shell around us – vulnerable road users don’t have that privilege. Let’s take the example of a motorcycle rider turning left into a junction following a bend. A car driver is turning right, makes a quick observation and pulls out. Now assuming that the motorcycle rider is travelling too fast, the car driver may not see the other vehicle in time, resulting in a nasty accident. Now, this could have been avoided by using appropriate speed and if better observation was followed.

Similarly, cyclists come under a lot of flak for their actions. I’d never condone actions such as riding a red light, and I’ve heard cases where cyclists have received rather more lenient treatment than you’d expect. But why might that be? They are extremely vulnerable on the road and quite often the view that is taken is the driver should be aware of who and what is around them at all times.

Ultimately, we all have a responsibility to each other – to correctly observe, follow the rules of the road and drive safely. The more modes of transport you use, the more you’ll understand that whilst cars may be the most prevalent transport on our roads, they are by far not the be all and end all when it comes to the transport that we use.

There’s a wealth of driving experiences, courses and tuition available – we could all benefit from being a better road user (not just a driver).