driver-qualification-handbook-english

2PedestriansPedestrians can be found almost everywhere when you drive, but particularly aroundshopping centres, schools, bus stops and intersections. Like drivers, pedestrianscan do things that you may not expect like crossing the road without looking orrunning out from behind parked cars. Children are particularly likely to do this.Young children can run out onto the road very quickly and do not have the roadsense of adults.While older people are experienced road users, they may not be as agile or alert asyounger people. This means that they may not look for traffic as carefully and maytake longer than expected to cross a road. This may be why people aged 60 years ormore are particularly at risk and are over-represented in pedestrian crash statistics.Pedestrians are a lot smaller than vehicles and can be harder to see. This problemgets worse at night or when it is dull, overcast or raining. Some pedestrians may alsobe affected by alcohol and behave unpredictably.So look out for pedestrians, slow down and give them plenty of room whenapproaching or passing them.CyclistsCyclists can be found on roads, footpaths and on bike paths that may cross roadsor run beside them. You have probably noticed that many cyclists, including adults,will move readily from the road to the footpath and back again and may cross roadsfrom footpath to footpath. This can make them harder to see at times. Rememberthat children aged 12 years and under (and adults supervising them) can legally rideon the footpath. But children don’t always stick to the footpath and adults don’talways ride on the road. So, you need to scan the road and the footpath for cyclists.66Driver qualification handbook