The answer options
- Sound your horn to warn them
- Treat them as you would with other vehicles
- Accelerate past quickly
- Allow plenty of roomCorrect
Why that is the answer
Horses are easily spooked by sudden noises and fast-moving traffic. When approaching horse riders, stay well back and give them plenty of room. Never sound your horn, rev your engine, or accelerate past quickly, as this could frighten the horse and cause it to bolt, risking a serious incident. The Highway Code stresses the need to treat horses as vulnerable road users, passing slowly and leaving a wide gap.
How this comes up in the real test
Questions from vulnerable road users appear throughout the 50-question multiple-choice section, and the wording changes between versions. Learn the rule rather than the sentence: the DVSA can ask the same point from the opposite direction, and a memorised answer falls over the moment the phrasing moves.
The pass mark is 43 out of 50, so seven wrong answers is your entire margin. If a whole category is shaky, run the topic practice below until you are getting every question right for the right reason, then go back to full mocks under the clock.
More vulnerable road users questions
- A moving vehicle ahead is showing a flashing amber beacon. What does this signal?
- As you approach a pelican crossing, the lights change to green. What should you do if older people are still crossing?
- At night, what does it mean if you see a pedestrian wearing reflective clothing and carrying a bright red light?
- Before turning right into a side road, why should you check for motorcyclists?
- How can you reduce your risk of involvement in accidents or collisions when you have just passed your driving test?
- How should you pass riders on horses?