Hierarchy of Road Users & Pedestrians

📖 DVSA Revision Lesson ⏱️ 10 Min Read ❓ 10 Practice Questions 🌐 68 Languages Support

Last updated: 7 September 2026

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Slide 0: Safety First : The UK Highway Code Guide for Pedestrians & Mobility Users Educating on hierarchy , crossings , and powered wheelchair regulations for safety and compliance . The Hierarchy of Road Users MOST VULNERABLE & HIGHEST PRIORITY The Green Cross Code ( Pedestrian Safety ) Identifying UK Road Crossings Zebra Crossings Flashing beacons , stripes ; motorists MUST give way once a pedestrian is on the crossing . Pelican & Puffin Crossings Signal - controlled . Pelicans have flashing green phase ; Puffins have signals on control box . Pedestrian Cyclist Horse Rider Motorcyclist Road users most at risk are top priority . GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY FOR HARM Drivers of large vehicles bear greatest responsibility to reduce danger to others . LEGAL MANDATES ( MUST / MUST NOT ) Indicates a logal requirement . Disobeying is a criminal offense ( fines , points , imprisonment ) . ADVISORY GUIDANCE ( SHOULD / SHOULD NOT ) Advisory : can be used as evidence in court to establish liability . A. Find a Safe Place Choose a spot with clear visibility ; avoid between parked cars / blind bends . C. Wait for a Gap Let traffic pass . Do not cross until there is a safe . certain gap with plenty of time . PRIORITY AT JUNCTIONS If a podestrian has started crossing , a vehicle turning into that road must give way . B. Stop & Look Stop before the herb . Look all around for traffic and listen : vehicles can be heard before seen . D. Cross Straight Walk straight across when safe- do not run or walk diagonally . Keep looking and listening . Toucan Crossings " Two - can " cross ; allows both cyclists and pedestrians to share and cross simultaneously . Equestrian Crossings Designed for horse riders , featuring higher - mounted control panels . Powered Wheelchairs & Mobility Scooters CLASS 2 VEHICLES ( Pavement Use ) Designed primarily for pavement use . MUST NOT exceed 4 mph on pavements . CLASS 3 VEHICLES ( Road & Pavement Use ) Equipped for use on road and pavement . MUST follow traffic direction on road . ROAD USE & VISIBILITY ( Class 3 ) At night , lights MUST be used ; refiective clothing highly recommended . PROHIBITED AREAS Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs MUST NOT be used on motorways . Avoid dual carriageways over 50 mph . Slide 1: The modern road is a blueprint for shared responsibility A visual reference guide to vulnerable road users , autonomous technologies , and the evolving rules of the UK Highway Code . Slide 2: Legal wording dictates the difference between criminal offense and court liability Criminal Offense MUST / MUST NOT Denotes strict legal requirements . < - Disobeying these rules constitutes constitutes a criminal offense . Penalties include fines , penalty points on a licence , disqualification , or prison . Court Liability Should / Do / Do Not Denotes advisory rules . While breaking these is not an automatic crime , failure to comply is used as evidence under the Traffic Acts in court proceedings to establish liability . Slide 3: The hierarchy of road users protects the most physically vulnerable Those in charge of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm bear the greatest responsibility to reduce danger . Slide 4: Junction priority demands that turning vehicles yield to straight paths Drivers MUST wait for pedestrians crossing , or waiting to cross , a road into which they are turning . Drivers should not cut across cyclists going ahead when turning into or out of a junction . Slide 5: Self - driving vehicles require distinct cognitive shifts in legal responsibility Autonomous State Active The vehicle is driving . Driver is not responsible for driving and may view infotainment . MUST be fit to drive and vehicle MUST be road legal . The Handover Prompt Vehicle systems warn the driver to retake control . Driver MUST be able and ready to take over immediately . Manual Control Resumed Driver assumes full responsibility . Strict laws against handheld mobile phone use apply instantly . Slide 6: Pedestrian positioning adapts entirely to the availability of infrastructure Pavement Available No Pavement Use pavements where provided . Avoid walking next to the kerb with your back to traffic . Visibility Multiplier : Reflective materials can be seen by drivers using headlights up to 3x further away than non - reflective clothing . Keep to the right - hand side . Walk in single file . Face oncoming traffic to maintain visibility . Slide 7: The Green Cross Code relies on a strict five - step cognitive sequence Find safe ground Locate a space with clear sightlines . Avoid crossing on blind bends or between parked cars . Go straight across Walk , do not run . Cross in a straight perpendicular line to minimize time in the road . Keep looking while crossing . Stop before the kerb Halt just before the edge . Keep back from the road but maintain visibility . Let traffic pass Look and listen Wait for a definitively safe gap . Do not risk close timing . Scan all directions . Listen actively ; traffic is often heard before it is seen . Slide 8: Uncontrolled crossings communicate through distinct painted and tactile cues Zebra Crossing Equestrian Crossing Tactile Paving Traffic MUST stop once a pedestrian moves onto the crossing . A central pedestrian island splits a Zebra into two distinct crossings . Designed specifically for horse riders , featuring higher - placed controls and protective barrier infrastructure . Raised studs indicate dropped kerbs . Rounded raised bars indicate level crossings or step edges to guide the visually impaired . Slide 9: Signal - controlled crossings operate on strict , designated hardware phases Pelican Pedestrian operated . Features a unique flashing green figure phase indicating you should not start to cross , but those in motion have time to finish . Puffin Operates via smart sensors that detect pedestrian flow . Figures are located on your side of the road . There is no flashing green phase . Toucan Shared crossing space ( " Two - can " cross ) . Cyclists are legally permitted to ride across without dismounting . Slide 10: High - risk transit zones require elevated situational awareness Parked Cars Buses Treat the outside edge of parked vehicles as the new kerb . Never cross directly behind a vehicle with a running engine . Trams Vision is entirely obscured . Never cross the road directly behind or in front of a stopped bus . Wait for it to move off . Level Crossings Trams move quietly and are physically unable to steer to avoid pedestrians . Cross only at designated tramway paths . Pedestrians MUST NOT cross or pass the stop line when red lights show , alarms sound , or barriers lower . Slide 11: Mobility scooters are legally categorized by maximum speed and road capability Class 2 ( Manual & Pavement ) Speed : Upper limit of 4 mph ( 6 km / h ) . Environment : Designed exclusively for pavements . Rules : MUST use pavements . Only use the road cautiously if no pavement is available . Class 3 ( Road - Capable ) Upper limit of 8 mph ( 12 km / h ) . Equipped for road use alongside vehicles.¦ Equipment : MUST follow rules for lights , indicators , and horns . Restrictions : Banned from motorways . Restricted on > 50mph dual carriageways unless utilizing a flashing amber beacon . Slide 12: Pavement navigation dictates strict speed limits and pedestrian priority Powered wheelchairs MUST NOT exceed 4 mph in pedestrian areas . Pedestrians hold absolute priority , particularly those with hearing or visual impairments . Always approach dropped kerbs at a right angle to prevent tipping when moving onto the road . Slide 13: Road navigation requires strategic positioning at major junctions The Vehicular Turn If safe , check for overtaking vehicles , signal , and negotiate the turn as a road vehicle . The Pedestrian Turn If the junction is dangerous , pull to the left , switch to the 4 mph limit , use the pavement , and negotiate the crossing as a pedestrian . Rule Reminder : When on the road , Class 3 vehicles should always travel in the direction of the traffic . Slide 14: The modern road is a highly synchronized , shared ecosystem The Highway Code is no longer just a manual for drivers . It is a comprehensive blueprint for civic interaction . By structurally prioritizing the most physically vulnerable and standardizing how we integrate automated technologies , we engineer a transit ecosystem that protects everyone .

📜 Official Lesson Transcript & Audio SRT Dialogue 123 Timestamps

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00:00 Whether you're behind the wheel on a bike

00:01 or just crossing the street, you need to know this.

00:04 The rules you grew up with have changed.

00:06 In the next few minutes,

00:07 we're gonna walk through the most critical updates

00:09 to the highway code,

00:10 the ones that could really change your daily commute.

00:13 So let's start with a quick question.

00:15 Picture this, you're at a junction,

00:17 you're about to make a turn.

00:18 A pedestrian is standing there,

00:20 waiting to cross the road you're turning into.

00:22 Who has the right of way?

00:23 Well, the answer might not be what you think

00:25 and getting it wrong could have

00:26 some pretty serious consequences.

00:28 All right, so the biggest single change

00:31 is this brand new concept they've introduced

00:33 called the hierarchy of road users.

00:35 Honestly, this completely flips the script

00:37 on how we're supposed to think about responsibility

00:40 when we're out and about.

00:41 So what is this hierarchy?

00:43 Well, the main idea is a pretty big deal.

00:46 It's not about giving certain people more rights on the road.

00:49 Instead, it's all about putting more responsibility

00:51 on those who can cause the most damage.

00:54 Think of it like this.

00:55 The bigger and heavier your vehicle,

00:57 the greater your duty is to protect everyone else around you.

01:00 And here's exactly how that breaks down.

01:03 Right at the very top, you have pedestrians,

01:05 because they're the most vulnerable.

01:07 Then, as you go down the list through cyclists,

01:09 motorcyclists, cars, and all the way to large trucks,

01:12 the level of responsibility gets bigger and bigger.

01:15 So a truck driver now has a way bigger duty of care

01:18 to a cyclist than that cyclist has to a pedestrian.

01:21 It's a simple idea, really, but it's a powerful one.

01:24 Okay, so that's the theory.

01:26 But what does it actually look like in the real world?

01:28 On your drive or your walk to work?

01:30 Well, it all comes together at junctions.

01:33 That's where these new rules really make a difference.

01:37 Now, this one is huge.

01:39 You know how you'd normally wait for a car to turn before you cross?

01:42 Well, that's flipped.

01:44 Now, if a pedestrian is waiting to cross at a junction,

01:47 any vehicle turning into or out of that road

01:49 has to give way to them.

01:51 So the key takeaway is you've got to be actively looking

01:54 for people waiting to cross.

01:56 And that exact same logic now applies

01:58 to cyclists and horsewriters.

02:00 If you're in a car and about to turn,

02:02 you cannot cut across the path of a cyclist

02:04 who's just going straight ahead.

02:06 It's really simple.

02:07 You have to wait for them to pass

02:08 just like you would for another car.

02:10 They now have priority.

02:11 Now, it's really important to get this straight.

02:14 Even though drivers of bigger vehicles

02:15 have more responsibility, the highway code is super clear

02:19 that this doesn't mean everyone else

02:20 can just stop paying attention.

02:22 Safety is still a team sport, you know?

02:25 Everyone has a part to play.

02:26 And that's exactly why the good old green cross code

02:29 is just as relevant today as it's ever been.

02:32 It's really the foundation of a pedestrian's own safety.

02:35 Find a safe spot, stop, look, listen,

02:38 and only cross when you're absolutely sure it's clear.

02:41 This idea of shared responsibility

02:42 also applies to mobility scooter users.

02:45 And it really just depends on the kind of scooter you have.

02:48 The slower pavement only ones, those are class two.

02:51 They just follow the rules for pedestrians.

02:53 But if you have a faster class three scooter,

02:55 the kind that can go on the road,

02:57 then you have to act like a car when you're on the road,

02:59 and like a pedestrian when you're on the pavement.

03:02 It's all about adapting to where you are.

03:04 Okay, let's talk about this next point

03:06 because it is so, so important.

03:08 It's all about the specific words used in the highway code

03:12 and knowing the difference between a strong suggestion

03:15 and an actual law.

03:17 It really just boils down to this.

03:18 Anytime the highway code says you must

03:20 or must not do something, that is the law.

03:23 It's not optional.

03:25 Breaking that rule is a criminal offense.

03:27 But when it says you should or should not,

03:30 that's official guidance.

03:32 Now here's the kicker, even though it's just guidance,

03:35 it can still be used against you in court

03:37 to prove you were at fault in an accident.

03:39 So should is a word you need to take very seriously.

03:43 And finally, believe it or not,

03:45 the highway code is already looking to the future.

03:48 It's actually laying down the law

03:50 for that next big frontier in transport, self-driving cars.

03:54 So what's your job when the car is doing all the work?

03:57 Well, you still must be sober and fit to drive

04:00 and you absolutely must be ready

04:02 to take back control at a moment's notice.

04:04 You also must not use your phone,

04:06 but here's the really wild part.

04:08 The rules say you are allowed to watch movies

04:10 or whatever on the car's built-in screens,

04:12 but only when the car is fully in self-driving mode.

04:16 And that leaves us with one final thought to chew on.

04:19 From pedestrians all the way to self-driving cars,

04:21 all these new rules are really about one single thing,

04:25 responsibility.

04:26 And a technology starts to take over more

04:28 and more of the actual driving,

04:29 it brings up a huge question for the future.

04:32 Who is ultimately in charge,

04:33 and who is to blame when something goes wrong?

04:36 It's definitely something to think about

04:37 next time you're out on the road.

📖 Hierarchy of Road Users & Pedestrians (Rules H1-H3, 1-46)

📌 1. Hierarchy of Road Users (Rules H1-H3)

The ‘hierarchy of road users’ is a concept that places those road users most at risk in the event of a collision at the top of the hierarchy. The road users most likely to be injured are pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists, with children, older adults and disabled people being more at risk.

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Rule H1: It is important that ALL road users are aware of The Highway Code, are considerate to other road users and understand their responsibility for the safety of others. This does not detract from the responsibility of ALL road users to have regard for their own and other road users’ safety. Always remember that the people you encounter may have impaired sight, hearing or mobility and that this may not be obvious.
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Rule H2: At a junction you should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which you are turning. Cyclists should give way to pedestrians on shared use cycle tracks and to horse riders on bridleways. Only pedestrians may use the pavement (this includes wheelchair and mobility scooter users). Pedestrians may use any part of the road and use cycle tracks as well as the pavement, unless there are signs prohibiting pedestrians. Wait for the pedestrian to cross the junction before turning (this applies if you are turning right or left into the junction).

Car giving way to a pedestrian crossing at a junction

🖼️ Rule H2 - Pedestrians at Junctions

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Rule H3: You should stop and wait for a safe gap in the flow of cyclists if necessary. This includes when cyclists are approaching, passing or moving off from a junction, moving past or waiting alongside stationary or slow-moving traffic, or travelling around a roundabout. Wait for the cyclist to pass the junction before turning.

Car giving way to a cyclist going ahead at a junction

🖼️ Rule H3 - Priority for Cyclists

📌 2. General Guidance for Pedestrians (Rules 1-13)

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Rule 1 ↗: Pavements and footways should be used if provided. Where possible, avoid being next to the kerb with your back to the traffic. If you have to step into the road, look both ways first.
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Rule 2 ↗: If there is no pavement, keep to the right-hand side of the road so that you can see oncoming traffic.
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Rule 3 ↗: Help yourself to be seen.

🖼️ Rule 3: Help yourself to be seen

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Rule 4 ↗: Young children should not be out alone on the pavement or road. Keep between them and the traffic, hold their hands firmly, and strap very young children into pushchairs or use reins. Do not push a buggy into the road when checking to see if it is clear to cross, particularly from between parked vehicles.
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Rule 5 ↗: Organised walks or parades involving large groups should use a pavement if available; if not, they should keep to the left. Look-outs should be positioned at the front and back, wearing fluorescent clothes in daylight and reflective clothes in the dark. At night, the front look-out should show a white light and the back one a red light.
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Rule 9 ↗ (Pedestrian Safety Barriers): Where there are barriers, cross the road only at the gaps provided for pedestrians. Do not climb over the barriers or walk between them and the road.
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Rule 10 ↗ (Tactile paving): Raised surfaces that can be felt underfoot provide warning and guidance to blind or partially sighted people. The most common are raised studs at crossing points with a dropped kerb, or rounded raised bars at level crossings and steps.
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Rule 11 ↗ (One-way streets): Check which way the traffic is moving. Do not cross until it is safe to do so without stopping. Bus and cycle lanes may operate in the opposite direction.
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Rule 12 ↗ (Bus and cycle lanes): Take care when crossing these lanes as traffic may be moving faster than in the other lanes, or against the flow of traffic.
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Rule 13 ↗ (Routes shared with cyclists): Cycle tracks may run alongside footpaths or pavements. You should keep to the pedestrian side. Such routes may incorporate tactile paving (ladder pattern for pedestrians, tramline pattern for cyclists) to help visually impaired people.

📌 3. Pedestrian Crossings (Rules 19-29)

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Rule 19 ↗ & 20 (Zebra crossings): Zebra crossings have flashing beacons. Where there is an island in the middle of a zebra crossing, wait on the island and treat it as two separate crossings.

🖼️ Zebra Crossing

🖼️ Rule 20: Zebra crossings with a central island are two separate crossings

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Rule 21 ↗ (At traffic lights): You should only start to cross the road when the green figure shows. If you have started to cross and the green figure goes out, you should still have time to reach the other side, but do not delay. Watch carefully and check for traffic that may be turning the corner.

🖼️ Rule 21: At traffic lights, puffin and pelican crossings. *At pelican crossings only.

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Rule 22 ↗ (Pelican crossings): These are older signal-controlled crossings. They are unique because they have a specific flashing phase:
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For Drivers: After the red light, you will see a flashing amber light. You MUST give way to any pedestrians who are still on the crossing. If the crossing is completely clear, you may proceed.
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For Pedestrians: At the end of their phase, the green figure flashes. Pedestrians should not start to cross during this time, but they should continue if they are already on the crossing.
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Status: While they are no longer being installed, many are still operational across the UK.

🖼️ Pelican Crossing

Push-button unit.

🖼️ Pelican Crossing

Far-side signals for pelican crossing.

🖼️ Pelican Crossing

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Rule 23 ↗ & 24 (Puffin crossings): These differ from pelican crossings as the red and green figures are above the control box on your side of the road and there is no flashing green figure phase. Press the button and wait for the green figure to show.

🖼️ Puffin Crossing Control Box

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Rule 25 ↗ (Toucan crossings): Light-controlled crossings which allow cyclists and pedestrians to share crossing space and cross at the same time. Cyclists are permitted to ride across.

🖼️ Toucan Crossing

Near-side signals for toucan crossing.

🖼️ Toucan Crossing

Far-side signals for toucan crossing.

🖼️ Toucan Crossing

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Rule 26 ↗: At some crossings there is a bleeping sound or voice signal to indicate to blind or partially sighted people when the steady green figure is showing, and there may be a tactile signal to help deafblind people.
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Rule 27 ↗ (Equestrian crossings): These are for horse riders. They have pavement barriers, wider crossing spaces, and horse and rider figures in the light panels.

🖼️ Equestrian Crossing

Far-side signals for equestrian crossing.

🖼️ Equestrian Crossing

Near-side signals for equestrian crossing.

🖼️ Equestrian Crossing

Push-button unit for far-side signals.

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Rule 28 ↗ (Staggered crossings): When the crossings on each side of the central refuge are not in line they are two separate crossings.

🖼️ Rule 28: Staggered crossings (with an island in the middle) are two separate crossings

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Rule 29 ↗: Do not cross the road unless you are signalled to do so by a police officer, traffic warden or school crossing patrol. Always cross in front of them.

📌 4. Special Crossings & Situations (Rules 33-35)

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Rule 33 ↗ (Tramways): Treat trams as you would other road vehicles and look both ways along the track before crossing. Do not walk along the track as trams may come up behind you. Trams move quietly and cannot steer to avoid you.
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Rule 34 ↗ (Railway level crossings): You MUST NOT cross or pass a stop line when the red lights show (including a red pedestrian figure). Do not cross if an alarm is sounding or the barriers are being lowered. If there are no lights, alarms or barriers, stop, look both ways and listen before crossing.
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Rule 35 ↗ (Street and pavement repairs): Take extra care if you are directed to walk in or to cross the road because a pavement is closed.

📌 5. Powered Wheelchairs and Mobility Scooters (Rules 36-46)

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Rule 36 ↗: There is one class of manual wheelchair (Class 1) and two classes of powered wheelchairs/scooters. Class 2 vehicles have an upper speed limit of 4 mph (6 km/h) and are designed to be used on pavements. Class 3 vehicles have an upper speed limit of 8 mph (12 km/h) and are equipped to be used on the road as well as the pavement.
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Rule 40 ↗: When moving off the pavement onto the road, you should take special care, look round and make sure it’s safe. Always try to use dropped kerbs.
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Rule 41 ↗ & 42: When on the road, Class 3 vehicles should travel in the direction of the traffic. Class 2 users should always use the pavement when available, but if on the road, travel in the direction of traffic. At night, when lights MUST be used, you should travel in the direction of the traffic to avoid confusing other road users.
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Rule 43 ↗: You MUST follow the same rules about using lights, indicators and horns as for other road vehicles. At night, lights MUST be used. Make yourself more visible by wearing a reflective jacket or reflective strips.
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Rule 45 ↗: All normal parking restrictions should be observed. Your vehicle should not be left unattended if it causes an obstruction.
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Rule 46 ↗: These vehicles MUST NOT be used on motorways. They should not be used on unrestricted dual carriageways where the speed limit exceeds 50 mph, but if they are, they MUST have a flashing amber beacon.

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