Cyclists and horse riders are legally to use the majority of roads across the UK, with motorways and some specifically cases being the exceptions. As a driver, encountering vulnerable road users is an inevitable part of everyday driving. When you approach them, exercise extra caution: drop your speed and hold back by at least three to four car lengths until you have a completely clear view ahead to overtake safely.
Patience is non-negotiable here. Never rev your engine, honk your horn, or cut in abruptly. A loud noise or close pass can easily spook a horse or unbalance a cyclist, leading an incident in a split second.
At many signal-controlled junctions, the marked box between the first stop line and the second stop line is an Advanced Stop Line dedicated exclusively to cyclists. Motor vehicles must stop at the first line when the light is amber or red. Encroaching into this reservoir is an offence that carries a fixed penalty fine and points.