Section 19: Respecting other road users
This section is aimed at motor vehicle drivers and builds on the information in Section 5 on good driving practice.
Your vehicle does not have greater right of way than any other road user, so, for safety reasons, you should drive defensively. This means expecting the unexpected and making way for other road users when necessary.
Some of the actions you might need to take in normal conditions include: making way for an ambulance, fire engine or Garda vehicle; watching and stopping for children emerging from between cars; and waiting until a vehicle has started its left-hand turn before you emerge from a side road.
To make sure all road users are safe, be aware of your responsibilities towards: pedestrians, children, older people, people with disabilities and wheelchair users; cyclists and motorcyclists; and any animal traffic on the road.
This helps drivers to become safer and more socially responsible, not only to themselves, but to their families and other road users.
Pedestrians
As a driver, you must not put a pedestrian at risk. In particular, you must give way to pedestrians: on or at a zebra crossing (even if they are only waiting to cross); on or at a pelican crossing, when the amber light is flashing; crossing the road, if you are moving off from a stationary position (for example at a traffic light or a parking space); and at a junction, if they have started crossing the road.