The Motorcyclist, the Bus and the School Gate
It is 07:15 outside a school in Brunei. You are driving a car at 30 km/h past a row of parked cars on your left. A bus has stopped ahead on the left with its hazard lights on, and children are crossing between the parked cars toward the school gate. A motorcyclist is filtering up your right-hand side at about 40 km/h, close to your door. Your view of the pavement to the left is partly blocked by a parked van. The road is dry and the light is good.
1. What hazards should you be anticipating, and how should you adjust speed and position?
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Several hazards overlap here, and each one hides another:
- Children between parked cars: a child may step out without looking, and the van blocks your view of the pavement. Expect someone to emerge from any gap.
- The stopped bus: hazard lights and a school setting suggest children may cross in front of or behind it. Treat the area around the bus as a place where people appear.
- The filtering motorcyclist: at 40 km/h and close to your door, he is in your blind spot and may pass on either side if you move.
Adjustments:
- Slow below 30 km/h - perhaps 20 km/h - so you can stop within the distance you can see to be clear.
- Hold your lane position; do not swerve right into the motorcyclist's path, and do not hug the parked cars.
- Cover the brake and be ready to stop for a child.
- Do not overtake the bus while its hazard lights are on and children are about.
At a school gate, the safe speed is the one that lets you stop for the child you cannot yet see.
2. The motorcyclist is alongside your right door. What should you do about him?
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He is in the most dangerous position on the road: alongside, in your blind spot, and faster than you. Your job is to not surprise him.
- Do not move right for any reason - not to give the children room, not to pass the bus. A sideways movement now could knock him off.
- Maintain a steady speed and line so he can predict you and complete his pass.
- Check your right mirror and blind spot before any later manoeuvre, and signal early if you must change position.
- Give him room once he is past; do not accelerate to close the gap.
Motorcyclists are vulnerable and easily hidden by pillars and mirrors. A driver who moves first and looks second is the classic cause of a 'sorry, I didn't see you' collision.
3. A child steps out between two parked cars about 15 metres ahead. What do you do?
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At 20–30 km/h, 15 metres is roughly two seconds of travel - you must act immediately and decisively.
- Brake firmly and progressively, not with a panic stamp that locks the wheels or loses steering control.
- Steer straight; do not swerve right into the motorcyclist or left into the parked cars. Stopping in your lane is safer than a swerve into another hazard.
- Sound the horn briefly to warn the child and other road users, but do not rely on it.
- Stop and check the child is safe; other children may follow.
- Do not resume until the way is clear and you have rechecked the motorcyclist's position.
The exam point: your earlier speed choice is what makes this stop possible. At 30 km/h with a blocked view, the same child could have been hit.