The school junction with a stopped minibus
At 07:45 you are driving a company van south along the main road through Bikenibeu. The school is on the lagoon side, and children are walking along the unpaved shoulder. You approach a T-junction where a side road comes in from the ocean side. There are no stop signs, no signals and no crossing patrol. A minibus is stopped in the side road at the mouth of the junction, indicator flashing left. Its windscreen is crowded with passengers and you cannot see the driver. A group of about eight children is on your left, some already at the edge of the carriageway. A taxi behind you is tailgating, about one second back, and toots. Your speed is 35 km/h; the school-zone sign shows 30 km/h. The road is wet from overnight rain.
1. Who has right of way, and what should you do as you approach?
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Right of way is not the same as a safe path. You are on the main road, so the minibus emerging from the side road should give way. But the children are already at the edge, the road is wet, and the school-zone sign shows 30 km/h. Ease off to at least 30 km/h, cover the brake, and scan the left shoulder and the gap between parked bicycles. Do not wave the minibus out; a wave can be misread and can pull you into a collision. Check your mirror: the taxi is one second back, so brake early and smoothly rather than late. If a child steps onto the road, stop and wait; do not swerve right into the path of the minibus or oncoming traffic.
2. The minibus driver flashes headlights and edges out. What do you do?
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A flash can mean 'I am coming' as easily as 'you go'. Do not accept the invitation. Keep your speed low and your foot over the brake; if the minibus edges out, stop and let it block the junction rather than swerving around it into the children. Watch its front wheels and the gap it is aiming for. If it stops again, proceed only when you can see the driver has seen you and the children are clear. The taxi behind may toot, but that is pressure, not a reason to move. A two-second delay is cheaper than a collision.
3. A child runs out from between parked bicycles. What sequence of actions do you take?
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Brake firmly in a straight line and keep the steering straight; swerving left would take you into the other children and swerving right into the minibus. Sound the horn only if it may make the child stop, but do not rely on it. Stop as soon as you can without locking up, then check the child and the taxi behind. If the taxi hits you, that is a secondary impact; your first duty is to avoid the child. After stopping, secure the scene, check for injuries, and report to police. The key judgement is to accept a rear-end risk rather than a pedestrian impact.