You are driving a fully loaded estate car past a school at home time. The rear of the car is heavily laden, slightly affecting your rear visibility, and you see a ‘School’ warning sign with flashing amber lights. What is the safest and most appropriate action to take?

Explanation

The Highway Code Rule 208 states that near schools you must drive slowly and be particularly aware of young cyclists and pedestrians. Flashing amber lights below a ‘School’ warning sign indicate that children may be crossing ahead, so you must drive very slowly until you are clear of the area. When your vehicle is heavily loaded, your stopping distance and visibility can be affected, so it is even more important to reduce speed to a crawl and be prepared to stop. Maintaining or increasing speed (options B and C) increases risk, and sounding the horn instead of slowing (option D) is inappropriate and unsafe.