Driveways and side entrances along a familiar route can easily become a blind spot simply because they're passed so often without much thought. A car pulling out unexpectedly from one of these spaces is one of the more common surprises cyclists encounter, even on roads they know extremely well.
Slowing very slightly when approaching a driveway, particularly one partly obscured by hedges, parked cars or a garden wall, gives a touch more time to notice movement before it becomes a genuine problem. This small adjustment rarely costs more than a second or two of extra time.
Watch for early signs of movement
Often there are subtle clues before a car actually pulls out, such as reversing lights coming on or a slight movement visible through a gap in a hedge. Picking up on these small signals earlier gives valuable extra seconds to react calmly rather than suddenly.
Eye contact with a driver waiting at a driveway, where possible, offers useful reassurance that you've genuinely been seen before you pass. Where that isn't possible, it's sensible to assume you might not have been spotted at all and to adjust your position accordingly.
On roads with several driveways close together, it helps to keep a slightly wider line where space allows, rather than hugging the edge closely the whole way along. This small buffer gives more room to react safely if more than one entrance produces movement at once.
Staying alert to driveways and side entrances, even along a route ridden every single day, helps avoid one of the more common everyday surprises on the road. This small habit costs very little but adds a genuine layer of safety to routine journeys.
