The Highway Code is fundamental for all road users, including pedestrians, mobility scooter users, cyclists, horse riders, drivers and motorcyclists. Rules for all road used has been updated to ensure an improvement of safety of people walking, cycling and riding horses.
Prior to this, a public consultation on the review of The Highway Code to improve road safety took place. These consultations took place from July to October 2020, which received 20.000 responses from the public. Majority of those who responded were in favour of all changes to The Highway Code.
Here below are the 8 changes that will be put into place from Saturday 29 January 2022.
Hierarchy of road users
3 new rules will be about the new ‘hierarchy of road users’ The hierarchy system for road users puts those who are at most risk in an event of a collision at top of the of the hierarchy.
It’s essential that all road users that they:
-are aware of The Highway Code
-are attentive to other road users
-understand the importance and responsibility for the safety of others
These new rules will be numbered as H1, H2 and H3.
Pedestrians crossing the road at junctions
The new updated code clarifies:
-Whilst pedestrians are crossing or waiting to cross at a junction, traffic should give way
-If pedestrians are started to cross and traffic wants to turn into road, pedestrians have priority to cross.
-Individuals driving, riding a motorcycle or cycling must give way to pedestrians that are waiting at a zebra crossing and pedestrians walking and cycling on a parallel crossing.
Walking, cycling or riding in share spaces
A new guidance will be implanted in code about routes and spaces which will be shared by pedestrians walking, cycling and riding horses.
Individual’s cycling is asked to:
not to pass individuals who are walking, riding a horse or driving a horse-drawn vehicle at a high-speed level.
-slow down when necessary to allow pedestrians walking to beware of their presence as pedestrians walking may be deaf, blind or partially sighted.
-to not pass a horse on the horse’s left
Positing in the road when cycling
-cyclist will now be able to position themselves in the centre of their lane on quiet roads, slower-moving traffic as well as when approaching a junction or a road narrowing
-keep at least 0.5 metres away from the kerb edge whilst riding on a busy road with vehicles
Also, people cycling in groups should:
-be considerate of the needs of other road users
-ride 1 abreast as it can be safer to do so, particularly in groups or when accompanying children or less experienced riders
Overtaking when driving or cycling
You may now cross a double-white line if necessary to overtake someone cycling or riding a horse if they are travelling at 10 mph or less.
-You can now leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking people cycling at speeds up to 30mph, giving them more space when overtaking
-When passing individuals riding horses or driving horse drawn vehicles at speeds under 10mph and allowing at least 2 metres of space
-To allow at least 2 metres of space when keeping a low speed when passing people walking in the road
People cycling at junctions
The code has been updated to clarify when turning in or out of a side road, people cycling should give way to those walking/crossing or waiting to cross.
It is recommended by the code that people when cycling should proceed as if they were driving a vehicle when there are no separate cyclist facilities.
People cycling turning right
The code also includes advice for cyclists using junctions where signs and markings tell them to turn right in 2 stages:
Stage 1– once a traffic light turns green, a cyclist must go straight ahead to the location marked by a cycle symbol and to then to stop and wait
Stage 2- when the traffic lights on the far side of the junction turn green, cyclists can then complete the manoeuvre
Cyclists have priority when going straight ahead at junctions
People cycling, riding a horse and driving horse-drawn vehicle on roundabouts
The new code will state individuals when driving or riding a motorcycle should:
-not attempt to overtake individual cyclists within that person’s lane. Instead, they should allow cyclists to move across their path as they travel around the roundabout
In addition, the code has added that individuals that are driving should take extra care when entering a roundabout to ensure that they do not cut across people cycling, riding a horse or a horse-drawn vehicle who are continuing around the roundabout in the left lane.
Parking, charging and leaving vehicles
This updated code recommends a new technique when leaving your vehicles unattended. This is sometimes referred as ‘Dutch Reach’.
When individuals are driving or passengers in a vehicle can do so, they should open the door using their hand on the opposite side to the door they are opening. For example, using their left hand to open a door on their right-hand side.
By implanting this, it will make them turn their head to look over their shoulder behind them. This will then less likely to cause injury to:
-individuals cycling or riding a motorcycle passing on the road
-people on the pavement
We hope this article helps you be aware of all the new changes to the highway code. If you need any help, please get in touch with our crime department at notguilty@alison-law.co.uk.
