You may not be aware, but at the end of 2022 the government made some changes to the highway code that affect almost all road users from pedestrians and horse riders to cyclists and cars. A total of 10 sections of the highway code were updated with over 50 rules being changed to “improve the safety of people walking, cycling and riding horses.”
We’ve taken a closer look at some of the main changes to be aware of, and how they will affect you.
The hierarchy of road users has been updated to place those most at risk in the event of a collision or accident at the top of the list.
The new hierarchy is as follows:
- Pedestrians
- Cyclists
- Horse riders
- Motorcyclists
- Cars and taxis
- Vans and minibuses
- HGVs
According to the government
website, “the idea is to highlight that those who can do the greatest harm
have the greatest responsibility to reduce danger to others. However, this does
not remove the need for all road users to behave responsibly.”
Traffic should give way to pedestrians crossing the road at junctions
This update clarifies traffic should give way when people are crossing or waiting to cross at a junction and that “people driving, riding a motorcycle or cycling must give way to people on a zebra crossing and people walking and cycling on a parallel crossing.”
The code reiterates that “a parallel crossing is similar to a zebra crossing, but includes a cycle route alongside the black and white stripes.”
Cyclists and horse riders must respect the safety of people walking in shared spaces such as bridleways, footpaths, and shared cycle and walking paths.
The new highway code states that cyclists should:
- Not pass people walking, riding a horse, or driving a horse-drawn vehicle closely or at high speed, particularly from behind
- Should slow down when necessary and let people walking know they are there (for example, by ringing their bell)
- Remember that people walking may be deaf, blind or partially sighted
- Should not pass a horse on the horse’s left
The road position of cyclists has been updated
You may find yourself shouting at a cyclist to move over, but in fact cyclists should ride in the centre of a lane on quiet roads and keep at least 1.5 feet between them and the edge of the kerb.
Cyclists can ride 2 abreast
This is another rule that may seem odd, but cyclists can ride 2 abreast especially if one rider is less experienced than the other. They are advised to be considerate of other road users and to be aware of vehicles that may wish to overtake them.
Cyclists must give way to pedestrians who when turning into or out of a side road
Other rule changes in this section include:
Cyclists turning right at a junction in 2 stages
Cyclists to proceed at a junction as if they were driving a car
Cyclists having priority to go straight ahead at junctions
Cyclists have priority on a roundabout
Updates to the highway code mean that people driving a car or motorbike should give priority to those riding a bike. Cyclists may also use the left-hand lane of a roundabout no matter which exit they intend to use.
Using an EV charge point
This is the first time the highway code has included guidance on charge points for electric vehicles. The code states people using a charge point should:
- Park close to the charge point and avoid creating a trip hazard for people walking from trailing cables
- Display a warning sign if possible
- Return charging cables and connectors neatly to minimise the danger to other people and avoid creating an obstacle for other road users
You can download the highway code in full for
free here or view
the list of updates here. Stay safe
out there, guys!
