Rules for every type of road user will be updated in The Highway Code to improve the safety of people walking, cycling and riding horses.
The changes follow a public consultation on a review of the Highway Code to improve road safety for people walking, cycling and riding horses which ran from July to October 2020. More than 20,000 people responded, most of which favoured the changes.
The changes will come into force from Saturday 29 January 2022.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has welcomed the planned updates to the Highway Code but has called for a major education campaign to ensure that all road users are aware of the new rules and advice.
8 Highway Code changes you should know about:
Hierarchy of road users
The introduction of The Highway Code will be updated to include three new rules about the new ‘hierarchy of road users’.
The hierarchy places the road users most at risk in the event of a collision at the top of the hierarchy, it does not remove the need for everyone to behave responsibly.
All road users should:
- Be aware of The Highway Code
- Be considerate to other road users
- Understand their responsibility for the safety of others
People crossing the road at junctions
The update will clarify that:
- When people are crossing or waiting at a junction, other traffic should give way
- If people have started crossing and traffic wants to turn into the road, the people crossing the road have priority and the traffic should give way
- People driving, riding and motorcycle or cycling must give way to people on a zebra crossing and people walking and cycling on a parallel crossing.
Walking, cycling or riding in shared spaces
There will be new guidance in the code about routes and spaces which are shared by people walking, cycling and riding horse.
People cycling, riding a horse, or driving a horse-drawn vehicle should respect the safety of people walking in these spaces, but people walking should also take care not to obstruct or endanger them.
People cycling should:
- Not pass people walking, riding a horse or driving a horse-drawn vehicle closely or at high speed, particularly from behind
- Slow down when necessary and let people walking know they are there (e.g., by ringing the bell)
- Remember that people walking may be deaf, blind or partially sighted
- Not pass a horse on the horse’s left
Positioning in the road when cycling
There will be updated guidance for people cycling about positioning themselves, this includes:
- Riding in the centre of their lane on quiet roads, in slower-moving traffic and at the approach to junctions or road narrowings
- Keep at least 0.5 metres (just over 1.5 feet) away from the kerb edge (and further where it is safer) when riding on busy roads with vehicles moving faster than them
People cycling in groups should:
- Be considerate of the needs of other road users when riding in a group
- Ride 2 abreast if desired – it can be safer to do so, particularly in larger groups or when accompanying children or less experienced riders
People cycling are asked to be aware of people driving behind them and allow them to overtake when it’s safe to do so.
People cycling passed parked vehicles should:
- Leave enough room (a door’s width or 1 meter) to avoid being hit if a car door is opened
- Watch out for people walking into their path
Overtaking when driving or cycling
When overtaking vulnerable road users when driving or riding a motorcycle people should:
- Leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking people cycling at speeds of up to 30mph
- Pass people riding horses or driving horse-drawn vehicles at speeds under 10mph and allow at least 2 metres of space
- Allow at least 2 meters of space and keep to a low speed when passing people walking in the road
People cycling at junctions
The code will be updated to clarify that when turning into or out of a side road, people cycling should give way to people walking who are crossing or waiting to cross.
The code will recommend that people cycling should proceed as if they were driving a vehicle where there are no separate cycling facilities. This includes positioning themselves in the centre of their chosen lane, where they feel able to do so.
The code will also clarify that people cycling have priority when going straight ahead at junctions.
People cycling, riding horses, and driving horse-drawn vehicles on roundabouts
The updated code will clarify that people driving or riding a motorcycle should give priority to people cycling on roundabouts.
People driving/riding a motorcycle should:
- Not attempt to overtake people cycling within that person’s lane
- Allow people cycling to move across their path ass they travel around the roundabout
Parking, charging and leaving vehicles
The code will recommend a new technique when leaving vehicles. Where people driving or passengers in a vehicle are able to do so, they should open the door using their hand on the opposite side to the door they are opening.
This will make them turn their head to look over their should behind them, meaning they are less likely to cause an incident.
The technique is called the ‘Dutch reach’, named after a method that has been standard practice by the Dutch for many years.
He said: “We have been waiting for these changes since the last major change we had to the Highway Code back in 2006/7.”
“The whole point of the review was to improve cycling and pedestrian safety, which are commonplace in continental countries.
“The ‘Dutch reach’ is not a concept that British people are used to but it is about time it became well-known and it’s not a hard habit to learn.
“If people do it a few times then hopefully it could save someone’s life.”
RoSPA said of the changes: “Sometimes the simplest ideas make the most sense”.
Using electric vehicle charge point:
For the first time, the code will include guidance on the use of electric vehicle charging points.
When using one, people should:
- Park close to the charge point and avoid creating a trip hazard to pedestrians
- Display a warning sign if possible
- Return charging cables and connectors neatly to minimise the danger to other people
Commenting on the changes, Jason Wakeford, Head of Campaigns at Brake, the road safety charity, said: “Brake welcomes the changes to the Highway Code.
“The introduction of a road user hierarchy is so important for road safety. It means it is clear that road users who can do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the risk they pose to more vulnerable users, such as pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.
“The focus on better protecting vulnerable road users in the new Highway Code follows the Government’s July 2021 announcement of £338m for building segregated cycle lanes and walking schemes. As part of the hierarchy approach, it’s vital that funds continue to be released for safe space for walking and cycling, with 20mph speed limits in areas where people live and work.
“It’s vital that Government works hard to promote the Highway Code changes, to help all road users understand the new rules and our shared responsibility to reduce deaths and serious injuries.
“We urge all road users, particularly drivers, to look at the updated Highway Code, learn about the changes, and do their bit to put safety first.”
For further guidance on the Highway Code, road safety and vehicle rules, click here.