2022 Highway Code changes: Do you know the new road rules for cars, cyclists and HGVs?

The Highway Code has been updated, generating it less complicated for drivers to be prosecuted in excess of accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists, amid considerations about a absence of promotion to boost general public recognition of the new rules.

As of 29 January, pedestrians have new priority when crossing street junctions, though cyclists have precedence when passing a turning car or truck, less than a new hierarchy of road consumers. Hojol Uddin, a motoring lawyer at JMW Solicitors, mentioned the new regulations might give some cyclists the assurance to just take extra challenges on the highway.

“My concern is there will be a circumstance where car owners are extra probably to be prosecuted now than they have been in advance of,” he instructed us.

Uddin also shared worries that the Department for Transport (DfT) was “railroading” the new guidelines in with out appropriately informing the public first.

Although the on the internet variation of the Highway Code can be up to date quickly, physical copies containing the new rules will not be accessible right until the spring.

Whilst the DfT has founded a doing the job group to choose how the adjustments ought to be communicated to the community, a spokesperson for Biking Uk – just one of the organisations in just that group – instructed Car Convey that advertising and marketing was unlikely to get started until just after the new principles had been implemented.

Duncan Dollimore, Cycling UK’s head of strategies, claimed in a assertion: “Several persons won’t have study the Freeway Code for a long time, so it is essential that the key alterations are clearly defined, with very simple, correct and memorable messages.”

The Alliance of British Drivers, in the meantime, is proposing that the Govt looks into sending just about every residence in the United kingdom a actual physical copy of the up-to-date Highway Code.

In buy to have an understanding of the implications of the adjustments, and pending publication of the revised Highway Code alone, we asked the Section for Transport for responses which you can study below. First although, right here is an define of what we assume are the most significant revisions to the Highway Code.

What are the 2022 Highway Code variations as proposed?

Rule H1: New hierarchy of highway customers
Drivers of cars that can bring about the greatest hurt in the occasion of a collision bear the biggest obligation to take care and lower the hazard to other people. This principle applies most strongly to motorists of HGVs, LGVs, autos/taxis and bikes. Cyclists and horse riders likewise have a responsibility to cut down threat to pedestrians.

Rule H2: New precedence for pedestrians at junctions
At a junction, drivers, motorcyclists, horse riders and cyclists should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting around to cross a street into which or from which you are turning. You must give way to pedestrians waiting around to cross a zebra crossing (presently you only have to give way if they are previously on the crossing), and to pedestrians and cyclists waiting to cross a parallel crossing.

Rule H3: New priority for cyclists when vehicles are turning
You ought to not lower throughout cyclists, horse riders or horse drawn cars likely ahead when you are turning into or out of a junction or switching course or lane. This applies whether or not they are utilizing a cycle lane, a cycle track, or driving ahead on the street and you ought to give way to them. Do not turn at a junction if to do so would lead to the cyclist, horse rider or horse drawn car or truck going straight in advance to quit or swerve. You should stop and hold out for a safe gap in the flow of cyclists if vital.

Q&A: DfT on the 2022 Highway Code revisions

We spoke to the Division for Transport in late 2021 about the 2022 Highway Code changes…

AE: Can you confirm the outcome of the Statutory Instrument is that the Freeway Code changes outlined – primarily all those pertaining to new suitable of way procedures for cyclists – will turn out to be law on 29 Jan 2022? (And can thus be legally enforced?)

DfT: The proposed alterations to The Highway Code will be applied at the incredibly conclude of January 2022 if approved by Parliament. The proposed variations to The Freeway Code are advisory only and not underpinned by law.

AE: What are the penalties for drivers failing to give way to cyclists per the new procedures?

DfT: The new rule to give precedence to cyclists going straight in advance does not seek to transform the regulation but fairly to ensure a a lot more mutually respectful and considerate tradition of safe and helpful street use that rewards all consumers. You should really not reduce across a cyclist just like you would not slice throughout one more motorist. 

Although failure to comply with the ‘advisory rules’ of the Code will not, in alone, cause a individual to be prosecuted, The Freeway Code may well be used in proof in any courtroom proceedings (less than the Targeted visitors Functions) to set up legal responsibility. This incorporates the rules which use advisory wording such as ‘should/must not’ or ‘do/do not’.  

Enforcement of the law is a make any difference for the law enforcement who will make your mind up, on the proof of each person circumstance, irrespective of whether an offence has been dedicated and the proper motion to consider. 

AE: Do the new priorities use to cyclists only, or do they also utilize to electric cycles, e-scooters, mopeds, motorcycles, and many others?

DfT: The new guidelines utilize to all highway end users. For example, motorists should give way to cyclists and cyclists ought to give way to pedestrians. It remains unlawful to trip a privately owned scooter on community land.

AE: How does the DfT respond to the demand that the consultation effects are in simple fact particularly heavily skewed in favour of the activist cycling foyer? (Who presented 75 for each cent of responses.)

DfT: We are not able to comment on the Cycling Uk claims. Having said that, our session assessment signifies that around 60% of respondents identified by themselves as a motorist.

AE: What is the plan to connect these large-ranging modifications to motorists, given the time body to implementation is so quick. Will there be nationwide Tv or social media advertisement strategies, for example? 

DfT: We agree that for the alterations to have the sought after effect, it will be crucial that they are supported by specific consciousness increasing and conduct change communications.

Our effectively-set up Think! marketing campaign will be establishing a communications marketing campaign to aid implementation of the changes, each at start and further than, timed seasonally to guidance instances of increased lively vacation.

Responses to the Freeway Code variations:

“Nearly 3-quarters of crashes involving cyclists get position at junctions and there are fourteen Highway Code policies intended to deter drivers from overtaking, cutting in and functioning into pedestrians and cyclists crossing facet-road junctions.

“Multiple regulations leads to confusion, whereas, most European international locations have a common priority rule, in which whoever is turning into a junction has to give priority to any individual going straight in advance.

“This easy improve clarifies the regulations at junctions, and is a main move in the direction of embedding a custom made that could make a substantial variance to bicycle owner and pedestrian basic safety. It would also give freeway designers the assurance to design improved cycling and going for walks infrastructure this kind of as cycle lanes and cycle paths that go throughout the mouths of aspect-streets, producing them less difficult, safer and more successful for every person.” Duncan Dollimore, Biking United kingdom Head of Campaigns

“IAM RoadSmart are concerned the new Highway Code will enhance conflict on the street instead than minimize it.  Informing each individual highway person in the British isles about the new rules will be a large process specifically when most motorists believe they are knowledgeable and never need to refresh their capabilities.

Acquiring the communications proper will be vital when some cyclists start off performing exercises their new legal rights to undertake traffic and place by themselves at hazard. 

Vulnerable street people are entitled to the highest  protection from motorised autos but simply modifying a e book no one reads is unlikely to provide the influence hoped for. In our perspective expenditure in segregated amenities remains the very best way to encourage folks to take into consideration active travel as a real different.” Neil Greig, Coverage Director, IAM RoadSmart.

“The forthcoming improvements to the Freeway Code are a reminder that all highway end users have a accountability to appear right after 1 an additional, in individual the most susceptible kinds: pedestrian, cyclists, other two-wheeled transport and horse riders.

“The encouragement of extra ‘active travel’ and a growth in deliveries by people on bicycles has transformed highway use to some extent, and the Freeway Code required to be updated to replicate that.

“As most men and women do not read the Highway Code when they have passed their test, all motorists will want to ensure they go through and realize the new guidelines just before they come to be live in January.” Edmund King, AA president.

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