This week, The Highway Code will change to give cyclists and pedestrians a higher priority on the road.
These rules will see motorists needing to give way to pedestrians and cyclists at junctions, along with cyclists needing to pedal in the middle of the road.
Significant new road rules have been implemented to help keep non-motorists safe. However, many fear it will cause resentment towards cyclists along with an increase in road rage incidents.
Whilst these rules are designed to help keep cyclists and pedestrians safe, the Alliance of British Drivers and IAM RoadSmart fear the change will negatively impact motorists. They worry that it will cause an increase in road rage incidents and dangerous confusion.
The Highway Code contains advice and rules for people on Britain’s roads. This new update will see 49 existing rules change to benefit pedestrians and cyclists.
The change will take place on January 29, pending final parliamentary approval to introduce a risk-based hierarchy of road users. Someone driving will have more responsibility to watch out for people cycling, walking or riding a horse, and cyclists will have more responsibility to be aware of pedestrians.
Other key amendments include clearer guidance for drivers to leave a distance of at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists and instructing drivers turning into a road to give way to pedestrians waiting to cross. These rules will also change how you are meant to overtake a horse.
While many roads have cycle lanes, cyclists now won’t need to use them, and they should cycle in the middle of the road to stay more visible.
Although the changes are set to be introduced on Saturday, charities and motoring groups say not enough has been done to make the public aware.
Neil Greig, the director of policy and research at IAM RoadSmart, a road safety charity, told The Times: “A lot of drivers are going to think that somebody cycling in the middle of the lane in front of them is doing it to slow them down deliberately.
“That leads to conflict and road rage and inappropriate overtaking. Everybody needs to know all of these changes simultaneously for it to work.”
Along with this, the Alliance of British Drivers has called the changes dangerous. A spokesman said: “The proposed hierarchy of road users is likely to create or exacerbate resentment and ill-feeling between different classes of road user, and may lead to irresponsible attitudes by cyclists and pedestrians.
“All road users have a responsibility towards all other users and should treat one another with respect and tolerance.”
The Department for Transport said it would “introduce a hierarchy of road users to ensure that those road users who can do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat they may pose to others”.
When the new policy was announced last year, Boris Johnson said that this would “unleash our nation of cyclists”.
With the new change imminent, the AA asked motorists if they knew that the rules would change. 33% of motorists did not know that The Highway Code would be changed. This includes 4% of drivers who have no intention of looking into how the rules will be changed.
Many believe that the Government has not done enough to alert people of these changes; however, the Department for Transport has insisted that it make all road users aware.
RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes described the amendments as “a significant departure from what’s gone before”.
Nicholas said it is essential that all road users know the new changes to keep everyone safe. He went on saying: “Any ignorance, or indeed confusion, about the updates to The Highway Code is likely to lead to avoidable collisions.
“A concerted and sustained effort must now be made to communicate the changes as widely as possible.”
The Department for Transport has claimed that an estimated 4,290 pedestrians and 4,700 cyclists were killed or seriously injured on British roads in the year to the end of June 2021.
A Department for Transport spokesman said: “The proposed upcoming changes to The Highway Code will improve safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders and were announced to the national press.
“The department has established a working group of key organisations to ensure that messages about the changes are as widespread as possible and our well-established Think! campaign will continue to ensure all road users are aware both when these changes come into effect and beyond.”
If you have just begun taking driving lessons or plan on starting driving lessons in Luton, London or Manchester, all of our instructors are fully aware of the rule changes. We have briefed all of our driving instructors, and they are fully prepared when it comes to teaching these new rules.
You can read more on this story via the Daily Mail here.
