Highway Code overhaul that tells cyclists to pedal in the middle of the road takes effect in DAYS
Controversial Highway Code overhaul that tells cyclists to pedal in the middle of the road takes effect in DAYS amid warning new rules will lead to spike in road rage incidents
From next week, the Highway Code insists motorists must give way to cyclists and pedestrians at junctionsNew ‘hierarchy of road users’ means drivers will have more responsibility for safety of vulnerable road usersThe new code rules state that cyclists should also ride in the middle of the road in certain circumstancesCyclists and drivers must also give way to pedestrians who are crossing or waiting to cross at junctions
<!–
<!–
<!–<!–
<!–
(function (src, d, tag){
var s = d.createElement(tag), prev = d.getElementsByTagName(tag)[0];
s.src = src;
prev.parentNode.insertBefore(s, prev);
}(“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/static/gunther/1.17.0/async_bundle–.js”, document, “script”));
<!–
DM.loadCSS(“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/static/gunther/gunther-2159/video_bundle–.css”);
<!–
Major new road rules will increase resentment towards cyclists and the number of road rage incidents, campaigners have said a week ahead of their introduction.
The ‘fundamental’ changes include encouraging cyclists to ride in the middle of the road in certain situations and requiring drivers and cyclists to give way to pedestrians at junctions.
But critics including the Alliance of British Drivers and IAM RoadSmart fear the policy change could have an adverse impact on the country’s motorists and other road users, including an increase in road rage incidents and dangerous confusion.
The Highway Code contains advice and rules for people on Britain’s roads and a total of 49 existing rules are to be updated with new amendments as well.
It is due to became updated 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.
This Graphic shows how the Highway Code will change in relation to drivers and cyclists taking effect from next Saturday
Cyclists will be encouraged to ride in the middle of the road in some circumstances and, even if there is a cycle lane, they will not be obliged to use it.
Although the changes are set to be introduced next Saturday, charities and motoring groups say not enough has been done to make people aware and that this could lead to increased anger and resentment on the roads.
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 deliberately slow them down.
‘That leads to conflict and road rage and inappropriate overtaking. Everybody needs to know all of these changes at the same time for it to work.’
Meanwhile, the Alliance of British Drivers slammed the changes as potentially 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.
The rules state that even if there is a cycle lane, cyclists will not be obliged to use it and may cycle in the centre of the road
The new rules in the updated Highway Code – rule H1 (pictured left), which introduces the ‘hierarchy of road users’ concept; then rule H2 (pictured right) which refers to how motorists ‘should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross a zebra crossing’
‘All road users have a responsibility towards all other users and should treat one another with respect and tolerance.’
In response to the increased weight given to pedestrian safety, the group added: ‘This could cause confusion and possible accidents, especially if a driver is forced to stop part way through a turn from a main road into a side road and a following driver does not realise what is happening.’
When the changes were announced last year, the Department of 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’.
Boris Johnson said when the policy was announced that it would help ‘unleash our nation of cyclists’.
But according to a survey by AA, 33 per cent of motorists said they did not know the Highway Code is being revamped, including 4 per cent who have ‘no intention’ of looking at the details.
More than 13,700 drivers were questioned between January 8 and 18 for the survey, which was shared this weekend.
Rule H3 (left) refers to when cyclists should get priority, while Rule 72 (right) allows cyclists to cycle in the middle of the road
Pictured: the Highway Code’s Rule 62 on cycle tracks is shown before (left) and after (right) the changes
The new rule makes clear that drivers should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road
The AA accused the Government of being ‘far too silent’ on the changes, but the Department for Transport (DfT) insisted it will ensure ‘all road users are aware’.
In addition to the new hierarchy, there will also be a recommendation for car users to reduce the risk of opening a door into the path of a cyclist by using the hand on the opposite side to the door, as that will often lead to them looking over their shoulder.
This is known as the Dutch Reach technique.
AA head of roads policy Jack Cousens said: ‘With a week to go, too many drivers are unaware of the new rules of the road.
‘While the Government formally announced these changes last summer, they have been far too silent in promoting them.
‘Shockingly, one in 25 drivers say they have no intention of looking at the new rules.
‘These changes affect everyone, so we encourage people to read the updated code now so we can make our roads safer.’
The amendments to the highway code will give added weight to the safety of pedestrians
RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes described the amendments as ‘a significant departure from what’s gone before’.
He said it is ‘vitally important’ that all road users ‘fully understand what’s new’.
He went on: ‘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 clearly communicate the changes as widely as possible.’
Provisional DfT figures show 4,290 pedestrians and 4,700 cyclists were killed or seriously injured in crashes on Britain’s roads in the year to the end of June 2021.
Duncan Dollimore, head of campaigns at charity Cycling UK, said the changes to the Highway Code will happen ‘overnight’ so the lack of official publicity is ‘frustrating’.
These are the Government’s ‘key design principles’ for its new plans for cycling, with the intention that it ‘is or will become mass transit and must be treated as such’
This ‘helps no-one’, he warned. ‘Neither the walkers and cyclists the rules are meant to protect, nor the drivers who are somehow meant to telepathically know about them.’
A DfT spokesman said: ‘The proposed upcoming changes to the Highway Code will improve safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders and were announced to 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.’
The website and social media accounts of Think! have not yet mentioned the changes.
Labour’s shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh claimed the attempts to protect vulnerable road users ‘will be totally meaningless’ if people ‘don’t know anything about them’.
She added: ‘Incredibly, ministers haven’t even begun telling the public about these major changes.
‘A comprehensive national safety campaign is needed to keep cyclists safe on our roads, but ministers are missing in action.’
