new rules of the road introduced

Major changes to the Highway Code came into force on 29 January that are aimed at giving pedestrians and cyclists more protection from drivers.

The new rules and changes to the code include the requirement for drivers to give way to pedestrians at a junction, as well as a new risk-based ‘hierarchy of road users’, which places more responsibility on the drivers of larger vehicles to look after more vulnerable road users, such as cyclists and pedestrians.

The changes follow a public consultation to improve road safety for people walking, cycling and riding horses. It ran from July to October 2020, and received more than 20,000 responses. Most people who responded were in favour of all the changes.

There are eight key changes, the first being the new hierarchy of road users, which places 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.

It includes new rules such as when people are crossing or waiting to cross at a junction, other traffic should give way. It also states that, if people have started crossing and traffic wants to turn into the road, the people crossing have priority.

There is also new guidance about routes shared by people walking, cycling and riding horses and on where cyclists should position themselves on roads, at approaches to junctions and when riding in groups.

Other changes include a legal obligation for drivers to now leave at least 1.5 metres (5ft) when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph, and leaving even more space when overtaking at higher speeds.

Drivers must now leave at least two metres (6.5ft) when passing people riding horses and when passing people walking in the road, for example where there’s no pavement.

The code also recommends drivers make use of the ‘Dutch Reach’ when leaving vehicles.

They should open the door using their hand on the opposite side to the door they are opening. For example, using their left hand to open a door on their right-hand side.

This will make them turn their head to look over their shoulder behind them. They’re then less likely to cause injury to people cycling or riding a motorcycle and people on the pavement.

Many of the new rules are legal requirements and, if drivers disobey these rules, they’re committing a criminal offence.