Road users urged to understand rule changes

Transport chiefs are to spend over £500,000 raising awareness of changes to the Highway Code.

Changes to the code come into effect tomorrow, and the Department of Transport said its road safety offshoot Think! will launch a communications drive in mid-February to ensure "road-users across the country understand their responsibilities".

The Highway Code, which contains advice and rules for people on Britain's roads, is being updated to provide more protection for vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians.

The changes put the responsibility on drivers to protect cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders – particularly at road junctions – and give cyclists at least 1.5 metres clearance when overtaking.

The new road user ‘hierarchy’ also makes cyclists more responsibility to be aware of pedestrians.

The changes are advisory but roads minister Baroness Vere said: "These updates to the Highway Code will make the roads safer by bringing the rules into the 21st century, encouraging people to respect and consider the needs of those around them, and ensuring all road users know the rules of the road."

The RAC's head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes, said: "These major changes to the Highway Code should make the roads safer for the most vulnerable road users, in particular those walking and cycling, so are to be welcomed.

"But it is vitally important that all road users – especially drivers – take the time to fully understand what is new as some of the changes are a significant departure from what's gone before."