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

The Highway Code has been current, earning it much easier for motorists to be prosecuted above accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists, amid worries about a deficiency of marketing to raise public consciousness of the new guidelines.

As of 29 January, pedestrians have new precedence when crossing highway junctions, though cyclists have precedence when passing a turning motor vehicle, underneath a new hierarchy of road end users. Hojol Uddin, a motoring lawyer at JMW Solicitors, stated the new guidelines may well give some cyclists the self-assurance to consider a lot more dangers on the street.

“My concern is there will be a scenario where car entrepreneurs are more probable to be prosecuted now than they ended up before,” he told us.

Uddin also shared problems that the Office for Transportation (DfT) was “railroading” the new rules in without the need of adequately informing the community first.

Though the on the internet version of the Highway Code can be current promptly, physical copies containing the new rules will not be out there right until the spring.

Even though the DfT has set up a doing the job group to determine how the alterations need to be communicated to the community, a spokesperson for Biking British isles – one particular of the organisations in just that team – instructed Vehicle Convey that advertising and marketing was unlikely to get started until right after the new guidelines experienced been applied.

Duncan Dollimore, Cycling UK’s head of campaigns, stated in a statement: “Numerous persons won’t have read the Freeway Code for many years, so it is vital that the important adjustments are plainly spelled out, with simple, exact and unforgettable messages.”

The Alliance of British Motorists, meanwhile, is proposing that the Governing administration seems into sending each and every domestic in the British isles a actual physical copy of the current Highway Code.

In buy to have an understanding of the implications of the improvements, and pending publication of the revised Highway Code by itself, we questioned the Department for Transportation for responses which you can read below. Initial even though, right here is an define of what we consider are the most major revisions to the Highway Code.

What are the 2022 Highway Code modifications as proposed?

Rule H1: New hierarchy of street people
Motorists of automobiles that can result in the biggest damage in the party of a collision bear the biggest accountability to get care and lessen the risk to other people. This theory applies most strongly to drivers of HGVs, LGVs, vehicles/taxis and bikes. Cyclists and horse riders similarly have a accountability to decrease hazard to pedestrians.

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

Rule H3: New precedence for cyclists when automobiles are turning
You ought to not lower throughout cyclists, horse riders or horse drawn vehicles heading forward when you are turning into or out of a junction or shifting direction or lane. This applies no matter if they are employing a cycle lane, a cycle observe, or riding ahead on the highway and you must give way to them. Do not turn at a junction if to do so would trigger the bicycle owner, horse rider or horse drawn motor vehicle heading straight ahead to quit or swerve. You must end and hold out for a safe gap in the circulation of cyclists if necessary.

Q&A: DfT on the 2022 Freeway Code revisions

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

AE: Can you validate the impact of the Statutory Instrument is that the Highway Code modifications outlined – particularly people pertaining to new correct of way guidelines for cyclists – will turn into regulation on 29 Jan 2022? (And can therefore be legally enforced?)

DfT: The proposed alterations to The Highway Code will be carried out at the incredibly conclusion of January 2022 if authorised by Parliament. The proposed modifications to The Highway Code are advisory only and not underpinned by legislation.

AE: What are the penalties for motorists failing to give way to cyclists for each the new regulations?

DfT: The new rule to give precedence to cyclists going straight in advance does not look for to improve the regulation but relatively to assure a more mutually respectful and thoughtful society of protected and successful highway use that added benefits all users. You really should not reduce throughout a bicycle owner just like you would not minimize across an additional motorist. 

Though failure to comply with the ‘advisory rules’ of the Code will not, in by itself, trigger a individual to be prosecuted, The Freeway Code may be utilized in evidence in any court docket proceedings (less than the Site visitors Acts) to build legal responsibility. This incorporates the principles which use advisory wording these kinds of as ‘should/should not’ or ‘do/do not’.  

Enforcement of the law is a subject for the police who will decide, on the proof of just about every particular person circumstance, irrespective of whether an offence has been committed and the suitable motion to choose. 

AE: Do the new priorities implement to cyclists only, or do they also apply to electrical cycles, e-scooters, mopeds, motorcycles, and so on?

DfT: The new rules implement to all street customers. For example, motorists must give way to cyclists and cyclists ought to give way to pedestrians. It continues to be unlawful to ride a privately owned scooter on public land.

AE: How does the DfT respond to the demand that the consultation outcomes are in truth very closely skewed in favour of the activist biking foyer? (Who delivered 75 for each cent of responses.)

DfT: We are unable to remark on the Cycling United kingdom claims. Nevertheless, our consultation examination indicates that more than 60% of respondents recognized themselves as a motorist.

AE: What is the plan to talk these extensive-ranging adjustments to drivers, given the time body to implementation is so small. Will there be nationwide Television set or social media ad strategies, for instance? 

DfT: We concur that for the adjustments to have the wished-for effect, it will be crucial that they are supported by focused awareness raising and behaviour alter communications.

Our well-set up Feel! campaign will be creating a communications marketing campaign to support implementation of the variations, equally at launch and over and above, timed seasonally to support instances of improved active journey.

Responses to the Highway Code variations:

“Nearly 3-quarters of crashes involving cyclists get position at junctions and there are fourteen Highway Code regulations intended to prevent motorists from overtaking, cutting in and jogging into pedestrians and cyclists crossing aspect-road junctions.

“Multiple procedures leads to confusion, whilst, most European international locations have a universal precedence rule, wherever whoever is turning into a junction has to give precedence to everyone likely straight ahead.

“This straightforward alter clarifies the guidelines at junctions, and is a significant stage in direction of embedding a custom made that could make a massive change to bike owner and pedestrian basic safety. It would also give freeway designers the confidence to layout far better biking and walking infrastructure this sort of as cycle lanes and cycle paths that go throughout the mouths of side-roadways, earning them less difficult, safer and extra effective for every person.” Duncan Dollimore, Biking United kingdom Head of Campaigns

“IAM RoadSmart are anxious the new Highway Code will raise conflict on the highway rather than minimize it.  Informing just about every highway consumer in the British isles about the new procedures will be a huge activity significantly when most motorists assume they are knowledgeable and don’t need to have to refresh their competencies.

Receiving the communications appropriate will be crucial when some cyclists start out performing exercises their new rights to undertake targeted traffic and put on their own at danger. 

Susceptible street customers ought to have the highest  defense from motorised autos but merely transforming a reserve no one reads is unlikely to supply the influence hoped for. In our see investment decision in segregated amenities continues to be the best way to inspire people to take into consideration energetic journey as a authentic option.” Neil Greig, Coverage Director, IAM RoadSmart.

“The future modifications to the Freeway Code are a reminder that all street end users have a obligation to search after a single a further, in unique the most susceptible ones: pedestrian, cyclists, other two-wheeled transport and horse riders.

“The encouragement of a lot more ‘active travel’ and a growth in deliveries by individuals on bicycles has remodeled road use to some extent, and the Highway Code desired to be up-to-date to mirror that.

“As most folks do not go through the Freeway Code once they have passed their examination, all drivers will have to have to ensure they read through and have an understanding of the new rules before they come to be are living in January.” Edmund King, AA president.

Now check out the true charge of Lower Traffic Neighbourhoods…