In January 2021 the Highway Code underwent its most radical revamp yet, with the addition of the ‘Hierarchy of Road Users’ clause. Most people I speak to are completely unaware of these changes – and a recent survey by the AA backed this up, revealing that a massive 70% of motorists with an AA membership also had no idea that the rules have changed.
Focused on road safety and the prevention of collisions and RTIs, The Highway Code is essential reading for all road users including pedestrians and cyclists as well as drivers – but few people remember to refresh their memory as often as is needed, so the new changes are a great opportunity to get the nation thinking about their conduct out on the roads.
Why have these changes come about?
The Highway Code, a set of advice, information and guidelines applicable to all road users, has been active since 1931. Since then despite the evolution of road travel and modern life very few major changes have been made to the body of the Code, although it is regularly updated to reflect current practices.
The Highway Code is comprised of a number of regulations, many of which aren’t laws in themselves but can be used as part of civil proceedings should incidents occur on the road.
The aim of these new changes, in particular the ‘Hierarchy of Road Users’ section, is to protect vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists.
What are the changes?
The changes themselves focus on a risk-based hierarchy which aims to identify which road users are the most vulnerable (in particular those most likely to be injured in the event of a collision), placing them at the top. The responsibility of all road users, including vulnerable parties, remains the same, but with new priorities outlined for high-risk situations or at specific locations where different road users interact. The overall aim is to reduce the incidence of collisions and injuries.
Priority has now been created for pedestrians at junctions
Under the old guidelines, drivers were advised to stop at a crossing , but it was optional based on courtesy. In addition the onus was placed on the pedestrian to look both ways when crossing a junction where vehicles could be turning into before stepping out.
Now, in relation to pedestrians, drivers:
- must give way to pedestrians waiting to cross the road on a zebra crossing
- must give way to pedestrians waiting to cross the road on a parallel crossing
- must give way to pedestrians who are crossing a road from which or into which they are turning (this is the change that will be most surprising perhaps for drivers – currently, vehicles have right of way)
In relation to cyclists and equestrians, drivers:
- must give priority to cyclists and pedestrians when turning into or out of a junction (previously this was optional), whether or not the cyclist is using the road or a cycle lane
- must leave a gap of at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists
- must use the hand furthest from the door to open the door when they are potentially opening into the path of a cyclist – this ensures that the person is looking over their shoulder first and will spot a cyclist to avoid opening the door into them
One thing I find most interesting during discussions with drivers who passed their test some time ago is the lack of knowledge concerning the difference between crossing types…for that reason alone it’s worth a refresher course to understand which crossings to look out for that are bound by these new rules.
What will this mean for motorists and other road users?
Cyclists on the roads have long been a contentious issue especially in recent years as volumes increase. Cyclists often feel unprotected, whereas motorists often feel risky behaviour by cyclists is to blame for many incidents. These guidelines ostensibly aim to provide clearer directions for both parties to co-exist safely in order to facilitate a more harmonious shared space, reducing the incidence of accidents and fatalities. As the government also moves towards climate targets and encourages walking and cycling as ways to tackle the amount of vehicles on the road, it’s fair to say that clean air targets may have influenced the changes, too.
As mentioned before, although greater responsibility has been placed upon motorists during this change, vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists should still exercise caution and remain alert and aware at all times when using the roads.
What do I need to do now?
You don’t actively need to do anything following these changes – but it’s worth a quick review of the updates to ensure you remain fully compliant with them when out on the roads. I recommend briefly refamiliarising yourself with the Highway Code every now and again as part of my diver training, but few people remember to do so.