Highway Code 2022: Changes aimed at protecting vulnerable road users

11th Jan 2022

The Highway Code, outlines advice and rules for British road users, will change at the end of this month with some new guidance that will protect vulnerable road users, including Hierarchy of Road Users and minimum 1.5-metre passing distance have now been put forward.

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The DfT consultation on Highway Code, which closed last year, outlined the need to protect vulnerable road users. The DfT proposed changes were taken to parliament in December 2021 and now await consent from parliament. If consent is received, these new Highway Code rules are expected to come into place on January 29.

This seeks new guidance on safely overtaking cyclists, encouraging vehicle occupants to use the Dutch Reach technique to avoid dooring riders, and giving cyclists and pedestrians priority at junctions without traffic signals.

 

Source: Dutch Reach Project.

Source: Dutch Reach Project.

With many rules within the code being legal requirements, anyone breaking these new changes could be fined, given penalty points or disqualified from driving. A new 'Hierarchy of Road Users' will come into force which is a concept that places the road users most at risk in the event of a collision at the top of the hierarchy.

This new hierarchy will give those that can do the most harm the "greatest responsibility" to care and look out for others, meaning vehicles will have to make way for cyclists alongside pedestrians.

This new hierarchy of priority is as follows:

  1. Pedestrians
  2. Cyclists
  3. Horse Riders
  4. Motorcyclists
  5. Cars/taxis
  6. Vans/minibuses
  7. Large passenger vehicles or courier vehicles like buses and HGVs

Pedestrians are placed at the top of the pyramid as they pose the least risk to users of the road whereas those towards the bottom pose the most risk to those both within the vehicle.

New rules will also mean pedestrians will take priority when waiting to cross a road vehicles are turning into and cyclists will be given priority over vehicles in some aspects.

Additional changes in favour of cyclists including:

  • Priority over cars when making a turn - Vehicles indicating to turn left or right will have to give way to cyclists approaching from behind and going straight ahead.
  • Vehicles making more space when overtaking cyclists - Leaving a gap of 1.5 metres when overtaking at speeds of up to 30mph with even more space when overtaking at greater speeds.
  • Cyclists can adopt the middle of the road when approaching junctions - They will be given priority over vehicles.

Further changes were proposed to rules H1, H2, H3, 163 and 239 - which can been seen in this table of changes presented by the DfT. 

Duncan Dollimore, Cycling UK’s head of campaigns, welcomed the changes but said they “will be of limited benefit if the public aren’t aware of them”. According to the AA at least two in three drivers were unaware of the changes before Christmas.

Bring forward these changes is paramount to road safety and ensuring road users are aware of these change is even more vital. These changes are supported but should be followed by a comprehensive national safety campaign to ensure vulnerable road users, including cyclists, are keep safe on our roads.

Shalini Kumar, CIHT's Infrastructure Advisor said:

It is important that road users are aware of the changes made to the highway code, with the hierarchy of road users giving priority towards pedestrians and cyclists. It is key road users implement this change so that pedestrians and cyclists can feel safer when participating in active travel, which is vital to the nation's decarbonisation plan.

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