2022 Highway Code changes – do you know the rules?
If not, it’s a good time to re-familiarise yourself. If approved by parliament, these changes will be effective from 29 January 2022.
These new changes, if implemented, will put the greatest responsibility on operators of large passenger vehicles and HGV’s to protect those most at risk, namely pedestrians and cyclists. With significant changes in pedestrian and cyclist priority, drivers need to quickly understand the proposed changes to safeguard lives and protect their licences from endorsement.
These are designed to prioritise cycling and pedestrian safety and three of the biggest Highway Code changes are:
Rule H1: New Hierarchy of Road Users – drivers of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm in the event of a collision bear the greatest responsibility to take care and reduce the danger to others.
Rule H2: New Priority for Pedestrians at Junctions – drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from they are turning. Drivers should also give way to pedestrians waiting at a zebra crossing, and to pedestrians and cyclists waiting at a parallel crossing.
Rule H3: Priority for Cyclists when Cars are Turning – drivers should not cut across cyclists, horse riders or horse-drawn vehicles going ahead when turning into or out of a junction or changing direction or lane. Drivers should give way whether they are using the road, a cycle lane or cycle track.
Further details can be found here summary of the consultation proposals on a review of The Highway Code - GOV.UK.
