Highway Code changes *

The Government has brought in some new Highway Code changes on Saturday 29 January which will affect us all.

Most of these are plain common sense.

When people are crossing or waiting to cross at a junction, other traffic should give way and if persons have started crossing and traffic wants to turn into the road, the people crossing have priority and the traffic should give way

Cyclists should keep at least 0.5m (just over 1.5ft) away from the kerb edge (and further where it is safer) when riding on busy roads with vehicles moving faster than them.

Somewhat controversially the rules say people can ride two abreast – and then goes on to say it can be safer to do so, particularly in larger groups or when accompanying children or less experienced riders.

The code recommends that people cycling should proceed as if they were driving a vehicle where there are no separate cyclist facilities. This includes positioning themselves in the centre of their chosen lane, where they feel able to do this safely.

Despite several recent newspaper stories decrying revisions to the Highway Code – the UK road safety manual first published in 1931 – the UK’s main motoring organizations are in favour of the changes.

“Drivers turning into a road should now give way to any pedestrians waiting to cross”, said RAC’s Head of Roads Policy, Nicholas Lyes.

He added that changes such as these – which came into force on Saturday (28 January) – are to be welcomed and “should make the roads safer for the most vulnerable road users, in particular those walking and cycling”.

BTN’s view is that it supports cycling but that all users of the highway should contribute to the cost and should be insured.  We are strongly against the idea of two abreast cycling.  A pair of cyclists cannot speak to each other for safety reasons and just clutter up congested roads.  Likewise the right of way for pedestrians stepping onto the road.

www.gov.uk/government/news/the-highway-code-8-changes-you-need-to-know-from-29-january-2022

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OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum

John Hepworth, United Kingdom

I live in rural NW Essex and weekends Cyclists ride in big groups.Cycling two abreast in the centre of the road round winding lanes makes overtaking difficult at the best of times,I favor cycling and alsoin favor also a cyclist.

David Starkie,

I wonder if the Government did a cost benefit analysis on these changes at the proposal stage (reduction in lives lost vis increased journey times etc)?

Simon Grigor, United Kingdom

The issue isn't so much sensible changes to the Highway Code, it's the (near total lack of) enforcement of motoring law. Our resource-stretched police service are told to have other priorities - some of them fully understandable, others in my view over-politicised or simply daft.

Kevin Trill, United Kingdom

Broadly I am favour of the changes. However, driving in and out of London most days I see some shocking behaviour from cars, motorbikes and cyclists. Despite 10's of millions being spent on cycle lanes cyclist still use the road and jump red lights. I don't have a problem riding 2 a abreast for the simple reason that even before the changes overtaking a cyclist and giving them enough space meant using the opposing carriageway for a single cyclist, two doesn't make much difference if you are already in the opposing carriageway.

David Tarsh, London

The really bad thing about these changes is that they encourage cyclists to pass on the inside, riding at speed, with their heads down. This is incredibly dangerous because they will emerge at speed from blind spots and increased accidents are inevitable.

Barry Graham, United States

I was taught to do this when I learnt to drive. I thought it was already law.