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Highway Code changes
from 29th January 2022
An overhaul of the Highway Code comes into force today giving pedestrians and cyclists greater priority although the UK Government advertising campaign will not launch until 14th February 2022. That campaign will be run by "Think!, the road safety offshoot of the Department for Transport. Everyone needs to be who uses the roads - pedestrians, cyclists and drivers - needs to be aware of the changes. See our information note

The Highway Code: 8 changes you need to know from 29th January 2022
See the GOV.UK news item

Probably the changes that will cause concerns for drivers is that cyclists can undertake on the inside or overtake on the outside of a vehicle at their own discretion. The updated code confirms that cyclists may pass slower-moving or stationary traffic on their right or left. They should proceed with caution as people driving may not be able to see them. This is particularly important: on the approach to junctions.

Comment: this cyclists' undertaking situation is going to be a real concern for drivers because very great care will be needed to check the rear and nearside mirrors before making a left turn into a side road. That may involve a driver halting their vehicle in a lane until all cyclists have passed on the nearside of the vehicle. Impatient drivers behind may find a car ahead that is stopped in the lane frustrating and even unexpected - so do keep your stop lights on while you wait for cyclists to undertake and pass you..

Classic car drivers will need to ensure their side mirrors, particulary on the nearside, are well adjusted because they are generally much smaller than those on modern cars and in most cases without remote electronic adjustment. Glancing to look at the side mirror to check whether there are any cyclists there (possibly hidden in a "blind spot" off the rear wing) together with monitoring the internal rear view mirror, particularly in busy urban traffic, will be essential.
Posted: 171105

Rule H2: New priority for pedestrians at road junctions At a junction, drivers, motor cyclists, horse riders and cyclists should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which you are turning. See our information note	Rule H3: New priority for cyclists when cars are turning Drivers and motorcyclists should not cut across cyclists going ahead when you are turning into or out of a junction or changing direction of lane. This applies whether the cyclist is using a cycle lane or riding ahead on the road and you should give way to them. Do not turn at a junction if to do so would cause the cyclist going straight ahead to stop or swerve. A driver should stop and wait for a safe gap in the flow of cyclists if necessary.
Cyclists The New Highway Code confirms it is not illegal for cyclists to ignore cycle lanes. There is updated guidance for people cycling about positioning themselves which includes: riding in the centre of their lane on quiet roads, in slower-moving traffic and at the approach to junctions or road narrowings. Also keeping at least 0.5 metres (just over 1.5 feet) away from the kerb edge (and further where it is safer) when riding on busy roads with vehicles moving faster than them. Note: cyclists can undertake on the inside or overtake on the outside of a vehicle at their own discretion. The updated code confirms that cyclists may pass slower-moving or stationary traffic on their right or left. They should proceed with caution as people driving may not be able to see them. This is particularly important: on the approach to junctions. See Rule H3 diagram above.
Where have these changes come from? The changes follow a public consultation on a review of The Highway Code to improve road safety for people walking, cycling and riding horses. It ran from July to October 2020, and received more than 20,000 responses from the public, businesses and other organisations. The GOV.UK website say "most people who responded were in favour of all the changes". Many people were not aware of the review or the nature of the changes that were coming so the announcement earlier this week that the new Highway Code rules would apply from Saturday 29th January 2022 has come as a surprise. You can see details of the consultation to review of The Highway Code to improve road safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders on the GOV.UK website. Research and analysis - sharing our roads safely An update on the research exploring behaviours and attitudes towards sharing the road with different road users, including views on some proposed changes to The Highway Code was released as a news item on 30th July 2021. The Department for Transport commissioned this research to explore current behaviours and attitudes towards sharing the road with different types of road users and to understand views on the proposed changes to The Highway Code. Qualitative and quantitative research was conducted between September and November 2020 with different types of road users including drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders. GOV.UK website Thinking of getting a dash cam? A dash cam can record useful information on the behaviour of other road users but identifying a lycra clad cyclist undertaking at speed without caution even with dash cam footage can be difficult. More & More