Changes to The Highway Code designed to enhance safety for all road users – particularly those most at risk – are set to come into effect from tomorrow morning (Saturday) – but what are the changes Island motorists are expected to adhere to?
One of the key changes is the introduction of a hierarchy of road users, ensuring quicker or heavier modes of travel have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat they may pose to others on the road.
In total, 9 sections of The Highway Code will be updated, with 50 rules being added or updated. However, the new updates are advisory so non-compliance will not result in a fine.
Key changes and clarifications include:
- Vehicles should leave 5ft of space when overtaking cyclists up to 30mph and more at higher speeds
- Vehicles passing horses should do so at less than 10mph and with 6.5ft of space
- Vehicles should pass pedestrians with 6.5ft of space and keep speed low
- Cyclists should ride in the centre of the lane on quiet roads, in slow-moving traffic and at junctions instead of in the gutter
- Cyclists are being reminded they can ride 2 abreast but should consider the needs of other road users
- Vehicles should give way to pedestrians crossing or about to cross the road at a junction
- Pedestrians that have started crossing have priority over traffic wanting to turn into the road
- Cyclists should not pass people walking, riding a horse or driving a horse-drawn vehicle closely or at high speed, particularly from behind
- Cyclists can pass slower-moving or stationary vehicles on the left or right – but should not pass a horse on the left
- Vehicles should give priority to cyclists on roundabouts
- When exiting a vehicle, drivers and passengers should use the opposite hand to normal – a ‘Dutch Reach’ – which forces their head to be turned
- When charging an electric vehicle drivers should avoid creating a trip hazard, display a warning sign and return charging cables when finished
Many Islanders have commented in recent weeks that it is not possible to pass horses at 6.5ft on many local roads, especially when riders are 2 abreast – or are holding onto a horse that isn’t being ridden.
Roads Minister, Baroness Vere, has said:
“I’m proud to say we have some of the safest roads in the world, but I’m determined to make them safer still for everyone.
“These updates to The Highway Code will do just that by bringing the rules into the 21st century, encouraging people to respect and consider the needs of those around them, and ensuring all road-users know the rules of the road.”
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As part of their work to improve road safety even further, the Department for Transport also recently announced plans to change the laws around using handheld mobile phones while driving. They will be made stricter later this year, making virtually any use of them behind the wheel illegal, with those caught breaking the law potentially facing 6 penalty points and a £200 fine.
It would be far better to concentrate on penalizing the zombies who cant drive a few hundred yards without gawping at their stupid phones, that would “reduce the danger or threat to other road users”
Not JUST phones, you should see the amount that are ‘Too busy’ having a chinwag to there passenger to concentrate on the road ahead and nearly cause crashes. As for these bonkers rules can i suggest Cyclists use the CYCLE PATHS like along Fairlee for instance and not try to race between cars..
Yes STIGGY. Cyclists keep to the cycle paths and motorists keep to the car paths, simples.
I agree with you but it’s not just drivers who turn into zombies when using their phones. It’s pedestrians too, mainly the younger ones, who are so engrossed in their phones that they don’t see anybody or anything else around them including other pedestrians or kerbs etc and either walk right into you or straight out into the road.
I am forced to give cyclists 5 ft of space but they can ride within millimetres of my vehicle as they regularly do at Fairlee, they ignore one way restrictions, traffic lights, ride on the wrong side of the Esplanade at Ryde, ride on the pavements yet absolutely nothing is done to stop them, in fact last year i watched 2 police officers step int the road on Ryde Esplanade to allow a group of 5 adult cyclists to ride past on the pavement and did nothing to stop them.
As an ex HGV driver my nightmare was stupid cyclists riding up my near side as i was turning an artic left, they ignore warning signs and exhibit absolutely no common sense.
When I learned to drive, my instructor told me when passing cyclists and horse riders, to ‘Give them enough room to fall off’.
Cyclists can pass up the inside of cars and lorries in slow moving traffic sounds like more cyclists will be getting killed then when lorries turn left but can’t see them
I don’t understand how it’s safe to pass a lorry on the inside on a bike but not a horse?
Think about it!
Its just not some cyclists that do not adhere to the highway code, its the majority of the illegal electric scooters.
Until the Council and Police start to actually do something about them, its only going to get worse.
Bring back a dedicated traffic unit.
Why should I pay road tax yet have to play second fiddle to those who pay nothing to use our roads.
Road tax is an emissions tax and bikes have no emissions. Based on this comment electric cars shouldn’t be allowed on the roads. Also a lot of Cyclists have insurance in the same way as motorists.
That’s because you don’t pay road tax. Road funds come from a central pot, paid for by everyone.
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/pj-investigations/2477257/the-road-tax-debate-can-drivers-claim-to-own-the-roads/
Is there an actual road tax in UK? I thought there’s only vehicle excise duty? And it depends on CO2 so any vehicle, including car, with zero-emissions is equally exempt already. And it all goes to one Treasury together with other taxes, it’s not like money from VED is locked to road infrastructure projects only or vice versa, road infrastructure projects are equally paid for by many taxes, like VAT that everyone pays. Unless, you mean increasing provisions for wear and tear of roads? But even then 30lbs bike vs 4000lbs car will mean pennies for cyclists. A charge of £100pa for a bike would mean equivalent of £13,000pa for a single car, ouch!
Has anyone even considered the absolute chaos that will be caused in Newport alone if all cars have to wait for pedestrians to cross the road at the junction where the banks are the tailbacks could prove horrendous. Why not put Zebra crossings on every junction. I cannot believe that some sane person came up with these new codes perhaps they would like to come and visit the Isle of Wight if l have to give a cyclist 6.5ft when overtaking then they should give 6.5ft when undertaking.
Baroness Vere, that’s who. As she said, ‘I’m determined to make them safer still’, so in other words i’m going to force through any stupid ideas my privileged chums come up with in the future too.
there are no white lines across the road where the banks are… YET…
Lets face it, we are forced to pay extortionate prices to drive a car, initial car purchase, taxes, insurance, MOT, fuel… the list goes on.
Add to that the fact that roads and the urban environment are choked with vehicles making no aspect of driving pleasurable, it’s little wonder ever more people are taking to cycling, the logical choice.
I can see more accidents happening with these changes
It’s the rise of the entitled lycra clad idiot.
When I was a child and cycling on the road, beforehand I had to do what was called cycling proficiency, you didnt pass that, you were not allowed to ride to school, by the school itself, and your parents. It was also, most importantly made very clear to use, that any form of stupidity or lapse of sensible behaviour on our part would result in immediate death.
And to finesse the point further, ‘think of the poor driver, if they run you over they will be traumatised for life’.
Ah, the good old days when sense prevailed, sadly now lost to the woke neo socialist agenda.
When they start getting run over, knocked off and punched -they will rethink it eventually
If we casually accept and upvote such aggressive comments about knocking off and punching people, I’m no longer surprised by the amount of criminal offences on the Island honestly.
If this is the mood of a “normal islander in the comments” then is anyone surprised by our crime rates?
“isle of wighter” is definitely not a typical or normal islander.
“They seek him here they seek him there they seek that damd islander everywhere”.
Expect lycra yobs on the Randonnee and other events, will block our roads. Stop all spending on cycle lanes as they are unused by selfish bikers.
Dose this mean that cyclist will stop at traffic lights and give hand signals when turning and not ride two abreast well we will, see?
Actually… new highway code we are discussing does stipulate it is okay, and even recommended in larger groups, to ride two abreast as it shortens the length a car has to spend in dangerous position skewed to the other lane in order to go pass them.
Email Bob Seely, if you feel these changes are wrong. We already have our roads congested by bikes with all there road races. Without this crass move.
Ok, I’m going to throw somthing else in the cauldron: why do I come across horses on forest road at dusk and in rush hour traffic? You horse owners can tell me it’s your right, you have to use the road to get to a field etc. I dont see the common sense in creating that level of risk, no matter how well behaved all parties are. You wouldnt jump in a river full of alligators would you?
Competent drivers have been dealing with vulnerable road users correctly for years under the current hierarchy of road use, the reason it is being reinforced is because there’s a problem group of drivers who don’t, won’t or can’t give vulnerable road users the protection they need.
There are plenty of safe driving organisation you can look up to for even more best practices than what Highway Code includes.
This codification was added in order to easily prosecute jerks who create dangerous situations on a road, to all users including other drivers.
No biggie for me as a safe driver.
Here, here, well said.
I agree 100% of your comments.
Unfortunately the island roads are filled with idiots, bit like this comments page.
Well I suppose it will not be long before we hear of more cyclist accidents on the Island… ‘ Sorry officer but the cyclist pulled out and hit side of my car…
Just saw a cyclist riding, no hands on bars, as was texting on mobile… !!
STOP CYCLISTS GOING THROUGH RED LIGHTS and wrong way on one way streets… and walk bikes through pedestrianized areas… PLEASE
Just wait, there will be loads of rear-end collisions where drivers are stopping in unpredictable places like right on a junction.
I credit the fact giving cyclists space however. When traffic has stopped and that cyclist catches up at traffic lights. Can these laws be forced when they weave in and out of vehicles to get to the front AND then jump lights using the pavement after causing huge tail backs!
Time to get a petition up and change the laws for cyclists one thinks? Who is with me if I set this up?