DO YOU know the new Highway Code? The Sun told yesterday how millions of drivers are unaware of rule changes for our roads that take effect at the weekend. From Saturday drivers must give way to pedestrians and cyclists when turning into a side road. This new “hierarchy of road users” is designed to protect […]
DO YOU know the new Highway Code?
The Sun told yesterday how millions of drivers are unaware of rule changes for our roads that take effect at the weekend.
From Saturday drivers must give way to pedestrians and cyclists when turning into a side road.
This new “hierarchy of road users” is designed to protect those most at risk.
But angry drivers reckon it gives bikers free rein to break the rules.
And the Government are under fire from all sides for not publicising the shift.
The most controversial measure is advice for cyclists to “ride in the centre of your lane” when it is safe to do so.
Groups in favour of the changes say cyclists have long been advised to do this.
Here, representatives of cycling and motoring group each put their side of the argument.
We also explain some of the major changes.
For a full run-down, see highwaycodeuk.co.uk.
MY view is that these new rules will put lives at risk rather than make our roads safer.
The guidance that drivers should keep a minimum of 1.5 metres from a cyclist when overtaking doesn’t take account of speed and conditions.
I cycle in a rural area where lanes are narrow and I curse drivers who come too close. If the traffic is slow, a distance of one metre is safe.
At 60mph, it is not.
Advising cyclists to go into the middle of the road doesn’t make any sense.
It will result in road rage and more exhaust emissions as a result of cars sitting behind them in queues of congestion.
Drivers should look behind them when opening the car door already.
All road users must realise there are a lot of blind spots for drivers of heavy goods vehicles.
Motorists will be beholden to a new code most of them do not even know about.
These new rules are not fair to drivers. In a consultation of 21,000 people, 16,000 came from the cycle lobby.
We should work together to find a code that is fair for all road users, not just cyclists.
THE new code is common sense and helps clear up confusion.
If you are driving a big truck, you have more responsibility than a seven-year-old on a pavement.
It doesn’t say a pedestrian or cyclist has no responsibility. In fact, this places a greater responsibility on cyclists.
Cyclists have been advised to ride in the middle of the lane in certain circumstances for years on the Government-supported Bikeability scheme, previously Cycle Proficiency.
It isn’t delaying anybody if I adopt a central lane position when we’re all travelling at the same speed.
The new code simply lets drivers know about this guidance.
The other big issue is that the existing Highway Code told drivers to leave as much space for cyclists as they would for a car when overtaking.
This led to different interpretations.
“The one and a half metre gap rule is ‘guidance’ and will depend on different situations, such as when both are pulling away from traffic lights.
“All road user groups agree that the government should have done more to promote these new rules before they came into effect.
“These changes have legal implications the day they come in and the public are entitled to know about them.”
