New Highway Code rules.

Pedalman said:
There are many motor vehicle drivers that drive around with "automatic anger" towards cyclists, so automatic culpability for automatic anger is a good thing .
All it means is motorists will need to be more aware that when they turn left they can, and have been injuring and killing pedestrians and cyclists.

If cyclists move into the middle of the lane when approaching junctions, motorists will not be able to squeeze past at speed and turn left directly in front of them.
The onus should be put on the larger vehicle and motorist will now have to stop thinking that that they "own the road" and refrain from thinking that they should not have to slow down for pedestrians and cyclists.

There will be motorists reading these new proposals who's automatic response will be "F... that I won't be taking any notice of that" .
Well then, they will have to take the conviction, points on their licence and higher insurance costs .
Click to expand...

Culpability should be based on evidence. Nothing to do with anger.
 
The trouble is will it make cyclists and pedestrians over confident? We have already heard that in Holland the cyclist automatically assumes the cars will give way. This is not Holland! Dutch motorists are considerate and IMO the slowest drivers in Europe. :D

I experienced something similar in Bavaria. I dont know if the cycle lanes in Bavaria are the same all over Germany as I never experienced it anywhere else but they appear as if they are part of the pavement and often cross entrances and worse of all fuel station forecourts. On a couple of occasions I turned into said forecourt and a cyclist and a group of kids on bikes just came out of nowhere at the last minute along what thought was the pavement and I missed taking them out by inches. They weren't just pottering along either, they were flying along. I just wasnt expecting it. Now I dare say they had right of way and I would have been in serious bother had I hit them but them being in the right wouldnt have prevented them ending up badly injured or dead.

Whatever the rule changes, if I am on a pushbike or very rarely on foot ill be acting like nothing has changed and not assuming the vehicle driver I am about to step out in front of has seen me and even if they have is going to give way
 
We should all be taking more responsibility for our own safety, not relying on others being aware that I am stupid and enjoy walking along texting with headphones on or riding my bike with no lights, in black clothing at night on country lanes with headphones and dark glasses on.

I would not consciously knock a cyclist over no matter how stupid they are riding, but there is enough out there vying for a drivers attention, they are the vulnerable ones and should maintain a high level of awareness.
 
I also keep getting alerts for all kinds of new rules, but I haven't found anywhere that lists them all in one place yet.
 
Would you believe it, I just got an alert listing them.


www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

New Highway Code changes for cyclists, drivers and pedestrians from next weekend

Important changes will be made to the Highway Code from next weekend - here's what all cyclists, drivers and pedestrians need to know
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk
trevskoda said:
The thing I find about cyclists is my wipers are not strong enuff to clear them off the screen, and I only get 5 bonus points where I should get ten the same as pensioners.
Click to expand...
I'm sure I've told you b4, you are a very bad man.
 
Pedalman said:
There are many motor vehicle drivers that drive around with "automatic anger" towards cyclists, so automatic culpability for automatic anger is a good thing .
All it means is motorists will need to be more aware that when they turn left they can, and have been injuring and killing pedestrians and cyclists.

If cyclists move into the middle of the lane when approaching junctions, motorists will not be able to squeeze past at speed and turn left directly in front of them.
The onus should be put on the larger vehicle and motorist will now have to stop thinking that that they "own the road" and refrain from thinking that they should not have to slow down for pedestrians and cyclists.

There will be motorists reading these new proposals who's automatic response will be "F... that I won't be taking any notice of that" .
Well then, they will have to take the conviction, points on their licence and higher insurance costs .
Click to expand...
You're going to need a bigger SD card for your helmet cam....
 
Robmac said:
I don't fully understand the new rules but it looks like cyclists and pedestrians will be given priority in certain situations (such as cyclists undertaking near corners and pedestrians crossing the road).

I'm willing to be stood corrected, but it seems at first glance an ideal opportunity for a certain element of society to be looking at making a lot of money out of motorists insurance policies.
Click to expand...
The new Highway Code is establishing a hierarchy, with the most vulnerable users at the top. As camper & motorhome drivers, we are fairly low down with only lorries below us. We drive big and potentially very dangerous vehicles and of course we should drive carefully so we don't harm more vulnerable road users. I understand that hierarchy
groyne said:
Hopefully soon cyclists will have to have a licence, pass a test, have an MOT for the bike(if over 3years old), be taxed and fully insured.
Click to expand...
I drive a commercial van, a camper and a car. As such, I have a driving licence that demonstrates that I should be aware of the 'rules of the road'. I also ride a bicycle.

I, along with every other cyclist I know, keep my bike in tip-top condition. For a very simple reason; if I hit another road user, I am probably going to get hurt or possibly killed.

Like many other cyclists, I also carry insurance for injuries I may cause to other road users etc.

I pay a tax to use my bike on the road; it is called Income Tax. Bikes will never have to pay Vehicle Excise Duty (often erroneously called "road tax") because this duty is based solely on emissions.

Along with pedestrians, cyclists are very vulnerable road users and we need all the legal protection that can be made available.

In 2019, 16,884 cyclists were injured in reported road accidents, including 4,433 who were killed or seriously injured. These figures only include cyclists killed or injured in road accidents that were reported to the police. Many cyclist casualties are not reported to the police, even when the cyclist is inured badly enough to be taken to hospital.

I couldn't find statistics about cyclists injuring pedestrians, but according to The Guardian, an average of 2.5 pedestrians/year are killed by cyclists compared with about 400 killed by motor vehicles.. Whist any death is tragic , the real villains are motor vehicles. The new Highway Code aims to address this by establishing this hierarchy of road user responsibility.

It is high time the UK Highway Code caught up with the rest of Europe and I for one, cannot wait.

P.S. The Highway Code is not only a guide; many of the rules in the code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal offence.
 
Last edited:
clewless said:
P.S. The Highway Code is not a guide; it is law.
Click to expand...
The highway code is not in itself the law although many parts of it are included in laws. Some of it is guidelines, you cannot be prosecuted for breaking the sections which are guidelines, but if breaking the guidelines cause a problem such as an accident they can be used as evidence of culpability.
 
colinm said:
The highway code is not in itself the law although many parts of it are included in laws. Some of it is guidelines, you cannot be prosecuted for breaking the sections which are guidelines, but if breaking the guidelines cause a problem such as an accident they can be used as evidence of culpability.
Click to expand...
You of course are correct & I have edited my post to reflect this.
 
As a long term cyclist and motorist - 60+ years in the former and 60 the latter, I think that these changes are appropriate and sensible. Why? Some years ago a driver overtook my tandem and turned left into a shopping car park immediately. Without disc brakes we would have Tboned his passenger door! He believed his manoeuvre was legitimate because he had been signalling a left turn and quote I should’ve see it. I was not undertaking and he could have waited 10 seconds to turn in behind.
Am continually annoyed about the tax carping - I pay tax (emissions based on two vehicles not road fund these days) so whilst on my bike I do not contribute to harmful emissions.
Re insurance- many of us as members of British Cycling or Cycling UK are insured for third party issues and able to take accident causing motorists to court.
Fully agree that we all should be much more willing to be considerate to each other.
I do advise other cyclists behaving badly - by doing so and annoying drivers they endanger me!
 
Well I would take the bikes of those who think it ok to ride around at night with no lights and wearing black hoodies along with earphones, I have even seen them ride along roads against the traffic at night, what chance have vh drivers got when cyclists are on a death mission.
My two kids have lights on their bikes even though they don't venture off the street much.
 
Robmac said:
I think there are 3 new rules Kev but the final wording has still to be decided.

I was reading this article;

www.autoexpress.co.uk

2022 Highway Code changes: 7 million drivers unaware of new rules for cars, cyclists and HGVs | Auto Express

Research suggests 20 percent of motorists risk endangering other road users and pedestrians by not knowing rule changes
www.autoexpress.co.uk www.autoexpress.co.uk

What I am a bit concerned about is this bit;

The Highway Code revisions also include a new Hierarchy of Road Users, which implies automatic culpability for drivers in accidents with more vulnerable road users (cyclists or pedestrians)

I expect we will learn more in the days to come as it is now in the news.
Click to expand...
Don’t forget motorcyclists! I only hope cyclists take some responsibility for their actions but I won’t hold my breath.
 
I have been a motorcycle rider for many years, cars, vans and trucks, and now my only motor is the motorhome. I have also cycled up until recently. I have always had respect for all other road users be it motorised or pedal power and yes pedestrians too.
My main problem are the cyclists that ride 2/3/4 abreast on the countryside roads.
Now I will probably offend some on here but I find majority (NOT ALL) cyclist to be very ignorant/arrogant. They for some reason will not move into single file to allow motorist to overtake safely and now I believe their arrogance will increase.
It is common sense not to cut up anyone when turning in any direction, but again common sense needs to go both ways.
I have fitted side, rear and front cameras on my van plus dashcam which are all recording. I just hope I never need to use them as evidence.
As for pedestrians, I hope they also use common sense and don't just walk across junctions without looking to see if anyone is turning in. Hopefully for the majority of us who do drive with common sense and courtesy of other road users nothing much should change apart from having to be a little more aware.

I think cyclist should have to by law wear / have fitted some form of registration so they can be also identified/traced when riding without due care and attention. Like going through red lights, cutting in between traffic not moving into single file to allow for legal and safe overtaking and for giving the abuse to other road users like they have done on many occasions. Not to mention the bouncing off the pavements to cross over the roads.
 
Robmac said:
I don't fully understand the new rules but it looks like cyclists and pedestrians will be given priority in certain situations (such as cyclists undertaking near corners and pedestrians crossing the road).

I'm willing to be stood corrected, but it seems at first glance an ideal opportunity for a certain element of society to be looking at making a lot of money out of motorists insurance policies.
Click to expand...
Rules just bring us in line with the rest of Europe where vulnerable users are given some protection.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top