Highway Code Rule Changes

January 22nd 2022 will see a big shake up on some very important highway code rule changes that are bound to cause mass confusion for quite some time. Here's some help in wrapping your mind around what you need to do to stay safe and avoid being in the wrong.

New rules

There are 8 new rules being introduced to the highway code next week, with an emphasis on "hierarchy of road users" being the most significant update. This is being spelt out in the newly named rules H1, H2 and H3. Here's what the powers that be say about it.

Rule H1 - Hierarchy of road users

"Rule H1 of The Highway Code establishes a hierarchy of road users which ensures that those road users who can do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat they may pose to other road users. The hierarchy places vulnerable road users before motorised vehicles so the top of the hierarchy would therefore be:

1. pedestrians, in particular children, older adults and disabled people

2. cyclists

3. horse riders

4. motorcyclists

The objective of Rule H1 is not to give priority to pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders in every situation, but rather to ensure a more mutually respectful and considerate culture of safe and effective road use that benefits all users. This does not detract from the requirement for everyone to behave responsibly."

H2 - Stronger priorities for pedestrians

"Rule H2 clarifies where pedestrians have right of way and creates clearer and stronger priorities for pedestrians, particularly at junctions. It seeks to emphasise where road users: · SHOULD give way to pedestrians crossing a road · MUST give way to pedestrians on a zebra crossing, and pedestrians and cyclists on a parallel crossing It introduces a new obligation for drivers and riders to give way to pedestrians waiting to cross a junction (side road), or zebra crossing.

The proposed new text is: "Rule for drivers, motorcyclists, horse riders and cyclists. At a junction you should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which you are turning.

You MUST give way to pedestrians on a zebra crossing, and pedestrians and cyclists on a parallel crossing. You should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross a zebra crossing, and pedestrians and cyclists waiting to cross on a parallel crossing

Horse riders and horse drawn vehicles should also give way to pedestrians on a zebra crossing, and pedestrians and cyclists on a parallel crossing.

Pedestrians have priority when on a zebra crossing, on a parallel crossing or at light controlled crossings when they have a green signal.

Cyclists should give way to pedestrians on shared use cycle tracks.

Only pedestrians may use the pavement. This includes people using wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

Pedestrians may use any part of the road and use cycle tracks as well as the pavement, unless there are signs prohibiting pedestrians."

H3 - Cyclists priorities and right of way

"Rule H3 clarifies cyclists’ priorities. It makes clear that a driver should not cut across the path of a cyclist going straight ahead when they are: turning into or out of a junction, changing direction, changing lane. This applies whether cyclists are using a cycle lane, a cycle track, or riding ahead on the road. It also recommends that drivers and motorcyclists should not turn at a junction if to do so would cause the cyclist going straight ahead to stop or swerve."