To post this for road users unaware of upcoming highway code changes

[FluffyBooBoo]

That's loads of info available online, but the AA have done a study that shows that two thirds of people are unaware of the charges.

Photo attached with basic info.

And cyclists have always been taught to cycle not in the gutter, with hazards such as drains and high kerbs. We will continue to do so. No need in the majority of cases to cycle in the middle of the lane to be safe (except where cycling defensively past road narrowing islands)

The new rules make sense, and the newspaper article has misreported them in order to drum up froth, as far as I can see.

Better go direct to the source:

www.gov.uk/government/consultations/review-of-the-highway-code-to-improve-road-safety-for-cyclists-pedestrians-and-horse-riders/summary-of-the-consultation-proposals-on-a-review-of-the-highway-code

The bit about cars wanting to turn letting cyclists pass first is a good move. I've had several occasions where I've been cycling straight ahead in a cycle lane and a car has tried to turn left and almost taken me out!

@SirChenjins

Who in their right mind would step out in front of a car turning into a junction?! It doesn't really matter if you had a legal right of way if you end up in hospital with a life-changing injury as a result of being hit by a car. Surely you cross in a safe place when there are no cars coming - as was drilled into us all as children, and crossing at a busy junction doesn't seem very safe to me.

Well I do, all the time. I won't just step out in front of a car, but I do expect drivers to stop for me if I am already crossing. Yesterday I had to shout at a lorry driver who just came out of a car park at me, even though I was crossing the mouth of the car park on the pavement. Of course he yelled some obscenity back - tosspot.

Drivers need to stop imagining that they can drive however they like and give way to pedestrians, and give space to cyclists. I do think the government needs to do a far-reaching advertising campaign on the changes, though.

That doesn't mean people can cross roads wherever they like, but the point is, if you turn into a road, and a pedestrian is there, they can't just disappear.

How many of you actually read the rules. Clearly not enough.

Pedestrians prioritised over cars is only st junction! Like it clearly says. Not anywhere. And if the junction has pedestrian crossing lights theb those lights are when pedestrians cross. They are amending it for junctions where there are no pedestrian crossing lights.

As for the cyclist rule change it clearly says position yourself in the middle for certain circumstances. Most decent cyclists will do this now anyway. E.g If the road is narrow and there is a blind corner ots safer to adopt the central position to stop dangerous overtaking by cars.

Its not exactly a massive overhaul.

It’s probably to make way for faster electric bikes as well

If it's a legal electric bike these are no faster than a normal bike.

@zurala

Did they did any consultation on this? I think this is going to be dangerous! People will just step out in front of cars turning who may or may not have seen them. I haven't heard about this at all.

It's crossing side toads the driver wants to turn into - not all roads!

If you are driving along, people won't just cross in front of you.

The new rule is to make sure that if drivers want to turn into a side road, and a pedestrian is crossing, they wait for the pedestrian, rather than driving at them. And yes, that does mean if you are turning right you might miss your gap.

@FrazzledY9Parent

I think the pedestrians near me have been piloting these rules for quite some time

They actually already exist, that's why. As for a shunt, that's the problem of someone coming up too close to the car wanting to turn left. And if you signal in plenty of time, and slow down, you'll have time to stop safely (and most pedestrians will wait if they see an indicator anyway, I do).

@Leftbutcameback

And cyclists have always been taught to cycle not in the gutter, with hazards such as drains and high kerbs. We will continue to do so. No need in the majority of cases to cycle in the middle of the lane to be safe (except where cycling defensively past road narrowing islands)

There was that incredibly frustrating thread recently about cycling where someone who claimed to be a cyclist said that they always rode as close to the kerb as possible. These rules make sense and are what should be happening anyway. And just the symbolism of having pedestrians and the cyclists at the top of the hierarchy is important. Far too many drivers think the road is theirs. It'll take a long time to get rid of that viewpoint but slowly slowly we'll get there.

@BringBackCoffeeCreams

Cycling in the middle is safer for cyclists as cars have to overtake properly rather than squeezing past too closely.

But the new rules (as per the link pp posted) state:

Cyclists should ride in the centre of the road “on quiet roads or streets – if a faster vehicle comes up behind you, move to the left to enable them to overtake, if you can do so safely”
And “ When riding on busy roads, with vehicles moving faster than you, allow them to overtake where it is safe to do so whilst keeping at least 0.5m away from the kerb edge.”

So cyclists should move to the edge when possible if there is a car behind them.

As a pedestrian I would never want to test this out. My eye sight isn’t great. I’d usually prefer to wait a bit longer for a clear road. When waiting if a driver stops I’m already not sure if it is to let me cross, due to slow traffic so could move again when lights change or driver not paying attention who could move off quickly when they look up.

Drivers that are letting me cross can get annoyed or honk horn if I don’t cross.

People won't follow this. It's dangerous. I certainly won't be stepping out in front of a car waiting to turn into a junction. Whoever gave this the green light needs their head checking. If everyone used common sense instead, we'd be fine.

[quote malmi]The new rules make sense, and the newspaper article has misreported them in order to drum up froth, as far as I can see.

Better go direct to the source:

www.gov.uk/government/consultations/review-of-the-highway-code-to-improve-road-safety-for-cyclists-pedestrians-and-horse-riders/summary-of-the-consultation-proposals-on-a-review-of-the-highway-code[/quote]
You are absolutely right. I tried to find a better source that kept it simple to post, as I didn't want to post to something that people weren't going to take the time to read, but I didn't find a decent summary. That's why I mentioned there was into online.

Thanks for posting the link ☺️

How has the newspaper misreported? @malmi

@SirChenjins

Who in their right mind would step out in front of a car turning into a junction?! It doesn't really matter if you had a legal right of way if you end up in hospital with a life-changing injury as a result of being hit by a car. Surely you cross in a safe place when there are no cars coming - as was drilled into us all as children, and crossing at a busy junction doesn't seem very safe to me.

SOmeone with £££££ in front of their eyes, it'll be another red letter day for the claims companies, It's another example of how people are being expected to take less and less responsibility for their safety. Someone will be along soon so say this should be dealt with as a lesson in school.

Blimey. I’ll expect to be rammed by car behind who when seeing me start to turn and then stop halfway hit me from behind. Unaware of the pedestrian themselves and unaware or unused to this odd rule. Going to cause real problems on the main road involved.

@yoshiblue

Definitely welcome the cycling one. I completed some cycling training last year and the guy told me to not cycle too near to the kerb as you're not seen.

Personally I'm yet to cycle regularly as I don't think it's safe enough. The more we can do to support cycling and cyclists being on our roads the better.

Perhaps we can also introduce licensing, road tax and mandatory training for cyclists too.

That may have read as sarcasm btw and it definitely isn't. Why should cyclists get all the benefits and none of the responsibilities of using the roads?

aggressively drive at pedestrians (sadly common in UK cities)

Not common at all.

Perhaps we can also introduce licensing, road tax and mandatory training for cyclists too

Why should cyclists pay road tax when drivers don't?

If we charge them based on emissions, which is what is done for other road users, it would be £0 anyway...

@drainitallout we have a cycling club member who thinks like that. Thinks it's the sign of being a good cyclist and that it's only newbies who ride out into the lane. Luckily most are more sensible.

@Lockheart

cyclist wheeling merrily along in the middle of the lane at 5mph

5mph is a fast walk.

Most commuter cyclists in London can manage at least 20.

Utter rubbish. Whenever I get stuck behind a cyclist they are almost always going at about 14 mph.

@BringBackCoffeeCreams

Cycling in the middle is safer for cyclists as cars have to overtake properly rather than squeezing past too closely.

Again, nonsense.

The pedestrian thing is common in many European countries. I worry about British drivers renting a car in any of those countries.

It’s not been through parliament yet.