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.

@thetinsoldier

I've not heard anything about this! So a car has to stop on a main road to give way to a pedestrian crossing a side road?? Bonkers.

I've no idea where this was 'widely reported', but it hasn't reached me until now...

If the pedestrian already had their foot of the pavement on the side road you should already be giving way to them anyway.

You need to slow down when turning corners.

Means you have less near misses which one day could mean you run someone over.

And before I get lambasted I drive very carefully around cyclists - there are loads with some sort of death wish round here (though obv lots of responsible ones too) - I treat them like idiots who might do something stupid at any moment, it’s the way I can guarantee i can make sure they don’t come to harm from me! Dh was told when he did his motorbike lessons ‘it’s not the cars that will cause you to come off, it’s the cyclist you need to watch out for’. Cycling proficiency tests should be mandatory!!

I have always said the bike one... as a motorbike rider the very first thing I was told before even getting on a bike was ALWAYS ride in the center of the lane and it's an automatic fail if you don't as it encourages risky overtaking.

People including cyclists always tell me how stupid and wrong I am though. In my personal view cyclist shouldn't be on the road at all unless they have done the same required steps of other road uses (CBT/theory test so they know the road rule, insurance would be dirt cheap but cyclist can cause accident and even kill pedestrian so they should require insurance and registration so they can be held accountable for dangerous behavior).

I don't see how the pedestrian one works as unless it's a pedestrian crossing the car has right of way on the road... yes a driver has to be aware of all hazards and should be ready to break but it would be utterly stupid and reckless to teach people to step out in front of turning cars.

Blinking, feel the same way about car drivers, the ones who jump red lights and don't indicate, shocking

@Chocolatewheatos

Stupid advice. So now cars can't overtake cyclists and have to stop for every pedestrian? They're just trying to make it impractical to drive.

Not at all, they are trying to hold motorists to account for the 1800 people, inc 300 children they kill each year.

We all go how terrible it is when a child dies in the home but quite happy to kill 300 other kids.

@Blinkingbatshit

And before I get lambasted I drive very carefully around cyclists - there are loads with some sort of death wish round here (though obv lots of responsible ones too) - I treat them like idiots who might do something stupid at any moment, it’s the way I can guarantee i can make sure they don’t come to harm from me! Dh was told when he did his motorbike lessons ‘it’s not the cars that will cause you to come off, it’s the cyclist you need to watch out for’. Cycling proficiency tests should be mandatory!!

The thing is driving tests are mandatory but that doesn't stop drivers speeding, not stopping at crossings, undertaking or overtaking unsafely at junctions, close-passing cyclists, not bothering to indicate, idling their engines when stationary etc etc.

Mam0918, so you want cyclists to be treated the same as vehicles with engines, that can cause absolute carnage?

So with this - take an example of filter lights to turn right. Your light is green, you're turning - if there is a pedestrian you then need to stop to allow them to cross?

If there's a filter light then there's likely to be a pedestrian crossing too so the pedestrian will be controlled by that.

@Blinkingbatshit

And before I get lambasted I drive very carefully around cyclists - there are loads with some sort of death wish round here (though obv lots of responsible ones too) - I treat them like idiots who might do something stupid at any moment, it’s the way I can guarantee i can make sure they don’t come to harm from me! Dh was told when he did his motorbike lessons ‘it’s not the cars that will cause you to come off, it’s the cyclist you need to watch out for’. Cycling proficiency tests should be mandatory!!

Before writing absolute shite, you should look at the stats, 70% of ALL accidents involving a car driver and a cyclist the car is wholly responsible.

Number of cyclists killed during LD has doubled.

@ArabellaScott

Okay, found your link to the actual guidance, OP. Thanks.

'You should give way to any cyclists in a cycle lane, including when they are approaching from behind you – do not cut across them when turning or when changing lane (see Rule H3). Be prepared to stop and wait for a safe gap in the flow of cyclists before crossing the cycle lane.'

Right. That makes a lot more sense.

'You should give way to cyclists approaching or using the cycle track when turning into or out of a junction (see Rule H3). Be prepared to stop and wait for a safe gap in the flow of cyclists before crossing the cycle track, which may be used by cyclists travelling in both directions.'

Okay. I can't see anything on giving way to pedestrians when turning?

From the link under the pedestrian section: Rule 8 to advise pedestrians that when they are crossing or waiting to cross the road that other traffic should give way

Yeah feckin cyclists causing accidents everywhere

Bonkers. Not heard of it till now. Needs a big information campaign and more notice to implement

I would go further than this highway code change and have presumed liability, almost all countries in europe have this and they are far more careful around pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.

Parking the logistics of implementing this
I’d like to see driving tests every 10 years. Roads change so much, cars change and driving changes.

I’d also like to see cyclists having tests, lights, hi viz and registrations.

@Fomofo

Mam0918, so you want cyclists to be treated the same as vehicles with engines, that can cause absolute carnage?

yes

You dont think road uses should have to prove they know the basic rules of the road before being allowed on it?

You don't think anyone with the capability of killing a pedestrian or crashing into something causing damage should be required to have insurance?

You don't think people should be held accountable for breaking the law with reckless endangerment?

I'm really failing to see how any decent logical person has an issue with any of these things.

You don't need an engine to be an idiot, have an accident or hurt/kill yourself or someone else.

the car has right of way on the road

on a straight road, yes. But if a car wants to turn into a side road, the pedestrian has right of way - as they should - the end of the road is a continuation of the pavement. We shouldn't even be debating this, it's a indictment of the car-centric culture in the UK that drivers think that pedestrians should give way to them when crossing a side road. If you are crossing someone else's path you should give way. The pedestrian is going straight on, you are turning, so you should stop for them.

@ginghamstarfish

Bonkers. Not heard of it till now. Needs a big information campaign and more notice to implement

Not sure why anyone needs notice to implement, but I do agree that there needs to be a massive advertising campaign to educate drivers that they are on the roads by licence and should be giving way to pedestrians and giving space to cyclists.

@oviraptor21

So with this - take an example of filter lights to turn right. Your light is green, you're turning - if there is a pedestrian you then need to stop to allow them to cross?

If there's a filter light then there's likely to be a pedestrian crossing too so the pedestrian will be controlled by that.

In Germany if there is a filter light to turn left, it usually flashes amber so the car knows to give way to pedestrians.

But I agree the situation at traffic controlled junctions isn't clear - where the cars have lights but pedestrians don't. Not sure if the new Highway Code deals with this.

We all go how terrible it is when a child dies in the home but quite happy to kill 300 other kids.

I don’t think anyone goes around “happily” killing children. I think most drivers are careful and are trying to keep every road user safe. But we are only human, mistakes happen, misjudgements happen and we do miss things.

Really alarming all these posters moaning about turning into a junction and having to wait for pedestrians to cross.

How fast are you taking your corners that your saying you'd have to slam your brakes on?

I have yet to come across a junction where I cannot see pedestirans waiting to cross - where are these junctions with objects in the way that make pedestrians invisible. Suggest you get your eyes tested if your not seeing pedestrians!

Most of drive in familiar routes 90% of the time I'd argue so you know the roads, the junctions, the crossings at the end of the road so where is this sudden danger coming from.

Honestly some of you shouldn't be on the roads driving with the absolute crazy sutff you post. Your the dangerous drivers!

I am a cyclist, a pedestrian and a driver.

If all cyclists cycle in the middle of the lane it will make driving anywhere on time impossible - it's all very well to try to make driving more inconvenient but to do so without simultaneously improving public transport and cycle routes generally is stupid imo. Sometimes there is no choice but to take the car - where if there were proper, frequent, affordable public transport there would be another option.

Where I live I have to come along a single track 'service road' which runs parallel to the main road. It has pavements on both sides of the service road, yet still about 60% of the time a pedestrian has decided it's more convenient to walk in road and doesn't move when they hear a car coming behind so I end up having to beep at them which I hate, or crawl along at 4mph. There's no one on the pavement, there's nothing wrong with the pavement (I use it), they just randomly seem to prefer the road. Will this new rule mean they can tell me to FO and just keep meandering down the roadway?

Mam0918 - cyclists don't kill people (very rarely), motor vehicles do (very often), I'm really failing to see how any decent, logical person has an issue with that

We shouldn't even be debating this, it's a indictment of the car-centric culture in the UK that drivers think that pedestrians should give way to them when crossing a side road. If you are crossing someone else's path you should give way. The pedestrian is going straight on, you are turning, so you should stop for them.

Most people unfortunately seem to accept some sort of road etiquette based on a hierarchy of harmfulness - the weaker should always give way to the stronger, so pedestrians should give way to everyone.

It makes much more sense to place the responsibility by default on the most harmful road users, so that they are encouraged to moderate their behaviour and reduce the risk of harm to others.

@Clymene

Well I didn't know about these changes. The DVLA have my contact details so why haven't they contacted me to warn me?

How are we supposed to find out that that rules have changed if no one tells us?

And how near a junction does a pedestrian need to be to have right of way over oncoming vehicles?

They haven’t changed. It’s not been through parliament yet.

Will this new rule mean they can tell me to FO and just keep meandering down the roadway?

There's no change, they're entitled to do that now!