Road users alerted to Highway Code changes

Image of a zebra crossing from the Highway Code

Shropshire’s road users are being advised about upcoming changes to the Highway Code.

On 29 January 2022 eight new rules are being introduced, along with 49 updates to existing rules, to better protect more vulnerable road users.

The main new rules are as follows.

Rule H1 – A new hierarchy of road users

This is the most significant change and says that road users who can do the greatest harm (those driving large vehicles) have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger they pose to other road users.

The new hierarchy of road users is:

• Pedestrians
• Cyclists
• Horse riders
• Motorcyclists
• Cars/taxis
• Vans/minibuses
• Large passenger vehicles/heavy goods vehicles

Rule H2 – for drivers, motorcyclists, horse drawn vehicles, horse riders and cyclists

This give a new priority for pedestrians at junctions, and states:

• 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 or waiting to cross a zebra crossing, and to pedestrians and cyclists on or waiting to cross a parallel crossing.
• Horse riders should also give way to pedestrians on a zebra crossing, and to pedestrians and cyclists on a parallel crossing.
• Wait to turn near cyclists or horse riders.

Rule H3: New priority for cyclists when cars are turning

This rules states that other road users should not cut across cyclists, horse riders or horse drawn vehicles going ahead when you are turning into or out of a junction or changing direction or lane.

It says that you should not turn at a junction if to do so would cause the cyclist, horse rider or horse drawn vehicle going straight ahead to stop or swerve. You should stop and wait for a safe gap in the flow of cyclists if necessary.

To see the full table of changes click here.

To visit the Highway Code website, click here.