MilesheetThe Highway Code changed, and most drivers never read it
A hierarchy of road users, priority for pedestrians at junctions, and the Dutch reach. Three years on, the changes are still news to people.
The Highway Code was substantially revised in 2022. Unlike a speed limit change, nothing on the road looked different the next morning, so a great many drivers are still operating on the previous version.
The hierarchy of road users
The central idea: those who can do the greatest harm bear the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger they pose.
The order runs roughly pedestrians, then cyclists, then horse riders, then motorcyclists, then cars and vans, then large goods vehicles. It does not remove anyone's responsibility for their own safety, and it does not give anyone right of way by default. What it does is set the expectation of who should be looking out for whom.
If you drive a van for work, you are further up that hierarchy than you may have realised.
The hierarchy, and what it means for you
| Road user | Position | Responsibility toward others |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrians | Most at risk | Least responsibility for others' safety |
| Cyclists | ||
| Horse riders | ||
| Motorcyclists | ||
| Cars and vans | ||
| Large goods vehicles | Greatest potential to harm | Greatest responsibility |
It does not give anyone automatic right of way, and it does not remove anyone's responsibility for their own safety. It sets the expectation of who looks out for whom.
The passing distances
| Passing | Minimum space | Maximum speed |
|---|---|---|
| Cyclist | 1.5 m | up to 30 mph; more space above that |
| Horse rider | 2 m | 10 mph |
| Pedestrian in the road | 2 m | Low speed |
If the space is not there, wait behind.
Priority for pedestrians at junctions
The change most likely to surprise: when turning into or out of a junction, you should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross the road you are turning into.
Previously the guidance only covered pedestrians already crossing. Now it includes those waiting. This is the one that produces confusion at every side road in the country, because half the drivers know about it and half do not.
Overtaking cyclists and horses
Clearer distances than the old "give them plenty of room":
- Cyclists: leave at least 1.5 metres at speeds up to 30 mph, and more above that
- Horse riders: pass at no more than 10 mph, leaving at least 2 metres
- Pedestrians walking in the road: at least 2 metres, at low speed
You should wait behind rather than squeeze past if the space is not there.
Cyclists riding in the centre of the lane
The Code now positively advises cyclists to ride in the centre of the lane in certain situations — quiet roads, slow traffic, approaching junctions — for visibility and safety.
This is not a cyclist being obstructive. It is them following the guidance, and a driver who understands that gets less angry at junctions.
The Dutch reach
Open the door with the hand furthest from it. That forces your shoulder round and your eyes over your shoulder, so you see the cyclist you were about to door.
It takes about a week to become automatic and it is the cheapest safety change on the list.
Why it matters if you drive for work
The Code is used to establish standards of conduct in prosecutions and in civil claims. "I didn't know it had changed" is not a position anybody wants to be arguing from — and someone who drives 20,000 miles a year is far more likely to end up in the situation where it matters.
Sources
- The Highway Code
- The Highway Code — General rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders (103 to 158)
- GOV.UK — The Highway Code, road safety and vehicle rules
General road safety information, not legal advice.