Walking and cycling prioritised in new Highway code.

[Hagar]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58021450

A new hierarchy of dangerous road users, cars, vans and HGV, will make them more responsible for other road users, cyclists and pedestrians particularly at crossings and junctions. Another nail in the coffin for long term private car usage and the start of a long decline maybe?

 

[mjt]

The government protecting the most vulnerable road users? Outrageous.

How dare they try to prevent deaths with a new hierarchy of dangerous road users!

 

[Maccapacca]

This will outrage everyone who knows they have right of way and bleat on facebook.

It's okay you have right of way and the massive effort you needed to ease off the gas and not run over a kid on a bike is an outrageous

 

[Hotwired]

Under the existing code, traffic does not have to give way at a zebra crossing until a pedestrian has moved onto the crossing.

Interesting. So you were apparently meant to walk into the road instead of waiting for traffic to acknowledge you.

 

[ahar]

"The current code also tells motorists turning into a road at a junction to give way to pedestrians "if they have started to cross"

More driver and cyclist education on this one (actually Rule 171 of the highway code) would be good in London.

 

[kaiowas]

Is it me or does that article completely fail to mention what the changes actually are?

Without comprehensive and clear publicity regarding the exact changes it just sounds like a recipe for increased conflict between different types of road users and more accidents to me. I can imagine a certain breed of militant cyclists and pedestrians trying to enforce their ‘rights’ when they encounter motorists who have been driving for 40 years without any additional training or education on changes to the rules of the road and just carry on as they always have done.

 

[iamtheoneneo]

I'm sure they will when it comes closer to the release. We are some months off yet but they initially sound like decent changes.

Also you make a good case for regular testing.

 

[Hagar]

Stopping at a traffic light and a car stops to my right pulling in front of me to turn left, that's my current bugbear.
After a million miles or so as a car driver I largely defer to my wife now as I can't be bothered with the hassles. I do shop a lot by cycle though.

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

Is it me or does that article completely fail to mention what the changes actually are?

Without comprehensive and clear publicity regarding the exact changes it just sounds like a recipe for increased conflict between different types of road users and more accidents to me. I can imagine a certain breed of militant cyclists and pedestrians trying to enforce their ‘rights’ when they encounter motorists who have been driving for 40 years without any additional training or education on changes to the rules of the road and just carry on as they always have done.

Your supposed to keep up to date with the full text, which I assume means your supposed to read it frequently enough that any changes you would pickup by default.
How many actually do this? very very few I would suggest, myself included.

 

[dave28]

Many drivers these days are like brain dead zombies driving the cars, your driving a 1000 - 2000 KG chunk of steel on wheels and drive them without a care in the world untill they hit someone.

 

[AWPC]

In London cyclists are hitting a lot of pedestrians right now causing serious injuries to them so as this government is so bonkers & out of touch with the everyday reality does not surprise me at all! From the same team of clueless morons who brought you the super unsafe smart motorways

 

[Haggisman]

"The Highway Code currently treats children walking to school and lorry drivers as if they are equally responsible for their own or other people's safety.

"These changes will redress that balance.""

Just no - shouldn't the children walking to school have parents to be responsible for their safety? It's not Dave the lorry driver's fault if your 6 year old manages to dive under his wheels because you're a stupid bint who is too busy checking Facebook to actually do your job properly

"The new code will also ensure cyclists have priority when travelling straight ahead at junctions."

I wonder if this will take into account whether the cyclist went through a red light when yours was green?

 

[Hagar]

In London cyclists are hitting a lot of pedestrians right now causing serious injuries to them so as this government is so bonkers & out of touch with the everyday reality does not surprise me at all! From the same team of clueless morons who brought you the super unsafe smart motorways

Not so many as cars do, also smart motorways have been in inception since way before 2010, if you are talking governments not just the Highways Agency.
Actually I agree Smart motorways are stupid which is why we need to reduce traffic.

Just no - shouldn't the children walking to school have parents to be responsible for their safety? It's not Dave the lorry driver's fault if your 6 year old manages to dive under his wheels because you're a stupid bint who is too busy checking Facebook to actually do your job properly

I wonder if this will take into account whether the cyclist went through a red light when yours was green?

It's not just six year olds, but many drivers need to slow down and concentrate more on the paths and roads around them. Pedestrians and cyclists still do some stupid things but the penalty should not be death. To the extent it is now anyway.

 

[Haggisman]

It's not just six year olds, but many drivers need to slow down and concentrate more on the paths and roads around them. Pedestrians and cyclists still do some stupid things but the penalty should not be death. To the extent it is now anyway.

Oh of course, plenty of stupid drivers out there as well, but I fear that things like this may push too far the other way, to the extent that in an incident between a car and a pedestrian/cyclist, it is always treated as the driver's fault, regardless of circumstances.

 

[adolf hamster]

given how often folks regardless of their choice of locomotion ignore various parts of the highway code/common sense safety i doubt this will make any difference outside of insurance settlements.

 

[Hagar]

Oh of course, plenty of stupid drivers out there as well, but I fear that things like this may push too far the other way, to the extent that in an incident between a car and a pedestrian/cyclist, it is always treated as the driver's fault, regardless of circumstances.

Yes much more seperation needs to be effected. This may increase road space for some and reduce it for others. Car use in towns is becoming prohibitive as they were not designed for the traffic load so adjustments are needed. I fully agree that stupidity is a human trait. Judgements as to fault should be unchanged but reducing the interfaces would be good.

 

[Greebo]

Although the rules need updating, I am also sure they will have made a mess of them. there has been a lot said on the subject by the haulage industry who will be hit the hardest on the basis the biggest vehicle has the most responsibility and basically has to give way to everybody else.

I know the RHA were complaining that under the new rules an artic vehicle cant turn left if it would mean a cyclist coming up behind them had to brake. If there was a constant flow of cyclists the truck would end up waiting there for ages while he watches them all undertake him.

Yes much more seperation needs to be effected. This may increase road space for some and reduce it for others. Car use in towns is becoming prohibitive as they were not designed for the traffic load so adjustments are needed. I fully agree that stupidity is a human trait. Judgements as to fault should be unchanged but reducing the interfaces would be good.

Thats the issue, it will change who is at fault and the main responsibility and liability goes on the size of the vehicle first hgvs>vans>cars>horse drawn carriages>pedestrians

Plus its a major bugbear of mine in my local town where there is a pedestrian traffic light controlled zebra crossing and you see many people too lay to walk the 50 to 100 yards to use it and stand waiting to cross the road for a gap in the traffic.

Under the new rules, the driver will have to stop on the main road to allow the pedestrian to cross the road. Chaos. My local town will come to a standstill.

 

[SkodaMart]

The government protecting the most vulnerable road users? Outrageous.

How dare they try to prevent deaths with a new hierarchy of dangerous road users!

This has been needed for a long time.
Brings us in line with the Dutch.

 

[Greebo]

This has been needed for a long time.
Brings us in line with the Dutch.

It doesnt though. In the Netherlands cyclists have right of way over all other vehicles and including pedestrians. If there is an accident between a cyclist and and pedestrian in the street then legally its always the pedestrians fault.

In the proposed UK version, pedestrians have the ultimate right of way. A cyclist will have to stop on a road if they see a pedestrian waiting to cross the road.

 

[SkodaMart]

It doesnt though. In the Netherlands cyclists have right of way over all other vehicles and including pedestrians. If there is an accident between a cyclist and and pedestrian in the street then legally its always the pedestrians fault.

In the proposed UK version, pedestrians have the ultimate right of way. A cyclist will have to stop on a road if they see a pedestrian waiting to cross the road.

UK proposal seems far more sensible then.
I was only aware of the Dutch cycle/motor vehicle law.