road rule changes 2022

Hmm these new rules (guidelines?) seem to be mostly aimed at cyclists telling them to assume a more assertive position i.e. ride in the middle of the lane where appropriate rather than in the gutter, I can remember reading that advice in cycling publications years ago its nothing new but putting it in the code is I guess, the thing with horses and double white lines well thats just common sense isn't it if its a case of missing a horse by inches or crossing the double whites to give them a decent gap I'm going the cross the whites, I guess it removes the uncertainty though. I can also remember being told to leave a 6 foot gap when overtaking cyclists by my driving instructor so thats not new but maybe putting it in the code is? Likewise about leaving a metres distance from parked cars incase they open their doors. Also the advice about not moving up the left of large vehicles at junctions is something that drummed into drivers by their instructors but again I guess this is about extending that advice to cyclists incase they don't drive.

The bit about giving way to pedestrians at junctions is confused the photo example is turning into a side road which has always been the case if theres a pedestrian already crossing you must give way thats nothing new, what is new is if they're looking to cross. Are they thinking of crossing or just stopped to have a chat? If theres a line of cars behind me piled up to my bumper its unlikely I'm simply going to stop on the off chance they may be thinking about crossing thats asking for trouble apparently driving instructors are unhappy about it saying its unteachable/unenforceable

Its doubtful any of this will result in any kind of enforcement of penalties though its simply to establish blame in the event of an accident.

robj20 said:
That's correct. It's only on side roads.
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The new rule states junctions though the photo indicates a side road so... major road junctions? Confusion ahoy.

DanF said:
haven't really noticed any changes so far, walking to the shops there's been no cars stopping to let me go when crossing away from lights or on junctions. Tbh it's probably only a small percentage of the population knows anything about these changes unless they start blasting out via news and press
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Perhaps you could explain where it states drivers or cyclists are supposed to stop for pedestrians away from junctions or crossings? Because I'm not seeing it.
 
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Already seen a couple of instances of people having near misses when someones slammed their anchors on to let people cross a standard road away from a crossing/junction.

The rule covers pedestrians crossing a road at a junction having priority over road users turning into the junction.
 
Jokester said:
The rule covers pedestrians crossing a road at a junction having priority over road users turning into the junction.
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Also seems to be if you are approaching a junction to turn out of a road and pedestrians are waiting to cross as well as turning in. Quite a few pedestrians seem to think it means whenever they want to cross wherever though.
 
Rroff said:
Also seems to be if you are approaching a junction to turn out of a road and pedestrians are waiting to cross as well as turning in. Quite a few pedestrians seem to think it means whenever they want to cross wherever though.
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Yep, already seen two have to dive back on the payment after assuming a car would stop.

I'd be waiting to make sure traffic has stopped first before stepping out.

Got to have been some actual accidents by now due to the change and everyone not working from the same page.
 
Also seems to be if you are approaching a junction to turn out of a road and pedestrians are waiting to cross as well as turning in ..
yes - If you are turning out of a T junction and someones waiting to cross (e: main road you're joining)- someone crossing towards me as I turned right this am -
white van man in front ignored him, gave way on the bike.
 
Blackjack Davy said:
Perhaps you could explain where it states drivers or cyclists are supposed to stop for pedestrians away from junctions or crossings? Because I'm not seeing it.
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ah described that bad, meant on minor junction away from major junctions which have lights for crossing. There's a couple of popular turn-offs on the way to the shops, traffic turns down them pretty fast due to the main road being really busy. No chance I'll chance it and just cross without looking and waiting
 
DanF said:
ah described that bad, meant on minor junction away from major junctions which have lights for crossing. There's a couple of popular turn-offs on the way to the shops, traffic turns down them pretty fast due to the main road being really busy. No chance I'll chance it and just cross without looking and waiting
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Maybe you won;t and I certainly won;t but already there are people who are because they know they have right of way and expect the traffic to stop for them.
 
Rroff said:
Also seems to be if you are approaching a junction to turn out of a road and pedestrians are waiting to cross as well as turning in. Quite a few pedestrians seem to think it means whenever they want to cross wherever though.
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Cyclists are supposed to give way too, I bet we never see that happen.
 
jpaul said:
so many ashley neal videos now proposed to me from watching ones in recent threads

hadn't appreciated pedestrian crossing priority extended to leaving roundabouts on 40mph extra urban section,
later I think AN he was suckered the motivation of the guy who hammered on the horn+manouver of the guy who someone pulls out on.

Nice Driving #17 | How are the Highway Code changes going?
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I watched this earlier too. The whole thing about stopping to let pedestrians cross at junctions seems so dangerous. I've stopped to let people cross only for a car to turn into the junction and not stop. It's the equivalent of flashing your lights to let someone out in a car only for them to take too long and then get taken out by something coming the other way.
 
I'm still really not a fan of the rules after a few months getting used to them. The pedestrians crossing at junctions rules still seems like the most significantly bad rule to me, just so much confusion with only a minority of drivers and pedestrians seemingly taking notice of the rule, and a lot of potential for confusion or road users not to see pedestrians. Particularly where the crossing point (dropped kerb) is set back from the actual give way line, meaning pedestrians are even less visible to traffic. I nearly got taken out by a cyclist when I crossed at a junction the other day (coming up the main road behind me when I started crossing, and weren't signalling, so to be fair they were in the wrong even under the old rules). But using that as an example of the rules not being followed I don't feel very confident using my priority as a pedestrian, and I'm not really convinced I should have priority anyway.
 
GreatAuk said:
and I'm not really convinced I should have priority anyway.
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Same here, I'll still act as though I'm the lowest form of life on the road and act accordingly.
This morning I was cycling up to a junction when 4 pedestrians were walking from pavement to pavement so I stopped.
A car came flying round the corner, braked hard and they had to jump out of the way - cue big argument but I cycled past and just shouted "Their right of way".
The only problem is "Right of Way" means nothing with idiots on the road.
 
theone8181 said:
I thought the rule said should give way, not must?
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It is a 'should' not a 'must', doesn't mean it's optional unless there's a very good reason to to do it though... Technically it doesn't describe pedestrians waiting to cross at a junction having 'priority' until they have already started crossing, but in effect they have priority, as whenever they decide to start crossing they immediately have priority.
 
I still find it tends to lead to some kind of awkward dance as pedestrians are unsure if they should go or not, other drivers aren't on the same page and so on and in more than a few cases I've had to not stop, occasionally to the annoyance of pedestrians or cyclists, because I realise the situation would be dangerous to them, another road user or myself which the pedestrian or cyclist can't necessarily see.

Have to admit the changes aren't on my mind as much as they used to be and sometimes recently I've only remembered at the last minute and see a lot more drivers falling back to how they used to drive - these changes aren't very natural to people's instincts.
 
I saw someone suggest painting the zebra crossing lines across roads as a lower cost alternative to making the pavement continuous. I think this is a good compromise until the road needs resurfacing.
 
Rroff said:
Have to admit the changes aren't on my mind as much as they used to be and sometimes recently I've only remembered at the last minute and see a lot more drivers falling back to how they used to drive - these changes aren't very natural to people's instincts.
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Agreed, instinct says the vulnerable play it safe and waits for it to be clear, not hope 2 ton of metal is being controlled by someone who knows and cares for the new rules.
 
Sirrel Squirrel said:
I watched this earlier too. The whole thing about stopping to let pedestrians cross at junctions seems so dangerous. I've stopped to let people cross only for a car to turn into the junction and not stop. It's the equivalent of flashing your lights to let someone out in a car only for them to take too long and then get taken out by something coming the other way.
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Yep there is no way I'd stop on a roundabout exit like that, especially on a dual carriageway. You're likely to get a lorry up the arse, or someone will overtake you and mow them down. I'd rather risk the 0.001% chance of getting a slap on the wrist for not stopping.
 
I had a really interesting one bank holiday weekend while i was out cycling. It probably didn't have anything to do with the rule changes but it got me thinking. So here goes.


I approached a roundabout, that is on a high street road and took the first exit turning left, out of no where an elderly person came flying off the pavement from my left on a mobility scooter. I had already made the turn before she buzzed across the front of me so i slammed on my brakes which caused the car behind me to do the same.

I very much doubt this person had read the new rules and was just out testing them to see if they worked but it did get me thinking, was i in the wrong for not being aware a pedestrian on a mobility might or might not have the right of way.

On a side note they are pretty quick those things :D
 
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