Many drivers remain unaware of the recent changes to the Highway Code despite communications campaigns, bringing fears for road safety.  

introducing the requirement for drivers to give way to pedestrians at a junction, as the Government pushes ahead with a new risk-based ‘Hierarchy of Road Users

The changes, announced last summer and introduced at the end of January 2022, introduce a new ‘hierarchy of responsibility’ that effectively sets out that quicker or heavier modes of travel have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat they may pose to others on the road. 

Alongside the new hierarchy, there are changes in seven other important areas, including fresh guidance on the rules when near pedestrians and cyclists. In total, nine sections have been updated and there are 50 new or updated rules.  

It’s regarded by many as the biggest shake-up to the Highway Code in a generation – but an ITV Tonight programme aired yesterday revealed that awareness of the changes is low. 

It surveyed 2,249 British adults aged 18+ online between 13 and 15 May 2022 and found that many drivers got the answers wrong when asked about key changes for rules involving cyclists and pedestrians.  

The findings echo a new study of 2,000 UK drivers by Vertu Motors that revealed more than 50% of drivers cannot even identify one of the new Highway Code rules.  

More than two-thirds (68%) didn’t know that traffic should give way when people are crossing or waiting to cross a junction.  

Furthermore, 64% of motorists weren’t aware that they should give way to cyclists who are riding ahead on the road and not using a cycle lane. The new rule that drivers were most aware of is that they must give way to pedestrians and cyclists on a parallel crossing (50%).  

The study also shed light on motorists’ knowledge – or lack of it – of well-established Highway Code rules, as only 38% of drivers knew to allow a two-second gap between themselves and the vehicle in front. Concerningly, only half of UK drivers were aware that 70mph is the national speed limit on the motorway and almost a quarter (23%) admitted to exceeding this speed in 2022.   

Seb Goldin, CEO of RED Driver Training, said that reports of large numbers of drivers still not being aware of changes to the Highway Code was worrying.   

“The Government was very slow in advising drivers about these changes to the Highway Code and it seems the message is still not getting across,” he added.  

“That puts the onus on fleet managers to ensure their drivers are safe and compliant, so we’ve put together a downloadable graphic on our website, which sets out the new rules for road users and pedestrians.”