The London Road Safety Council is seeking views from its members on the proposed changes to The Highway Code.
Announced in July, the review of The Highway Code aims to improve road safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders.
It includes plans to introduce a hierarchy of road users to ensure those who can do the ‘greatest harm’ have the ‘greatest responsibility’ to reduce the danger or threat they may pose to others.
Among the other alterations are:
- clarifying existing rules on pedestrian priority on pavements, to advise that drivers and riders should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross the road,
- providing guidance on cyclist priority at junctions to advise drivers to give priority to cyclists at junctions when travelling straight ahead
- establishing guidance on safe passing distances and speeds when overtaking cyclists and horse riders
The LRSC is in the process of coordinating a response, and is inviting comments and suggestions from its members.
To help focus feedback, the DfT has suggested a list of questions, which are available at the foot of the article.
Both a summary and a full copy of the consultation document can be found on the Government website. The summary outlines the proposed changes, whereas the full document compares them to the existing rules.
Responses should be submitted to Max Moorcock, LRSC press officer, via email, by 21 September.
Suggested questions:
- Do you agree with the introduction of new Rule H1 (hierarchy of road users)?
- Do you agree with the introduction of new Rule H2 (stronger priorities for pedestrians)?
- Do you agree with the introduction of new Rule H3 (cyclist’s priorities and right of way)?
- Do you agree with the proposed change to give way to pedestrians waiting at a junction or zebra crossing?
- Do you agree with proposed change to Rule 63 (guidance for cyclists using shared spaces)?
- Do you agree with the proposed change to Rule 72 to ride:
- in the centre lane of your lane on quiet roads?
- in the centre lane of your lane in slower moving traffic?
- in the centre of your lane when approaching junctions?
- at least 0.5 metres away from the kerb on busy roads?
- Do you agree with the proposed change to Rule 73 at junctions with special cyclist facilities and no separate cyclist facilities?
- Do you agree with the proposed change to Rule 76 (clarifies priorities when cyclists are travelling straight ahead)?
10 August 2020