Threads / Review of The Highway Code to improve road safety for cycli…
Consultation Outcome Published 1 Dec 2021 Department for Transport ↗ View on GOV.UK

Review of The Highway Code to improve road safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders

Proposes amending The Highway Code to introduce a hierarchy of road users, clarify pedestrian and cyclist priority, and establish safer overtaking.

Opened 30 Jul 2020
Closed 30 Oct 2020
▤ Verbatim text from source document

Consultation seeking views on proposed changes to The Highway Code to improve safety for vulnerable road users, particularly:

  • cyclists
  • pedestrians
  • horse riders

The main alterations to the code being proposed are:

  • introducing 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
  • 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 when travelling straight ahead
  • establishing guidance on safe passing distances and speeds when overtaking cyclists and horse riders