Roads Minister Baroness Vere said:

I’m proud to say we have some of the safest roads in the world, but I’m determined to make them safer still for everyone. These updates will do just that by bringing the rules into the 21st century, encouraging people to respect and consider the needs of those around them, and ensuring all road-users know the rules of the road.

Summary of the eight changes in important areas:

• introducing a new hierarchy of road users

• crossing the road at junctions

• walking, cycling or riding in shared spaces

• positioning in the road when cycling

• overtaking when driving or cycling

• cycling at junctions

• people cycling, riding horses and driving horse-drawn vehicles on roundabouts

• parking, charging and leaving vehicles

The new hierarchy explains that those in charge of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm in the event of a collision bear the greatest responsibility to take care and reduce the danger they pose to others. This principle applies most strongly to drivers of large goods and passenger vehicles, cars and motorcycles. Other more vulnerable road users have a responsibility to reduce danger to people walking . Changes at a glance:-

• Giving people walking across and people cycling going straight ahead priority when turning in and out of junctions

• Leaving at least 1.5 metres when overtaking people cycling at speeds of up to 30mph, and give them more space when overtaking at higher speeds.

• Allowing at least 2 metres of space and keep to a low speed when passing a person who is walking in the road

• Encouraging people driving vehicles to open their doors with the hand furthest from the door, to help them look over their shoulder behind them to see people cycling or walking nearby

• People cycling may ride in the centre of the road or two abreast for their own safety, whilst allowing others to overtake when it is safe for them to do so

• Passing people riding a horse or driving a horse-drawn vehicle at speeds under 10 mph and allow at least 2 metres of space

Kate Lester comments on Highway Code updates

‘Hierarchy of road users establishes a preference for mode.’

Kate Lester, boss at Diamond Logistics comments on the new changes to the Highway Code.

Whilst I hope it's entirely appropriate for us to finally establish in law the respect that vulnerable users of the road need (i.e. cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders) the reality is that a hierarchy of road users establishes a preference for a mode of transport. And I think it's about time that HGV drivers and van drivers are not polarised from road users simply by the size and relative safety of their vehicles. I entirely acknowledge that vulnerable users need to be safeguarded but ultimately speaking the best thing we can do is actually have all road users appreciate the different challenges that ALL road users have.

For example has anyone really taken into consideration how difficult it is to be an HGV driver? The skill required to drive this huge vehicle. The challenges you've got as a driver in terms of your blind spot? And trying to see these road users and how challenging it can be when, for example, a cyclists can be trying to come on the inside of an HGV vehicle turning left, which as we know is actually extraordinarily dangerous, leading to injury and sometimes even death. A horrific experience for all involved. I don't want to mention the amount of times I've nearly been hit by cyclists going the wrong way down a one way street. Or how pavements for pedestrians are becoming increasingly dangerous because of cycles and scooters using them, when they shouldn't. But a hierarchy is a very dangerous thing to do.

I believe the best way for us to move forward is with real understanding of everybody's challenges. That there should be an element of driver training giving you a "day in the life of". So you can be a cyclist whilst an HGV passes you, you have to be an HGV driver trying to make delivery or reversing in a tight spot, be a van driver trying to make 100 multiple deliveries in a day. It is only with really understanding of all the challenges can we truly develop a Highway Code that supports all road users, and is fair and reasonable.

This all being said it is entirely appropriate that we leave space for cyclists and the road positioning clarification is essential. I know as a motorcyclist one of the first things we were taught was to drive very defensively and that was to be seen, by sitting 2/3 away from the curb. Obviously lights and visibility are incredibly important. But now they've also put into law that riders can cycle two-abreast. And I think that being defined as being right and proper will stop quite a lot of road rage towards groups of cyclists.