Review of the Highway Code
Transport Minister Jesse Norman has announced a review of the Highway Code to help keep cyclists and pedestrians safe on the roads.
The new Highway Code is expected to highlight how to avoid the dangers of close passing, and encourage people to adopt the ‘Dutch reach’, a method of opening a car door with the hand furthest from the handle, to force drivers to look over their shoulder for passing traffic. It may also set new rules for giving pedestrians and cyclists the right of way at side roads.
Cycling and Walking Minister, Jesse Norman said, “Britain has some of the safest roads in the world, but we need them to be safer still for all – and particularly for cyclists, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.
“Cycling and walking are increasingly being understood as crucial parts of an integrated approach to issues of health, obesity, air quality and town and city planning. But this will only happen if people feel safe on the roads.”
The review follows the recent publication of road casualty figures for Great Britain showing that 101 cyclists died in 2017 in road traffic collisions.
Joe Irvin, Chief Executive of Living Streets, said, “This is a major victory. When we walk our streets, we should not have to feel endangered by traffic. People walking and cycling do not cause road danger, congestion or toxic air levels, and yet they’re the ones who too often pay the price on our roads.
“A revision to update the Highway Code is needed to make people walking and cycling feel safer, and to encourage more people to choose these cleaner and healthier ways to travel.”