Changes to the Highway Code have asked drivers to make the roads a safer space for cyclists and pedestrians alike.

As well as taking care when following behind bikes, they are also being asked by experts to take extra 'considerate' precautions.

Overtaking in an unsafe manner can have disastrous consequences, with 141 cyclist fatalities on British roads, according to the government's latest data set, released in 2020.

Although it can be frustrating to find yourself stuck behind a bike when you’re in a rush or someone else is getting annoyed behind you, it is important to stay calm.

Hierarchy of road users:

The term ‘hierarchy of road users’ is a new addition to The Highway Code. It was created to prioritise people who are most at risk if an accident were to happen, and so pedestrians are classed as the most vulnerable.

Within that category, there is added vulnerability given to children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. The full hierarchy is as follows:

Pedestrians
Cyclists
Horse riders
Motorcyclists
Cars
Vans/minibuses
Large passenger or courier vehicles like buses and HGVs

The new rules concerning motorists and cyclists:

The updated Highway Code rules are designed to help reduce the number of accidents between drivers and vulnerable road users, including cyclists. In particular, drivers should note the following changes:

Road positioning. It’s now recommended that cyclists on quiet roads (e.g. country lanes) should ride in the centre of the lane, rather than over to one side. Cyclists in groups are also allowed to ride in pairs side-by-side.

However, all cyclists should be aware of people behind them, and move over, get into single file or stop when they can, to allow cars to overtake. As a driver, you should avoid pressuring cyclists to move over, and instead wait until they are ready.

Overtaking. It can be difficult to know when you can safely overtake as a driver. The new rules state that you can cross a double white line (usually prohibited) if the cyclist is going under 10 miles per hour, provided that it is safe to do so – you
must not endanger drivers on the other side of the road, or the cyclist.

When overtaking, you’re required to leave at least 1.5 metres between you and the bike, and if you’re driving over 30 miles per hour, you should leave even more room.

Cycling at junctions. There are some locations where cyclists now have a separate set of traffic lights to drivers, which are at eye level and feature a bike symbol to prevent any confusion. This should hopefully help cyclists move ahead of the cars,
and reduce the risk at junctions.

However, these lights are not a universal feature. Cyclists are advised to cycle in the centre of the lane when coming up to a junction, and drivers should not try to overtake them.

Cyclists also have priority when they’re going straight ahead at a junction, so any traffic turning into or out of a side road should let them pass before making their manoeuvre.

https://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/23593822.highway-code-changes-allow-cyclists-freedom-roads/

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swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

Changes to the Highway Code [made 18 months ago] have asked drivers to
make the roads a safer space for cyclists and pedestrians alike [as well
as for motorcyclists and horse riders, a full list is quoted below]

As well as taking care when following behind bikes, they are also being
asked by experts to take extra 'considerate' precautions.

Overtaking in an unsafe manner can have disastrous consequences, with 141 cyclist fatalities on British roads, according to the government's latest data set, released in 2020 [although 1 in 6 of cyclist deaths are single-vehicle accidents (a legal term)].

Although it can be frustrating to find yourself stuck behind a bike when you’re in a rush or someone else is getting annoyed behind you, it is important to stay calm.

Hierarchy of road users:

The term ‘hierarchy of road users’ is a new addition to The Highway Code. It was created to prioritise people who are most at risk if an accident
were to happen, and so pedestrians are classed as the most vulnerable.

Within that category, there is added vulnerability given to children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. The full hierarchy is as follows:

Pedestrians
Cyclists
Horse riders
Motorcyclists
Cars
Vans/minibuses
Large passenger or courier vehicles like buses and HGVs

The new rules concerning motorists and cyclists:

The updated Highway Code rules are designed to help reduce the number of accidents between drivers and vulnerable road users, including cyclists.
In particular, drivers should note the following changes:

Road positioning. It’s now recommended that cyclists on quiet roads (e.g. country lanes) should ride in the centre of the lane, rather than over to
one side. Cyclists in groups are also allowed to ride in pairs side-by-side.

[Highway Code Rule 72

Road positioning. When riding on the roads, there are two basic road
positions you should adopt, depending on the situation.

1) Ride in the centre of your lane, to make yourself as clearly visible as possible, in the following situations

on quiet roads or streets
– if a faster vehicle comes up behind you, move to the left to enable them to overtake, if you can do so safely in slower-moving traffic
– when the traffic around you starts to flow more freely, move over to the left if you can do so safely so that faster vehicles behind you can
overtake
at the approach to junctions or road narrowings where it would be
unsafe for drivers to overtake you

2) When riding on busy roads, with vehicles moving faster than you, allow
them to overtake where it is safe to do so whilst keeping at least 0.5
metres away, and further where it is safer, from the kerb edge. Remember
that traffic on most dual carriageways moves quickly. Take extra care
crossing slip roads.

Section: Rules for cyclists (rules 59 to 82)
Subsection: Road junctions (rules 72 to 75)]

However, all cyclists should be aware of people behind them, and move
over, get into single file or stop when they can, to allow cars to
overtake. As a driver, you should avoid pressuring cyclists to move over,
and instead wait until they are ready.

Overtaking. It can be difficult to know when you can safely overtake as a driver. The new rules state that you can cross a double white line
(usually prohibited) if the cyclist is going under 10 miles per hour, provided that it is safe to do so – you must not endanger drivers on the other side of the road, or the cyclist.

When overtaking, you’re required to leave at least 1.5 metres between you and the bike, and if you’re driving over 30 miles per hour, you should leave even more room.

Cycling at junctions. There are some locations where cyclists now have a separate set of traffic lights to drivers, which are at eye level and
feature a bike symbol to prevent any confusion. This should hopefully
help cyclists move ahead of the cars, and reduce the risk at junctions.

However, these lights are not a universal feature. Cyclists are advised
to cycle in the centre of the lane when coming up to a junction, and
drivers should not try to overtake them.

Cyclists also have priority when they’re going straight ahead at a junction, so any traffic turning into or out of a side road should let
them pass before making their manoeuvre.

https://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/23593822.highway-code-changes-allow-cyclists-freedom-roads/

I hope that the Wirral Globe didn’t drop the dead donkey just to put up
this poorly-constructed old ‘news’.

--
Spike

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QUOTE: Cyclists are advised to cycle in the centre of the lane when coming up to a junction, and drivers should not try to overtake them. ENDS

Many are now filming dangerous drivers and sending in vast amounts of videos to assist the police.
I started that 20 years ago.

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