How Well Do We Know the Highway Code?

Driving is a necessity for many road users in the UK, whether commuting to work, caring for family, or simply conducting the school run. But it is important to remember that driving is also a privilege; one that comes with a major responsibility to ensure the safety of all road users. 

However, accidents do happen – thousands upon thousands, each year. Road safety is a paramount consideration for drivers, and the Highway Code a crucial document to provide that; would many accidents have been prevented if drivers knew more about the Highway Code’s contents and changes?

Driving in the UK

It goes without saying that legal permission to drive in the UK is granted through the obtainment of a driver’s license. Driver’s licenses are obtained through passing a practical and a theory test, the latter of which includes information from the Highway Code – a set of rules, guidelines, and recommendations for all road users, including drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. It is updated regularly to reflect any changes in the road network and driving laws.

According to statistics from the road safety charity Brake, 1,608 people were killed on UK roads in 2021 alone – and 26,701 seriously injured. Despite investment and reinvestment in UK roads and public safety programming, tens of thousands of road incidents have been taking place, begetting myriad accident claims and civil court processes for injured parties. Since 2012, there has been little change in the number of deaths and serious injuries annually, highlighting all the more the importance of road safety education and adherence to the Highway Code.

The Highway Code

The Highway Code is a comprehensive document that details road signs and markings, road etiquette and best practice for certain incidents. For instance, it provides guidance on overtaking, lane discipline, and safe following distances. Additionally, it advises drivers on what to do in various situations, such as when encountering emergency vehicles or driving in adverse weather conditions.

The Highway Code is a crucial piece of literature for helping drivers understand the road network better, anticipate other road users’ actions, and avoid accidents. Unfortunately, many drivers tend to pick up bad habits after passing their test, becoming complacent in a driving style not backed up by their study sources. 

Updates to the Highway Code

This is all the more important to address when the Highway Code is a document constantly subject to change. The Highway Code has recently been updated, to include new guidance and rules in an attempt to make roads safer.

The main change was the introduction of a hierarchy of road users, formally creating a ‘pecking order’ for road user vulnerability with pedestrians at the top of the pyramid. Pedestrians and cyclists were also given new rights on the road; cyclists are now able to cycle in the middle of the road where doing so ensures safety, while pedestrians have right of way when crossing side-roads parallel to a main road.

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