How Highway Code changes will 'restore a bit of balance'

These changes demand more care and respect is given to vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.

Pedestrians are at the top of the hierarchy, so cyclists are responsible for their safety. In turn, drivers and motorcyclists are responsible for the safety of pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists.

One of the new changes is that drivers turning into a junction where a pedestrian is waiting to cross the road, now have to wait and give way.

And cyclists are now required to take care and slow down when passing pedestrians, horse riders or horse drawn vehicles on shared routes.

They must also not pass closely or at high speed, particularly from behind.

So the new rules are aimed at protecting the most vulnerable and making roads safer for everyone.

William Bramhill founded the Colchester Cycling Campaign in 1990. And while he believes the changes are good, he believes more needs to be done to ensure the safety of cyclists.

Mr Bramhill, 62, of Mile End Road, Colchester, said: “There is a protective infrastructure for cyclists on busy and fast roads but more needs to be done on roads with lots of traffic no matter the speed.

“The issue with Colchester is a lot of the so-called cycle lanes don’t lead anywhere, like the North Bridge cycle roads. Now Covid is easing off we need far better cycle infrastructure.”

Other changes to the Highway Code include advising drivers and passengers to use the Dutch reach method when getting out of vehicle to ensure the safety of passers-by.

This method involves opening a door by using the arm which is closest to the centre of the vehicle when seated.

This means the person in the car looks over their shoulder and out of the window to check for nearby road users.

Mr Bramhill recalls an exchange a few years ago with a fellow cyclist who stopped cycling after a driver unknowingly opened the door in their path almost causing a crash.

He added: “When cyclists go on the road, they give 1.5 metres of distance to parked cars just to be safe, it is really important that passengers learn the Dutch reach rule as well.”

Mr Bramhill spoke about difference in road safety since his childhood, further highlighting why these changes are necessary.

He said: “Our road culture has been dominated by drivers for years, these changes help to ease things and restore a bit of balance.

“The big thing is people get in the car at 17 meaning you have about 12 years of independent living before then from five onwards when you’re walking on the pavement and such.

“At the age of four I used to walk from nursery to my house because it was so close, but because of traffic danger we’ve moved away from that.

“If we can make the roads safer, we can allow children to get their independence back.”

The Horse Rangers Association based in Ramsey should also benefit from the new rules.

Sioux Thorpe, 71, runs the equestrian unit and is pleased with the new alterations but, she said, she would also like drivers to be generally more considerate of horse riders.

Trotting Along - Kimberly Ballard, Chloe Woodward and Charlotte Race on a ride together

She said: “We don’t find road users very polite when they go past us, we’ve had cases where wing mirrors have been caught on our stirrups.

“I’d like to see slower speeds from cars when overtaking horses, drivers should also be aware that when horse riders overtake parked cars we can end up in the middle of the road.

“This can cause the horses to become upset whilst waiting to overtake which leaves us at our most vulnerable, so we just want drivers to be more considerate.”

The changes came into effect last Saturday. For more information, visit bit.ly/3fYdVnB.