As of January 29th, 2022, there was a variety of changes made to the Highway Code. The Highway Code is used by drivers for guidance advice and legislation for road users.
One of the biggest changes to the highway code is that road users have been put into hierarchies. The hierarchy of road users is as follows:
Those driving bigger vehicles have more responsibility to reduce the threat posed to other road users. Pedestrians have a higher probability to be injured in the event of an incident. As a result, drivers will be held more accountable for keeping an eye out for bicycles, pedestrians, and horseback riders.
The updated Highway Code explains that at junctions pedestrians should be given priority when crossing or waiting to cross the road. Here are a few tips for driving at junctions:
When overtaking someone riding a horse or cycling you can cross a double white line as long as they are travelling at 10mph or below. There has been an update on safe passing distances and speeds for those driving or riding motorcycles, These are as follows:
The Highway Code has been revised to make it clear that when you are driving on roundabouts should give way to cyclists. if you are driving or riding a motorcycle you should.
Advice has been provided which states you should take extra care when entering a roundabout. This is to make sure that you don’t cut across people who are cycling or horse riders
The Highway Code recommends vehicle users use a new technique when leaving their vehicle, this is known as the Dutch Reach
The Dutch Reach is a new technique that the government put into place to reduce the risk of injured cyclist and pedestrians from vehicle drivers opening their doors without checking that the area is clear first. This technique is when you use the hand furthest from the door to open it. This forces you to look over your shoulder so you can see any cyclists, pedestrians, or vehicles coming towards you.
Most cyclist incidents are from people opening there are doors and not looking to see if other road users are approaching them.
The Highway Code for the first time includes guidance on using electric vehicle charging points.
If you have an electric vehicle you should:
It very important to stay up to date with the Highway Code. It is updated regularly so all drivers must take the time to read. Many of the guidelines in the Highway Code are legal requirements so if you disobey these you are committing a criminal offence.
To stay up to date with the Highway Code you can:
You might be wondering if the new set of laws will affect your business. Fines, points, and the loss of a driver’s licence can all have an influence on a staff member’s ability to accomplish their responsibilities.
Let’s imagine a line manager is required to attend meetings at several places on a regular basis. They will be limited in their ability to travel for employment if they lose their driver’s licence. They won’t be able to go to places in areas where public transportation is lacking.
Employees in industries such as health and social care must be prepared. Workers and the individuals they care for may suffer because of a lack of information about the changes. The service will be at risk of understaffing if a care worker was to lose their driver’s licence. Vulnerable service users may be neglected because of this.
These are all good reasons why employers should do their best to ensure that their employees are aware of the changes and have a way to keep updated with any other changes which may come.
In 2021 there were approximately 143 days of rain in the UK. Having all that rain is bound to lead to poor road conditions as a result there is more chance of aquaplaning also known as hydroplaning. The main danger from aquaplaning is losing control of your car, this can then lead to skidding or
What are the new Highway Code changes As of January 29th, 2022, there was a variety of changes made to the Highway Code. The Highway Code is used by drivers for guidance advice and legislation for road users. The Hierarchy of Road Users One of the biggest changes to the highway code is that road
Regardless of skill level, all drivers should implement defensive driving practices. Defensive driving is a practice that helps drivers to utilise increased levels of observation and anticipation, to decrease the risk of incidents. Through defensive driver training, drivers learn how to identify different risks and control different road situations. There are many benefits of defensive
Trailer licences allow your drivers to tow a variety of different loads with a range of vehicles. This can be beneficial for your business operation as trailers allow your drivers to easily transport your goods and services to drive your business forward. The types of vehicles and loads that your drivers can tow are dependent
