There are 3 main changes that are being proposed
- Introducing a hierarchy of road users meaning road users who can do the most harm have greater responsibility.
- To create clearer and stronger priorities for pedestrians, especially at junctions.
- To establish guidance on safe passing distances and speeds for when overtaking cyclists or horse riders. This places a requirement on drivers to give priority to cyclists, just as they would to other motor vehicles.
The hierarchy is a concept that puts the top priority on those who are at most risk of being injured in the event of a collision, giving those in charge of the vehicles that can cause the most harm the greatest responsibility.
The principles apply most to drivers of large goods and passenger vehicles followed by vans & mini busses, cars, motor cyclist, horse riders, cyclists and finally pedestrians.
At a junction drivers should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road.
- Drivers MUST give way to pedestrians or cyclists crossing a zebra or parallel crossing.
- Drivers should give way to pedestrians or cyclists waiting to cross a zebra or parallel crossing.
Drivers will need to give priority to cyclists when they are turning into or out of a junction, or changing direction or lane, just as they would to other motor vehicles.
Drivers should not cut across cyclist’s going ahead when turning into or out of a junction, or when changing a direction or lane.
You should stop and wait for a safe gap in the flow of cyclists if necessary. This includes when cyclists are
- approaching, passing or moving off from a junction
- moving past or waiting alongside stationary or slow-moving traffic
- travelling around a roundabout”
