From today new driving laws
"The Highway Code: 8 changes you need to know from 29 January 2022 - GOV.UK" https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-highway-code-8-changes-you-need-to-know-from-29-january-2022
The wise and awake have ammended the rules, maybe some sensible some less so?
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Excepting those places where Barm-pot Councils have put cycle lanes on those footpaths !!
And then expect to find cyclists whizzing every which-way you can imagine ~~ and a good half dozen that you can't
The main drag from Crewe to Nantwich will find well marked cycle tracks on and off the footpath with pedallers ignoring them to their hearts content !1 -
The new laws seem to be there to stop heavy metal meeting soft flesh- & they seem common sense to me, if I get to my destination a few minutes later than expected I can live with that. Taking a life or breaking someone’s bones is not something I want to live with.
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It needs a heavy marketing campaign to ensure that everyone concerned, pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, car drivers, etc…. are fully aware of the changes, and their own role in keeping safe personally, and not being a danger to others.
Every one has some story or other about dangerous drivers, inconsiderate cyclists, out of control horse riders, and wandering pedestrians, but it’s a responsibility shared by everyone who uses a road or footpath in one way or another. Get it right and everyone benefits, get it wrong and someone could die.3 -
My point is this-horses, children & cyclists move without warning & it could be fatal. My vehicle moves how I want it to, if anything I/we are the weak link. If a Horse gets spooked & I am creeping past it not much will happen, if I’m speeding past the horse & it gets spooked it could be fatal for horse or rider🤷🏻♂️
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Every one has some story or other about dangerous drivers
Only last week I was nearly half way across a zebra crossing when I saw a car approaching, too fast I thought, so stopped walking any further. Good job I did, he just carried on, and waved his hand at me as he went across the zebra. Of course he never heard the names I called him, but in my view this change in the Highway Code wont make much difference, if any.
People who are considerate anyway will just carry on being so, but I really don't think it will make any difference to those who aren't. We also cycle, and where we can we use cyclepaths, but that's not always an option and where we have to use roads, not every motorist gives us the space required to say the least. We never ride next to each other on roads, and always as close to the verge as possible, but at times feel really vulnerable.
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The Highway Code is not the law. It is a Code, This version written by an "8-year-old who had a bike for Christmas". I quote because I read those words elsewhere.
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Part of the HC is indeed law as I wrote in the other thread. (This is getting confusing)
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/introduction
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Cant help thinking that most folks don’t read the Highway Code beyond passing their test so changing a book nobody reads may not have much impact whatever it’s legal status? Might be good for ambulance chasers tho’.
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I’ve heard a lot of folk claim it’s guidance TW🤷🏻♂️, Frank down the pub sure gets around☹️
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He certainly does. Just ask Walter🤣🤣🤣
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Thank you V👍🏻, it’ll not stand up in a court of law-‘I thought it was guidance’🤷🏻♂️. If folk think that then they need to do the research. Both TW & you have helped dispel another myth.
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These two rules seem contradictory.
Rule H3 - Rule for drivers and motorcyclists
Do not turn at a junction if to do so would cause the cyclist, horse rider or horse drawn vehicle going straight ahead to stop or swerve.You should stop and wait for a safe gap in the flow of cyclists if necessary. This includes when cyclists are:
Rule 74 - Rule for Cyclists
Turning. When approaching a junction on the left, watch out for vehicles turning in front of you, out of or into the side road. If you intend to turn left, check first for other cyclists or motorcyclists before signalling. Do not ride on the inside of vehicles signalling or slowing down to turn left.0 -
I am not suggesting that its OK to break the law, but the Highway Code is a Code. It contains reference to some laws. You cannot be prosecuted for not obeying the Highway Code. If I am wrong, then please quote the statutory reference for the offence.
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You could be prosecuted for breaking the law quoted within the HC. That’s the distinction.
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I think the Govt lawmakers are standing firmly in the middle V, they are telling all road users it’s their responsibility for both their & others safety rather than hold motorists solely responsible. Seems fair👍🏻
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Yes.
I think there’s a bit of hair splitting taking place here. The screenshot explains all.
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Hi LLM, As mentioned , somewhere, this is getting confusing-this is what you posted in the other thread;
Many of the rules in the Code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal offence. You may be fined, given penalty points on your licence or be disqualified from driving.
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Many of the rules in The Highway Code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal offence. You may be fined, given penalty points on your licence or be disqualified from driving. In the most serious cases you may be sent to prison. Such rules are identified by the use of the words ‘MUST/MUST NOT’. In addition, the rule includes an abbreviated reference to the legislation which creates the offence.
Although failure to comply with the other rules of The Highway Code will not, in itself, cause a person to be prosecuted, The Highway Code may be used in evidence in any court proceedings under the Traffic Acts (see The road user and the law) to establish liability. This includes rules which use advisory wording such as ‘should/should not’ or ‘do/do not’
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Clearly there are people who simply can't understand the difference between a Code that makes reference in abbreviated form, to some legislation to provide guidance and advice - call it what you will - and the actual legislation that creates the offence. Simply put: It is not an offence to "break" a rule in the Code. The offence is created by "breaking" the law / legislation.
I feel for the Department for Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency who write the Code in the hope of creating something that the masses can read and understand.
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'Simply put: It is not an offence to "break" a rule in the Code'
What you have posted there appears to contradict both your own previous post as referenced by A&A and the official line below
Many of the rules in The Highway Code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal offence
Or you're saying that break and disobey have two different meanings? I think you're clutching at straws if you are and really splitting hairs.
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I don’t need to argue about what is a code, or what is a law. If some one wilfully does something to me or mine that is life threatening, then they will get both barrels, and the police will get the video evidence back up to prove it. My OH has been knocked off his bike twice, I have been knocked off my bike twice (once by a stupid pedestrian) and I have at lost two friends and their horses to inconsiderate vehicle drivers. None of the drivers had a scratch, although half a ton of horse being smashed into didn’t do a great deal for one vehicle. This is the reality of riding a bike or a horse. Riders die, horses die. Drivers might be a tad sorry. Always wore full hi viz, appropriate lights, day and dusk.
If you have never ridden/led a horse, or a ridden a bike in traffic, then you cannot speak from experience, and possibly don’t understand how vulnerable it feels. It’s not something I choose to do, but because of the lack of linking paths, some part of a horse ride, or a bike ride might have to be done on public roads, or a shared path. For some, this legislation requires a mindset change and a lot more consideration.☹️
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Very nicely put R2B
A horse can actually do a lot of damage to a car and the people in it too. Some years ago one got into the garage/hay shed and decided to turn round - end of the door to that car and the horse was unscathed! Many motorist could do with a good dose of patience - how many seconds would it take off their journey to slow down. When caravanning I routinely pull over to let people pass me and generally end up having caught up the line of traffic!
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We are on the same page👍🏻😊
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Agree.
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Agree.
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