Questions are being raised as to the effectiveness of the Highway Code (HC) in improving road safety.

The remarks come as we mark a year since the introduction of some significant changes to the Code. Not least, the heightened awareness and protection of vulnerable road users.

No easy task

Modernising the HC is never going to be an easy step. You have those who reject change, others who fail to keep up to date with the HC after passing their driving test, and those who will argue changes never go far enough.

Last year’s government updates put a new hierarchy of road users at the heart of the changes. This, it was believed, would focus road users on the vulnerability of others and how to protect them. Essentially, it means quicker or heavier modes of travel now have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat they may pose to others on the road.

The vulnerable

Cyclists also received fresh guidance, including confirmation they can ride in the centre of a lane on quieter roads, in slower-moving traffic and at the approach to junctions in order to make themselves as clearly visible as possible.

Meanwhile, motorcyclists seemed to lose their ‘vulnerable’ status to the dismay of motorcycling safety groups

Perhaps the biggest controversy at the time was the fact that all road users had to give priority to others when turning left. The concern being that sudden topping to allow pedestrians to cross the road could cause more safety issues than it solved, whilst also adding to road congestion.

The legacy

At the time, the DfT published this handy guide, outlining the eight changes ‘you need to know’.

So, have the changes made any real difference on our roads? Has road safety been improved for vulnerable users? Have the changes led to more casualties, incidents or or greater congestion?

Edward Seaman, editor of Road Safety News, has been speaking with a variety of stakeholders to gauge their views on the impact of the changes.

Read the full article here.