New Driving Laws 2022: What You Need To Know.

People Crossing At Junctions

The law has been updated to give priority to people crossing the road at a junction.

• When people are waiting to cross or crossing at a junction, other traffic should give way
• If people have already started to cross the road and the traffic wants to turn into that road, the people crossing have priority and the traffic should give way.
• Any road users should give way to people on a zebra crossing and people walking or cycling on a parallel crossing.

Walking, Cycling, Or Riding In Shared Spaces

There is new guidance on spaces that are shared by people walking, cycling, and riding horses.

People cycling in shared spaces are asked to:

• Slow down when approaching walkers or let them know you are there. ( E.g ringing a bell)
• Not pass a horse on the horse’s left.
• Remember some walkers may have a disability, IE might be deaf or blind)

Overtaking When Driving or Cycling

You are now able to cross a double-white line if necessary. The road must be clear to overtake a cyclist or someone riding a horse. They must be travelling less than 10mph or less.

Some more updated guidance

• leaving at least 1.5 metres (5 feet) when overtaking people cycling at speeds of up to 30mph, and giving them more space when overtaking at higher speeds
• passing people riding horses or driving horse-drawn vehicles at speeds under 10 mph and allowing at least 2 metres (6.5 feet) of space
• allowing at least 2 metres (6.5 feet) of space and keeping to a low speed when passing people walking in the road (for example, where there’s no pavement)

Cyclists are also able to pass slow moving traffic on their left or right hand side.

Cycling at Junctions

Some junctions now include small cycle traffic lights at eye-level which may allow cyclists to move before other traffic. The new law recommends that people cycling should proceed as if they were driving a vehicle where there are no separate cycling facilities.

A cyclist must try and be as visible as possible and avoid being overtaken where this would be

Turning right at a junction

There is new guidance that includes advice for people cycling using junctions where signs and markings tell them to turn right in 2 stages. These are:

• stage 1 – when the traffic lights turn green, go straight ahead to the location marked by a cycle symbol and turn arrow on the road, and then stop and wait
• stage 2 – when the traffic lights on the far side of the junction (now facing the people cycling) turn green, complete the manoeuvre

Roundabouts

The code has been updated to clarify who has priority on a roundabout.

Motorists should:

• not attempt to overtake people cycling within that person’s lane
• allow people cycling to move across their path as they travel around the roundabout

The guidance has been updated so people driving should take extra care when entering a roundabout and to give enough room to cyclists, people riding a horse and people driving a horse-drawn vehicle.

Parking, charging, and leaving vehicles

When opening a door, its recommended that you should open using their hand which is the opposite side to the door they are opening. For example, using their left hand to open a door on the right hand side. This will make you turn your head to look over your shoulder.

Charging a vehicle

The new guidance for charging a vehicle is:

• Park close to the charge point and avoid creating a trip hazard for people walking from trailing cables
• display a warning sign if you can
• return charging cables and connectors neatly to minimise the danger to other people and avoid creating an obstacle for other road users

In summary 10 sections of the Highway code have been updated. There has been a total of 50 rules that have been added or updated. To view a summary, please click here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/updates