Britons are calling for a new Highway Code campaign as drivers continue to flout the rules of the road. The call for action comes after Labour was urged to introduce a national road safety campaign to help drivers familiarize themselves with the updated Highway Code rules. Cycling UK has been at the forefront of this push, advocating for a government-led initiative to address the growing concerns over road safety. Four years after the Highway Code was last updated, with sweeping changes to improve road safety, critics warn that the public was never properly informed about the new rules, leading to confusion, frustration, and unsafe driving practices.
The updated Highway Code introduced a 'hierarchy of road users', placing greater responsibility on drivers of larger, heavier vehicles to protect more vulnerable road users. It also strengthened guidance on overtaking cyclists, promoted the 'Dutch Reach' to prevent car door collisions, and clarified priority at junctions. However, awareness of these changes remains patchy, with many drivers seemingly unaware of their responsibilities under the revised Highway Code.
Cycling UK has urged ministers to fund a new national road safety awareness campaign, similar to the long-running THINK! adverts, to remind drivers of their responsibilities. The charity argues that without proper education, changes on paper mean little on the road. Steve Cox, a 70-year-old retiree from Bristol, shared his experience of drivers overtaking too closely, highlighting the need for better awareness of the updated Highway Code.
The Department for Transport's figures show a rise in cycling levels since 2004, but progress on safety has stalled. In 2024, 82 cyclists were killed on UK roads, and over 3,800 were seriously injured. Sarah McMonagle, Director of External Affairs at Cycling UK, emphasized the need for a balanced approach to road safety, combining education, prevention, and enforcement of the rules. She believes that clearly explaining the reasons behind the changes and how they protect everyone is crucial.
However, the strategy itself acknowledged the need for a 'lifelong learning approach' to road safety, a phrase campaigners say quietly admits the public has not been adequately informed. Spending on the government's road safety campaign body has fallen by around two-thirds since 2019, even as ministers commit to a 'safe systems approach' in the newly published Road Safety Strategy. This has led to questions about the government's commitment to improving road safety and the effectiveness of its campaigns.
