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news
London cyclists at Hyde Park Corner (copyright Britishcycling.org_.uk).jpgOne in three cyclists still feel unsafe on British roads despite Highway Code changes, according to new survey
A new survey has revealed that one in three cyclists feel unsafe on UK roads despite changes to the Highway Code aimed at protecting vulnerable road users coming into force last January, with the insurer that commissioned the poll calling on the government to step up communication of the new rules to all road users.
Cycleplan sent a survey to 5,392 of its UK policyholders in April, quizzing them on issues including their understanding of the changes made to the Highway Code, which covers England, Scotland and Wales (Northern Ireland has its own version of the code, which has not been updated as yet).
Changes included recommending that drivers leave at least 1.5 metres space when overtaking people on bikes, new rules for using junctions, and the introduction of a hierarchy of road users aimed at protecting the most vulnerable.
In its survey, the insurer highlighted earlier research conducted by the AA among 13,000 of its own members in January which found that 33 per cent of them were unaware of the changes that were due to come into effect later that month.
According to Cycleplan, 55 per cent of its survey respondents were not surprised at that level of the lack of awareness among drivers regarding the changes, and 25 per cent thought that the AA poll probably understated the ignorance of the new rules among all motorists (as we’ve pointed out before, members of the AA and other motoring organisations are likely to be more engaged with issues such as changes to the law if only because they will have been alerted to them through regular communications such as newsletters or emails).
One in three of Cycleplan’s survey respondents – 33 per cent – said that they had been involved in a collision or near miss within the past 12 months, and 79 per cent said that they believed that drivers were not observing the Highway Code changes.
Calling on the government to launch a full campaign to publicise the changes, Cycleplan said: “From our report, we can conclude that while the Highway Code changes rolled out on 29 January 2022 are ideal on paper, they are failing to serve their purpose when put into practice.
“Here at Cycleplan, we feel confident that this is largely due to the changes having not been properly enforced or publicised.
“Our report provides solid evidence to support this theory. While most UK cyclists claimed to be aware the Highway Code was being updated, many revealed themselves to be unaware of the changes and, therefore, a risk to themselves and other road users.
“An AA poll found that 86% of motorists don’t re-read the Highway Code, further supporting the idea that a major public safety campaign is needed to ensure road users are fully aware of the changes and able to abide by them.”
Campaigners including Cycling UK have been calling on the government to run a sustained, long-term and broad-reaching campaign to publicise the new rules, and in June we reported how a separate survey of 2,000 drivers by Vertu Motors found that less than half of the drivers questioned were able to name a single change that came into force in January.
> Majority of drivers unaware of Highway Code changes, new study suggests
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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22 comments
I'm happy to report that I only had one incident yesterday. It was a bus overtaking an oncoming cyclist. Plenty of room left and a wonderful overtake, except I had to slow to avoid, what would have been, the death of me via a head-on collision. You couldn't make this stuff up!
But did you feel unsafe?
No I didn't. But at other points in my ride I definitely did.
This just shows how subjective the question is. The head-on with the bus was undoubtedly the most unsafe, in reality, that I was. The short stretch of A road was the most unsafe I felt.
Since I'm pretty sure three in every three cyclists feels less than safe on our roads, I'm not sure that this survey has any validity whatsoever; still, it's got the insurance company some publicity, so that's all right.
Maybe if they asked cyclists who actually ride on the roads next time?
I'm not sure how the headline relates to the content, given that 80% believe that motorists are not following the highway code. The 1 in 3 refers to actual dangerous incidents in the last 12 months, which I have to say sounds like underreporting as I think most of us would consider that we have some kind of dangerous interaction at least once every ride.
What I'd like to know is where are the other two riding?
Just this morning, when I was filling in feedback for my work driving course, I put there needs to be more information in it about what cyclists can and cannot do and what drivers need to do in relation to cyclists. All it had was the 1.5 metre rule. I said that there was a lot of ignorance amongst some drivers as the the HC changes.
It is hardly surprising that for many of us there has been no change beyond the gradually increasing bad and cyclist-hostile driving of buses, lorries, BMWs, Audis- because the so-called Highway Code changes are an attention-free zone, especially from the police forces who paid no attention the cyclist-related rules in the previous HC versions
Exactly we could have the biggest ad campaign ever, running everyday for years to come and not one thing would change for us on the roads until the day the police reviewing a close pass video actually say this deserves more than no further action this time and did something about it, for a change.
As much as I hate the idea maybe it's time to monetise close pass videos the same way they do speed camera's?
Its a shit Tory solution but it's probably easier than actually:
a) Funding the police properly.
b) Making every 2 bit police force actually train & apply standardised close pass standards.
not one thing would change for us on the roads until the day the police reviewing a close pass video actually say this deserves more than no further action this time and did something about it
Most forces would have to cull (humanely!, but it's the only way, pour encourager les new ones) all the present traffic police and replace them with ones who know which way up a bike goes and how you make it go, before such a radical change could occur
If my own "survey" is anything to go by then in 6 months of walking to and from the Train Station 3 days a week I can safely say that when crossing side roads I think only 3 cars have given way to me crossing a side road.
No cars turning into the "side" road have given way, only one appraching the junction.
I continue to use the same rules while walking I have always applied, stop, look, listen and proceed when safe to do so. Do I feel any safer than I did before, no. Do I feel any more endangered, no.
While out on a bike there seems to be more "wider" passers, but I feel no more safer that I did before, but again I don't feel anymore in danger.
If you try stopping on your bike, you get really baffled pedestrians* - I mean, how many pedestrians have read the HWC before they ventured out onto the streets?
*Who use OUR highways without paying road tax, having a licence or insurance. Harrumph!
I'm not usually a fan of excessive signage around the place but I think there is a good case in urban areas to have a sign on the nearest lamppost on the approach to a junction reminding drivers and pedestrians that it's pedestrian priority.
I bet if you stopped any motorist and asked them what the recent changes were, hardly any of them would know. I also suspect that because we cyclists know what changed we are now even more in the firing line as the ignorant motorists probably think that were are being more of an obstruction on their roads?
No need to speculate
If I don't take an aggressive road position and take the lane I almost always regret it as some driver will squeeze past. When I take the lane, I am sure many drivers think I'm an entitled and arrogant cyclist. Can't win.
When I did that yesterday and a car pulled alongside me afterwards to compliment me on my cycling, I got called a snitch, I guess he saw my camera, or at least that's what it sounded like he said.
Surely no expert driver would object to their best practice competence being shared with less experienced drivers...
Maybe that expert driver was concerned about the divisive effects this would have on the road. You know, giving all those other drivers (who are clearly foolish, incompetent or criminal) a complex.
I prefer the word assertive to aggresive but other than that I agree.
But really... Who gives a damn what they think? I'd put £20 on them not giving a damn what you think. Screw em. Stay safe