The government has put out proposals for improving safety for cyclists and other non-vehicular traffic.
Highway Code consultation link. Online survey. Tell them if you agree or not.
Nick Arding has summarised these changes for the SCAG transport working group (Staverton Climate Action Group)
The proposals center around:
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- introducing a hierarchy of road users which ensures that those road users who can do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat they may pose to others
- clarifying existing rules on pedestrian priority on pavements and that drivers and riders should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross the road
- establishing guidance on safe passing distances and speeds when overtaking cyclists or horse riders, and ensuring that they have priority at junctions when travelling straight ahead
So there are a number of changes to the Highway Code in terms of clarification of existing rules and guidance but also giving new rules about motorists giving way to cyclists and pedestrians, about how cyclists may or may not use the road and how they should give way to pedestrians, about use of cycle lanes, about cycling in groups and about how motorists will be obliged to pass cyclists, summarised as:
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- leave a minimum distance of 1.5 metres at speeds under 30 mph
- leave a minimum distance of 2.0 metres at speeds over 30 mph
- for a large vehicle, leave a minimum distance of 2.0 metres in all conditions
- you should wait behind the motorcyclist, cyclist, horse rider, horse drawn vehicle or pedestrian and not overtake if it is unsafe or not possible to meet these clearances
The public have been asked to respond to the proposal by 27 October 2020 at: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/K736D5/
I just responded and it only took 10 minutes.