Being able to share the road in a considerate way is one of the most important aspects of safe driving. We all have a responsibility to look out for each other, whether that’s checking for motorbikes in cities or horses on country lanes.
In order to do this, every driver learns about The Highway Code when they’re taking their first driving lessons. But while the Code might be fresh in your mind as a new driver, after a while it can be hard to recall who should be doing what.
There are also occasional updates to the rules. In this guide, we help you understand what’s changed in the Highway Code recently, what you should be doing as a driver to show consideration for other road users, and what you should do if something goes wrong.
What is the Highway Code?
The Highway Code is a government guide to the rules of the road, produced by the Department for Transport. It aims to create a clear system for anyone using the roads in the UK, whether they’re walking or driving, and keep everything running safely and smoothly.
While you don’t legally have to own a copy, making sure that you’ve read it and are clear on the key principles will help you do your bit to ensure that all road users can share the road in safety.
What changes have been made to the Highway Code?
The government updated The Highway Code on 29 January 2022, following a public consultation of a review of the Code in 2020 to which more than 20,000 individuals, businesses and organisations contributed. The review was focused on improving road safety for people walking, cycling and riding horses.
Multiple changes to the wording of The Highway Code were introduced to make things clearer and safer for road users. Here are the key areas covered by the updates:
Explanation of a “hierarchy of road users”, to prioritise those most at risk in the event of a collision.
People crossing the road at a junction, who now have higher priority over other traffic.
Routes and spaces that are shared by people walking, cycling and riding horses.
Road positioning for cyclists, including cycling in groups and passing parked vehicles.
Overtaking when driving or cycling, including safe passing distances and speeds.
Cycling at junctions, and giving way to pedestrians waiting to cross.
Priority and positioning for people cycling, riding a horse or driving a horse-drawn vehicle at a roundabout.
Parking, charging and leaving vehicles, including a recommended technique for opening a vehicle door without endangering other road users.
Why are the updated Highway Code rules important?
The new rules are there to try and improve road safety, especially for vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists. They work in conjunction with local initiatives that are area specific, such as London’s ‘Vision Zero’ plan.
The Mayor of London’s aims with Vision Zero are for no one to be killed in or by a London bus by 2030, and for all deaths and serious injuries from road collisions to be eliminated from London’s streets by 2041. He is supporting this aim through improved junction design, lower speed limits, and creating safer streets.
Aligning The Highway Code with other road safety initiatives in this way creates a shared goal of a better, safer experience for all road users.
What happens if you don’t follow the new rules?
There are stiff penalties to pay for breaking the rules. As well as making the road an unsafe environment for all, you could also face a penalty fine and points on your driving licence. In serious cases, disobeying the rules can mean that you are disqualified from driving, or even sent to prison.
For example, careless and inconsiderate driving can be granted an unlimited fine (one with no fixed upper limit) or get you disqualified from driving, whilst dangerous driving can land you in prison for two years.
Understanding the new updates
Let's now break down the main rule updates for drivers interacting with cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders. We'll also look at what the recent changes mean for these groups, so that you can stay safe and legal on the roads.
Hierarchy of road users
The term “hierarchy of road users” is a new addition to The Highway Code. It was created to prioritise people who would be most at risk in the event of a collision. Pedestrians are classed as the most vulnerable; and within that group children, the elderly, and people with disabilities are considered especially at risk. The full hierarchy is as follows:
Pedestrians
Cyclists
Horse riders
Motorcyclists
Cars
Vans/minibuses
Large passenger or courier vehicles like buses and HGVs
Of course, this hierarchy does not mean that pedestrians no longer need to check before they cross the road, or can behave irresponsibly. Instead, it’s designed to help prevent accidents occurring as a result of confusion around who has priority. There are three sub-rules, the so-called H rules (H1, H2 and H3), which relate to this hierarchy.
Rule H1
The first rule states that everyone has to take responsibility for sharing the road, but drivers have the greatest responsibility, as they could potentially cause the most harm. This principle applies most strongly to drivers of large goods and passenger vehicles, vans/minibuses, cars/taxis and motorcycles.
After drivers, cyclists, horse riders and drivers of horse-drawn vehicles also need to take care when passing pedestrians.
This rule also encourages road users to remember that not all disabilities are obvious – as in the case of someone with impaired sight, hearing or mobility, for example.
Rule H2
Accidents can often occur when drivers, cyclists or other non-pedestrians are turning into, or out of a road. This rule stipulates that drivers, cyclists and horse riders must give way to pedestrians who are looking to use a zebra or parallel crossing, or who are crossing at a junction.
The pedestrian doesn’t have to have started to cross – if they’re clearly waiting, you should stop to see if they want to cross.
Horse riders should give way to pedestrians on a zebra crossing, and to pedestrians and cyclists on a parallel crossing. Cyclists should give way to pedestrians on shared use cycle tracks and to horse riders on bridleways.
Rule H3
Rule three states that, as a driver or motorcyclist wanting to turn at a junction or change lanes, you shouldn’t cut across other road users such as cyclists and horse riders who are going straight ahead.
You shouldn’t turn at a junction if this would mean causing a cyclist, horse rider or horse-drawn vehicle going straight ahead to have to stop or swerve. And if need be, you should stop and wait for a gap in the flow of cyclists when turning at a junction, in slow-moving traffic or at a roundabout.
Drivers and cyclists
Drivers often share the road with cyclists, unless they primarily do motorway driving. From those out for a leisure ride along country roads, to commuters zipping across the city, there are plenty of moments when cars and bikes come alongside each other.
In the UK, it can be hard for drivers to safely overtake cyclists when they want to. Only certain locations have dedicated bike lanes, usually on inner-city routes, meaning that road positioning is down to the cyclist and driver to manage. As a driver, it can be frustrating to find yourself stuck behind a bike when you’re in a rush or someone else is getting annoyed behind you, but it’s important to stay calm.
Overtaking in an unsafe manner can have disastrous consequences, with 87 cyclist fatalities on British roads, according to the government's latest data set, released in 2024. Furthermore, 3,942 people were seriously injured, and 10,970 were slightly injured (in 2023, according to the report released in 2024). This just goes to show how important it is to pay attention on the road, to minimise accidents wherever possible.
The new rules
The updated Highway Code rules are designed to help reduce the amount of accidents between drivers and vulnerable road users, including cyclists. In particular, drivers should note the following changes:
Road positioning. It’s now recommended that cyclists, while being considerate to other drivers, on quiet roads (e.g. country lanes) should ride in the centre of the lane, rather than over to one side. Cyclists in groups are also allowed to ride in pairs side-by-side. However, all cyclists should be aware of people behind them, and move over, get into single file or stop when they can, to allow cars to overtake. They should also place themselves at least 0.5 metres from the edge of the kerb when there are vehicles moving faster than them.
Overtaking. It can be difficult to know when you can safely overtake as a driver. The new rules state that you can cross a double white line (usually prohibited) if the cyclist is going under 10 miles per hour, provided that it is safe to do so – you must not endanger drivers on the other side of the road, or the cyclist When overtaking, you’re required to leave at least 1.5 metres between you and the bike. If you’re driving over 30 miles per hour, you should leave even more room. And you should always wait behind cyclists and not attempt to overtake if it’s unsafe or not possible to meet these clearances.
Cycling at junctions. There are some locations where cyclists now have a separate set of traffic lights to drivers, which are at eye level and feature a bike symbol to prevent any confusion. This should hopefully help cyclists move ahead of the cars, and reduce the risk at junctions. However, these lights are not a universal feature. Cyclists are advised to cycle in the centre of the lane when coming up to a junction, and drivers should not try to overtake them. Cyclists also have priority when they’re going straight ahead at a junction, so any traffic turning into or out of a side road should let them pass before making their manoeuvre.
What can drivers do to be considerate to cyclists?
Drivers can play a vital role in making the road a safe place for cyclists. As well as taking care when following behind bikes, you can also take extra precautions:
Be cautious when pulling out and signalling. Make sure to check before pulling out, especially in your blind spot, and use your indicators correctly so that the cyclist can correctly understand where you are moving to. If you need to suddenly change your signal, you should assume the cyclist has not noticed your change of direction unless you explicitly make eye contact with them – after all, they don’t have mirrors to check.
Take care when opening doors, and ask your passengers to check for cyclists before opening theirs too. Close doors again promptly too: even on quiet residential roads, you should avoid leaving your car door open for longer than you need to.
Wait patiently at pinch points. When a road becomes narrower, you’ll need to wait behind a cyclist until you reach the end of it. Attempting to overtake at a pinch point can be dangerous for both a cyclist and yourself if you come across a car coming in the opposite direction.
Respect cycle lanes. Don’t use a cycle lane while driving. These are purposefully marked out for the safety of cyclists. It’s also important to remember not to park in one of these lanes as it can form a dangerous obstruction for unsuspecting bikers, and is a violation of rule 140 in the Highway Code.
Understand the rules. It’s a common misconception that cyclists aren’t allowed to travel more than one abreast when part of a group. But as noted above, riding in single file is not a requirement for groups on bikes – and riding in this way can actually be dangerous for drivers if they try to overtake a long chain and collide with an oncoming vehicle. In order to be a safe driver around cyclists, make sure you understand the rules that they are following.
Drivers and pedestrians
The government statistics are clear: pedestrians are at the highest risk of accidents on the road, after car drivers. There were 405 pedestrians killed by cars in 2023, with 6,067 people being seriously injured. The highest proportion of fatalities between 2019-23 came from collisions involving a heavy goods vehicle (HGV), while single cars caused the highest overall number of fatalities.
Accidents can occur in multiple places on the road. The most commonly cited contributory factors are vehicles or pedestrians failing to look properly, being “careless, reckless or in a hurry”, or failing to judge a person or vehicle’s path or speed. No fewer than 30% of fatalities occur at a junction. By all taking care and responsibility, we can hopefully reduce deaths on the road for all groups, but especially pedestrians.
The new rules
The new rules lay out clearly that pedestrians have priority, both in the hierarchy of road users, and in the guidance around people crossing the road at junctions. Cars should make sure to give way to pedestrians waiting to cross, regardless of whether they are at a marked zebra crossing.
If someone has started to cross the road, cars turning into the road should wait and allow them to cross safely, which makes it more important than ever to check before you make a manoeuvre. As always, you should ensure that you stop at all zebra or parallel crossings and allow pedestrians to cross, rather than them having to wait for a gap in the traffic.
What can drivers do to be considerate to pedestrians?
Along with the updated guidance, there has always been provision for the safety of pedestrians in The Highway Code. To help keep non-drivers safe when crossing or standing near the edge of a road, vigilance is essential:
Anticipate hidden pedestrians. As a driver, you should take due care and look out for suddenly appearing pedestrians around parked cars and things like ice cream vans, where children can easily get excited and appear in the road unexpectedly.
Watch for car doors. Pedestrians can come into the path of cars when getting in and out of vehicles. The updated Highway Code recommends a technique called the ‘Dutch Reach’ for drivers leaving vehicles, where you use your hand furthest from the door to open it, which encourages you to turn and look behind you before you open the door. So, if you’re sitting on the right side of the car, you should use your left hand to reach over and open your door.
Always give a wide berth. If you come across pedestrians in the road – for example, hiking in a country lane, without a pavement – make sure to pass them by slowly. Do not assume that they can step onto a verge to allow you to use the full width of the road to pass. The Highway Code says drivers should allow at least 2 metres (6.5 feet) of clearance.
Take extra care at night. Darker conditions make it hard to see pedestrians near the edge of roads, even if they themselves take precautions such as wearing fluorescent materials. As well as staying alert, make sure your headlights are fully operational before driving and keep your windows and mirrors as clean as possible.
Anticipate pedestrians stepping out. If you see a pedestrian on or approaching the edge of the pavement, gently slow down and keep your attention focused on both them and the road. Even if you feel like you can’t slow your speed, anticipating the possibility of them stepping out will mean your reaction times are faster in case of an emergency stop.
Drivers and horse riders
While not as common as cyclists, you’ll still often see horses on UK roads, especially in the countryside. Driving in a safe and considerate manner means that you’re less likely to spook a horse, and therefore reduce the risk to both the animal and rider.
You’ll find that many horse riders wear reflective vests and perhaps have reflective wrappings on their horse’s legs or tail. Their vests may also bear a message such as ‘please pass wide and slow’. All of this is to remind you, as a driver, that you should not squeeze horse riders into the side of the road, make excess noise, or pass closely or at speed.
Even with adequate training or exposure, horses can still spook, and so should be treated with care. Riders have a responsibility to make sure that their horses are calm enough to be ridden out, but at some point they will have to take a horse on the road for the first time. They may choose a quiet country road on purpose, so speeding noisy drivers are an unexpected hazard.
The new rules
When overtaking, drivers should make sure to leave at least two metres between their vehicle and horses or horse-drawn vehicles, and should pass at under 10 miles per hour.
In addition, people with horses can remain in the left-hand lane of the roundabout, even if they intend to go around the roundabout. Drivers should assume that horse riders are continuing on until the rider signals otherwise, so that they don’t end up cutting across them.
What can drivers do to be considerate to horse riders?
Because we see horse-riders less frequently on the road than cyclists or pedestrians, knowing what to do around them as a driver might not be as obvious. Try to keep the following practical steps in mind:
Make sure you’re seen. When you come across a horse on the road, you should slow down to a crawling pace and stay a good distance behind the horse and rider. If you can, wait for the rider to give some indication that they’ve seen or heard you – drivers of electric vehicles may struggle with this, but usually the rider can hear or sense the traffic behind them.
Wait for the rider’s signal. Ideally, wait for the rider to signal to you that they’re happy for you to pass. They may not be able to take their hands off the reins to wave you past, so look out for smaller hand signals or a nod. If they don’t signal, then you can assess the situation, and check that there is enough room. If you start to move, and the rider signals at you to stop, make sure you pay attention and do as directed.
Think about the landscape of the road when overtaking. Slowly and carefully start to pull around the horse and rider, taking care not to make excess noise, and pay attention in case the rider signals for you to stop. If you know a wider section of road is coming up shortly, it may be better to wait until that point to overtake.
Stay vigilant. Be prepared for things to change at the last minute, as horses can sometimes react unexpectedly. Keep a slow speed until you’re away from the horse. Many horse riders won’t signal to you to say thank you, but this is likely because they are concentrating on keeping control of their horse or soothing them. If you see another car speeding towards you, signal to them to slow down if it is safe to do so.
Additional driver safety advice
The actions we’ve discussed in this guide will make a big difference in a number of scenarios. But there are other ways you can become a more conscientious driver and improve road safety for yourself and all your fellow road users:
Think about a defensive driving course. This could be the perfect way to brush up on your skills, while picking up core safety skills like improved on-road competency, threat and hazard recognition practice, and reaction time training. What’s more, a course like this could also help to reduce your car insurance premiums.
Avoid driving when tired. Driving when tired can severely reduce reaction times and powers of judgement. Plan journeys around your sleeping patterns and try never to drive at a time when your body is used to you being asleep.
Don’t just rely on mirrors. Your mirrors are vital for letting you know where other users are on the road – but they have their limitations. Check your blind spots when pulling out, changing lanes, or carrying out any kind of manoeuvre on the road.
Plan medication around driving. If any medication you take could have the side effect of drowsiness or fatigue, make sure you take it well before you head out or just after you drive.
Road safety schemes and initiatives
To help improve road safety rates, there are a number of schemes and initiatives in operation on British roads:
Operation Close Pass. This scheme uses plain clothes police officers to monitor whether cars are giving cyclists enough room when overtaking. Where a motorist passes too close, the police have the right to intervene.
Operation Tutelage. This scheme has been created with the intent of preventing people from driving with an uninsured vehicle. Drivers will receive a letter in the mail if their vehicle has been seen on the road and flagged as not having insurance by police systems. A fixed fee of £300 can be given to drivers who don’t have insurance, as well as a six penalty points being added to your licence.
Operation Tramline. Three units of unmarked heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) patrol British roads looking to identify dangerous driving behaviours on the motorway. Common offences that have been detected include: people not wearing seatbelts, drivers using their phones, and a lack of proper control of vehicles.
Community Speedwatch. Using a series of approved speed detection devices, this scheme puts power back into the hands of the individual. With the support and guidance of police, volunteers from local communities are equipped to track the speed and record the licence plate of passing vehicles which exceed the limit. After an initial letter, repeat offenders receive a visit from the police. Penalties and prosecutions may follow.
New changes to driving laws in 2025
The Highway Code is frequently updated to ensure the best possible safety standards are being observed on British roads. But there are of course other rules and regulations that affect motorists. Here are some other changes to driving law in 2025 to be aware of:
Road tax on EVs: As of 1 April 2025, drivers of electric cars will have to pay road tax (Vehicle Excise Duty or VED) for the first time.
Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs). A safety permit is now a requirement for HGVs to enter London. This permit uses a star rating system during the application process. Lorries over 12 tonnes must have a minimum three-star rating or fit a Progressive Safe System in order to keep driving and operating in Greater London.
Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. Under this mandate, car manufacturers are required by law to ensure that an ever-growing proportion of new car registrations are zero emission models. For 2025, the target is 28%, for 2030 it’s 80%, and by 2035 it needs to be 100%.
What if there’s an accident?
Accidents happen, even for experienced drivers and road users. Cyclists come across an unexpected obstacle, pedestrians step out into the road without looking, horses spook – it’s sometimes hard to predict what will happen.
In the event of an accident, make sure that you follow correct procedures for any accident, help anyone else involved, and protect yourself so that you’ll be able to get back on the road again soon.
How can car insurance help?
If another car was involved, then you’ll need to note down their registration number and the insurance details of the driver, the time and the date, as well as the driver’s contact details. If the other driver isn’t the registered owner of the car, then you should also make sure to get the contact details of the registered keeper for your insurance.
Having a good car insurance policy protects you in this sort of situation, so make sure to keep all your paperwork in a safe place and choose a good provider so that you’re covered. You’ll need to report the accident to your car insurance provider, regardless of whether or not you want to make a claim.
Taking photos will help support any claims that you do need to make, or claims that are made against you. Your provider can advise you on next steps following an accident – it’s important to follow their instructions so that you don’t negatively affect any claims.
Useful links
The Highway Code:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code
Full table of changes to The Highway Code:
Reported road casualties in Great Britain, 2023 data: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-road-user-risk-2023/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-road-user-risk-2023-data
Compare the Market – guide to what to do after a car accident:
https://www.comparethemarket.com/car-insurance/content/what-to-do-after-a-car-accident/
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