Two-thirds of motorists admit they’ve never heard of the new rule, a poll has found.
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The Highway Code was updated in 2022 to include a new “hierarchy of road users“, which gives priority to pedestrians and cyclists over motorists.
This means drivers should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross a road they’re turning into.
Cars wanting to turn either left or right will now have to give way to cyclists that are riding behind and want to go straight on.
When a driver is overtaking a cyclist, they must leave a space of at least 1.5 metres at speeds up to 30mph.
If you’re driving above 30mph, you must give extra space to cyclists although a specific distance has not be laid out.
A survey by Admiral Car Insurance has found that only 35% of motorists have heard of the hierarchy of road users, even though they could end up with a £1,000 fine if they flout it.
Only 8% of drivers over the age of 65 say they’ve heard of the rule, while 41% of young people say they follow it.
Admiral’s claims supremo Lorna Connelly said: “Having any sort of car accident can be a frightening experience, but when a pedestrian is involved, the implications can be devastating.
“While the number of pedestrians who were sadly killed or seriously injured on our roads was reduced during the pandemic, it’s concerning to see numbers creeping up again.
“What’s worrying about these findings is how little both drivers and pedestrians understand about the designated crossings and what the rules are to safely use them.
“We all have a responsibility to act with caution, and traffic collisions can be catastrophic, so it’s vital we do all we can to keep one another safe.
“Our research also confirms how the various pulls of day-to-day life can be all too distracting for drivers and pedestrian’s alike, with one of the most common reasons for near misses at crossings highlighted as pedestrians getting distracted by their phone.
“This is why it’s so important to remain aware of their surroundings when out and about on the road.”
It comes after experts shared a new list of banned number plates, following the launch of the new “23” plates for vehicles – with many naughty words on the list.
New research has also revealed which cars are most likely to pass or fail their MOT tests – leaving drivers shocked.