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Driving law proposals will see a new hierarchy of road users system introduced which will give priority to pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders. The alterations will ensure that those road users who could cause the greatest harm have the highest responsibility to reduce the dangers or threats on the road.
The new changes will also firm up legislation that drivers and riders should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross the road.
Drivers will also be forced to give priority to cyclists at junctions when travelling straight ahead.
Guidance will also be issued on safe passing distances and speeds when overtaking cyclists and horse riders.
However, a new study by Admiral Multi Cover has warned that the new proposals have not been met positively by road users.
A total of 63 percent of all road users believe that everyone should be ranked equally when it comes to transport on the roads,
Only 30 percent of motorists agree with the new proposals that more vulnerable road users should be prioritised on the road.
The survey found that 60 percent of all road users did not believe priority should be given to cyclists at junctions.
Over a quarter said they believed a driver had the right of way if they had stopped at a junction first which would be wrong under the new guidance.
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Ellie Willis, head of Admiral Multi Cover said: “With an increase in the number of cyclists taking to the UK roads recently, and upcoming changes expected to the Highway Code, it’s important that people understand the rules to improve the safety for all road users.”
The Department for Transport (DfT) said in a statement that the new principle would most heavily apply to drivers of “large goods and passenger vehicles”.
They warned that those in charge of vehicles bore the “greatest responsibility” to reduce the danger they posed on the road.
A DfT statement said: “Everyone suffers when road collisions occur, whether they are physically injured or not.
“But those in charge of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm in the event of a collision bear the greatest responsibility to take care and reduce the danger they pose to others.
“This principle applies most strongly to drivers of large goods and passenger vehicles, followed by vans/minibuses, cars/taxis and motorcycles.”
However, the findings from Admiral Multi Car have revealed that changing the rules is still no guarantee that new rules would be universally followed.
The survey revealed that a shocking 44 percent of road users have not looked at the Highway Code for more than 20 years.
Meanwhile, only one in ten road users have read the Highway Code within the past three years.
This is despite the official guidance changing a massive 15 times over the past five years alone.
However, campaigners have backed proposals for a new hierarchy of road users system to boost safety on the road.
Jenni Wiggle, interim CEO of Living Streets says drivers should “take the greatest share of responsibility”: to reduce the danger they individually pose to the road.
She said: “The Highway Code currently treats all road users – from children walking to lorry drivers – as if they are equally responsible for their own or other people’s safety.
“However, people walking cause the least road danger but are often left paying the price.
“Pedestrians account for a quarter of road deaths, with the latest figures showing increases amongst vulnerable groups: children and older people.
“Road users who have potential to cause the greatest harm, such as the drivers of large motor vehicles, should also take the greatest share of responsibility to reduce the danger they pose.”
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