Highway code update - vague, misunderstood and reported badly

The highway code was updated on the 29th January 2022. The most notable update is that drivers should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross the road at junctions. The update is unclear and some of the updates have been reported incorrectly leading to the new code being misunderstood. This is causing danger on UK roads. In this video I explain some of the terminology in the code and I focus on the actual written meaning of the updates that affect drivers.


Note from the driving test centre:
The most notable change for candidates and trainers is “At a junction you should give way to people crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from you are turning”.

People driving or riding a motorcycle will need to take this new requirement to give way to people crossing into account as they plan their approach to the junction. This includes being aware of:

The actions of the person crossing
The actions of other road users nearby

If someone is waiting to cross, they’ll normally be standing at the edge of the pavement, actively looking in the direction of the traffic and the direction they intend to cross.

People driving or riding a motorcycle need to be aware of the person crossing’s actions and those of the other road users, so they can plan their approach safely and take the right action as they negotiate the junction.

Assessment on test

On a driving or riding test, failure to give way to someone who is clearly waiting to cross the road but is standing safely on the pavement would normally be assessed as a driving or riding fault.

This is because the candidate would be deviating from the defined outcome. It’s clear though that our examiners will need to consider all factors, including:

The presence of following traffic
The speed on approach
To the visibility and actions of the person waiting to cross
Whether it was clear the person intended to cross

Serious or dangerous fault

We won't be changing the assessment level of a serious or dangerous fault with the introduction of this new rule.

If the learner driver or riders’ actions place a person crossing at risk, for example if they failed to give way to someone who is actually in the road, a serious fault would normally be recorded.

But the actions of the person walking and other road users nearby will have a bearing on how our examiner assesses the action.

They’ll consider things like:

What they might have done driving in the same circumstances
Whether the actions of the person walking were reasonable and could be anticipated
The presence of other road users nearby

As novice drivers, candidates are more likely to err on the side of caution and this will be considered.
End of driving test centre note.


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This video is a guide intended to help people who are learning to drive with a driving instructor in Great Britain, it is by no means a replacement for driving lessons with an appropriately qualified driving instructor.

Laws and driving rules may be different in your country. The makers of this video cannot be held liable for any consequences caused by any information that is in any way inaccurate, misleading or missing. The makers of this video are not liable for any person's driving other than their own, it is the responsibility of the person driving a vehicle to ensure they drive safely and within the law. The makers of this video are also not liable for any person failing a driving test as a result of the information provided in the video.

00:00 Intro
00:27 Pedestrians at junctions
05:34 Pedestrian crossings
07:41 Cyclists & horses
14:09 Roundabouts
17:05 Hierarchy
19:32 Parking & charging
23:12 Test centre notes
25:39 Outro