In 2022 when the latest version came out there was lots of bruhaha in the motoring press & elsewhere claiming it as anti-motorist and pro-cycling. Much was said about the "1.5m" distance for passing cyclists in Rule 163 & it has been interesting to see that more motorists now give cyclists more room when passing. There was nearly as much written about allowing pedestrians to cross at road junctions - the 2nd bullet of Rule 170 - but this is not really any more than a clarification of what the previous Highway Codes said, and in the USA they enforce this.
Things I have learned:-
- If you have to stop in a tunnel. leave at least a 5-metre gap between you and the vehicle in front - part of Rule 126.
- The difference between Pelican & Puffin crossings - Rules 23 & 199. But I still cannot see the need for the 2 types.
- That when parking at night where the speed limit is 40mph or more you must switch on parking lights - Rule 249.
- You must not smoke, or allow anyone else to smoke, in an enclosed private vehicle carrying someone under 18 - part of Rule 148
- Max speed limits for cars towing caravans / trailers - part of Rule 124
- Parking at night facing against the direction of traffic flow - Rule 248
- Rules H1 and 67 appear to encourage cyclists to overtake on the left and Rule 170 appears to put the onus on the driver to avoid them - but Rule 74 instucts cyclists not to ride on the inside of vehicles signalling left or slowing down.
- Rule 145 says you must not drive on or over the pavement, except for access. Rule 144 permits parking on the pavement (outside London). But you cannot do that unless you first drive onto the pavement which is forbidden by Rule 145.
- The Horn - Annex 6 - Vehicle Maintenance & Safety - requires you to have a working "audible warning system" But you cannot test this because Rule 112 only allows you to use the horn when moving & to warn other road users of your presence.
Rule 176 about traffic lights includes advice "If the traffic lights are not working, treat the situation as you would an unmarked junction and proceed with great care". Sadly there is no advice in the new Highway Code about how to treat unmarked junctions. Possibly because they have all been done away with!
When I took my test in Harrow the test route included several unmarked junctions and the local driving instructors made sure that all their pupils were well-drilled in crossing them in every possible direction.
