Almost two thirds of Essex drivers don't know the Highway Code is changing
Changes come in tomorrow
According to new research, 61% of drivers in Essex are unaware the Highway Code is being updated this weekend.
Changes to the code come in from Saturday 29th January.
Eight new rules and 49 updates will be introduced, with hopes they'll provide stronger protections for pedestrians.
Most notably, it will feature a ‘hierarchy of road users’ with the most vulnerable at the top – pedestrians and cyclists – and those considered the most dangerous at the bottom – cars, vans and HGVs.
Tracey Benson, from Brentwood, is Head of Serious Injury at Slater and Gordon law firm. She explains the changes: "There's been a real shift in favour of vulnerable road users i.e. pedestrians. The new rules basically require drivers to take much more care and they put an onus on them to create a safer environment.
"The Highway Code now has introduced a hierarchy of road users based on vulnerability. The concept behind it is that those in charge of vehicles that can potentially cause the greatest harm bear the greatest responsibility to take care.
"If you're driving an HGV, you're expected to take a greater level of care and to protect other road users because, arguably, the size of your vehicle indicates the amount of damage that you could possibly cause. "
She says some of the new changes could catch people out: "The most important rule change, which I think a lot of people could miss if they don't educate themselves about these changes is that pedestrians now have priority at junctions, so if you're driving into or out of a junction, you've got to give way to any pedestrian who is waiting to cross the road.
"Previously, pedestrians didn't have right of way, so that that's a major change that people are going to have to get to grips with."
Tracey also highlighted that rules for cyclists are changing: "You can't cut across their path if you're changing lane or turning into a junction. You can't cause them any need to have to swerve or stop.
"They also have priority when travelling straight ahead at junctions now, so you can't pull up alongside them as you used to - they've got their own right as a road user and you have to stay behind them if they're if they're waiting at a junction
"They're also being encouraged to ride in the middle of the road if that's where they feel safest and most visible."