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Planned revisions to Highway Code will highlight danger of close passes and encourage ‘Dutch Reach’ to prevent cyclists from being doored

Campaigners hail move that will protect vulnerable road users

Transport minister Jesse Norman has confirmed today that the government plans to revise the Highway Code to highlight the danger of motorists overtaking cyclists too closely, and to  encourage the ‘Dutch Reach’ technique to prevent cyclists being ‘doored’.

The move is among measures aimed at reducing casualties of vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians.

Cycling and walking minister Norman said: “Britain has some of the safest roads in the world, but we need them to be safer still for all – and particularly for cyclists, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.

“Cycling and walking are increasingly being understood as crucial parts of an integrated approach to issues of health, obesity, air quality and town and city planning.

“But this will only happen if people feel safe on the roads.

“These measures are part of a steady process of improvement and reform designed to achieve just that.”

Joe Irvin, Chief Executive of Living Streets, said: “This is a major victory. When we walk our streets, we should not have to feel endangered by traffic.

“People walking and cycling do not cause road danger, congestion or toxic air levels, and yet they’re the ones who too often pay the price on our roads. Last year, there was a 5 per cent rise in pedestrian fatalities - this cannot continue.  

“A revision to update the Highway Code is needed to make people walking and cycling feel safer, and to encourage more people to choose these cleaner and healthier ways to travel.”

Duncan Dollimore, Head of Campaigns at Cycling UK commented: “Close overtakes and people opening car doors in front of cyclists are not only dangerous, they also put people off riding a bike.

“That’s why Cycling UK has been campaigning for changes to the Highway Code rules for many years, to make the requirements to give enough space when overtaking a cyclist, wait if you can’t, and look before you open your car door crystal clear.

“We’re delighted the government has listened and we hope to contribute to the discussions regarding the amendments required to prioritise the safety of cyclists and other vulnerable road users,” he added.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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37 comments

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kil0ran | 6 years ago
0 likes

Coming home on the M3 last night around 8pm (so proper dark) there was a broken down vehicle in the Smart Motorway section. Had been there for a while because the occupants were out of the car and some way up the grass bank. Absolutely no warning from the matrix signs. Only a matter of time before someone is killed because we thought it was a good idea to remove hard shoulders rather than control traffic volumes.

A bit further on the outside two lanes were closed due to an accident with warning signs lit for about 3 miles and yet cockwombles were still barrelling down the outside of two lanes of stationary traffic to sneak in the queue up by the cones. That finally got stopped by an artic straddling the outside two lanes...

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brooksby replied to kil0ran | 6 years ago
0 likes

kil0ran wrote:

Coming home on the M3 last night around 8pm (so proper dark) there was a broken down vehicle in the Smart Motorway section. Had been there for a while because the occupants were out of the car and some way up the grass bank. Absolutely no warning from the matrix signs. Only a matter of time before someone is killed because we thought it was a good idea to remove hard shoulders rather than control traffic volumes.

A bit further on the outside two lanes were closed due to an accident with warning signs lit for about 3 miles and yet cockwombles were still barrelling down the outside of two lanes of stationary traffic to sneak in the queue up by the cones. That finally got stopped by an artic straddling the outside two lanes...

I live outside Bristol, nearest to the M5 motorway.  We have so-called 'smart' motorways all along 'our' stretch of the M5, and the nearest sections of the M4.

My wife is absolutely terrified of them - she always says, "If I break down, I'm completely dependent on someone behind a camera actually noticing me!"

(Mind you, have you watched any of that BBC4 series about the M6?  Last night: broken down lorry on hard shoulder and partly into lane 1.  Traffic people turn up, put out cones, turn on matrix signs warning, walking about while they wait for a BIG tow truck to turn up.  The number of times vehicles nearly took out the cones and the traffic officers...  Some people clearly don't look beyond the front of their vehicle).

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vonhelmet | 6 years ago
3 likes

You only have to look at how well people handle ASL boxes to see that no one bothers paying attention to new rules.

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Bigfoz | 6 years ago
2 likes

90+% of all drivers currently on the road will never read the new Highway code - without re-tests, chnages in the code are meaninless...

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Hirsute replied to Bigfoz | 6 years ago
0 likes
Bigfoz wrote:

90+% of all drivers currently on the road will never read the new Highway code - without re-tests, chnages in the code are meaninless...

As low as that?

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Pushing50 | 6 years ago
1 like

“Cycling and walking are increasingly being understood as crucial parts of an integrated approach to issues of health, obesity, air quality and town and city planning." .... Said Mr Norman.

Not in Portsmouth!

Also, is it going to be compulsory to read the new code by current road users? I think not and I cannot imagine the country flocking to their local bookstore to get the revised copy. It is not going to be like a new Harry Potter release or Katie Price book signing event (???). 

I think the only current road users who are likely to read it are the vulnerable road users (me included) and not those who are the real danger.

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BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
1 like

Compulsary retraining and retesting would also sift out those simply not physically or mentally not able to pass a level of competence. The problem is that the government are more bothered about training dirvers to park up on the wrong side of the road and using distractive electronic devices in motors before actually trying to stop the rot that set in decades ago.

Next they will scrap the penalty for using a phone/media device (as above, it's pretty much of no use in any case) and also not be bothered about alcohol and simoply introduce how to use your phone and be able to drive with 10 pints/2 bottles of wine inside your system. Might as well for all the fucks they give with respect to safety/safe operation of a killing machine.

CUK should spend mine and others money taking the government to court because they are complicit in tens of thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of serious injuries every decade and won't, (not can't) do squat except talk, and even the talk is mostly bullshit waffle that has zero impact on saving lives and creating a better, safer societyfor everyone, not just people on bikes.

As per, CUK are slapping themselves on the back, sorry but you're wasting our money on this crap, a bit like when they gave the green light for the Bedford turbo roundabout. Oh wait, those grey mats will keep us safe though ...

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vonhelmet | 6 years ago
7 likes

Never mind that it’s already a criminal offence to open a car door dangerously.

We don’t need more rules, we need more enforcement. This is all just so much wankery.

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burtthebike | 6 years ago
5 likes

"Transport minister Jesse Norman has confirmed today that the government plans to revise the Highway Code to highlight the danger of motorists overtaking cyclists too closely, and to  encourage the ‘Dutch Reach’ technique to prevent cyclists being ‘doored’."

As others have pointed out, Mr Norman isn't considered to be one of the most competent ministers in a government where the rest of them are hardly going to win a gold medal for competence.  Then there is the complete lack of any force to his words, no complusion, no new laws, just "highlight" and "encourage"; has he been consulting Chris Hoy?  So absolutely nothing really, other than empty words.

This is just a sop to cover the criticism of the killer cyclists inquiry.

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davel | 6 years ago
4 likes

Jesse Norman is an incompetent weasel. 

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vonhelmet replied to davel | 6 years ago
3 likes

davel wrote:

Jesse Norman is an incompetent weasel. 

He’s an MP.

So yes.

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davel replied to vonhelmet | 6 years ago
4 likes

vonhelmet wrote:

davel wrote:

Jesse Norman is an incompetent weasel. 

He’s an MP.

So yes.

He might be a great MP for all I know. As a transport minister he stinks. 

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brooksby replied to davel | 6 years ago
2 likes

davel wrote:

Jesse Norman is an incompetent weasel. 

How would you define a competent weasel?

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Bmblbzzz replied to brooksby | 6 years ago
4 likes

brooksby wrote:

davel wrote:

Jesse Norman is an incompetent weasel. 

How would you define a competent weasel?

Similar to but totally different from an efficient stoat. 

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brooksby replied to Bmblbzzz | 6 years ago
0 likes

Bmblbzzz wrote:

brooksby wrote:

davel wrote:

Jesse Norman is an incompetent weasel. 

How would you define a competent weasel?

Similar to but totally different from an efficient stoat. 

Or, I suppose: https://www.facebook.com/handpaintedstuff/posts/have-you-got-a-stoat-and-weasel-recognition-kit-yet-do-you-know-the-difference-i/2054452084788249/

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Shades | 6 years ago
4 likes

Bit of 'window dressing'; pop all the other 'hard questions' ref protecting vulnerable road users in the 'all too difficult/kick the can down the road' pile and head to lunch.

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Mungecrundle | 6 years ago
1 like

I was just wondering what sort of speed was being indicated in the front cover picture, it's apparently a montage of car and motorcycle cockpit, but assuming it's a speedo representation from either, it looks to me somewhere north of 60mph which on the approach to a blind right hand bend on a hill with chevron markings, coming up behind a slower road user and with traffic coming the opposite direction and hazard warning lines on the road (maybe should be solids in any event) would seem to me a tad ambitious.

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kil0ran | 6 years ago
4 likes

Nothing but a sweetener for a compulsory helmet and insurance law

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brooksby replied to kil0ran | 6 years ago
8 likes

kil0ran wrote:

Nothing but a sweetener for a compulsory helmet and insurance law

If there is compulsory insurance and helmets then I'll just start riding *everywhere* in primary - you want to treat me like a motor vehicle, I'll start behaving like one.

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Awavey | 6 years ago
4 likes

So we get to look forward the next time a car close passes us to be able to tell them but look the highway code highlights this is dangerous...consider me totally unimpressed by this so called 'victory'. 'Highlights' and 'encourages' sheesh, unless backed up with real consequences for motorists in terms of fines,points and more importantly police enforcement,it won't be worth the revised paper it's written on.

And this is the sweetener of the compliment sandwich what joys no doubt await us ahead in terms of the government's desire to be seen to be be fair and equal to the motorists lobby against cyclists

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brooksby | 6 years ago
10 likes

Key points I've taken from the Grauniad article on this:

Quote:

Measures to protect cyclists are to be introduced in the Highway Code, including a new recommendation on how to get out of a vehicle without “dooring” a passing rider.

Or, as we like to call it, "looking".

Quote:

Highways England has announced a £3m contract with Sustrans to improve the National Cycle Network.

£3m! So, like, about a mile of motorway. Hey, big spender!

 

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Awavey replied to brooksby | 6 years ago
8 likes
brooksby wrote:

£3m! So, like, about a mile of motorway. Hey, big spender!

 

1.5 billion to upgrade 21 miles of the A14. 3million probably just pays for signage thesedays

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brooksby replied to Awavey | 6 years ago
0 likes

Awavey wrote:
brooksby wrote:

£3m! So, like, about a mile of motorway. Hey, big spender!

 

1.5 billion to upgrade 21 miles of the A14. 3million probably just pays for signage thesedays

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Mark B replied to Awavey | 6 years ago
0 likes

Awavey wrote:

1.5 billion to upgrade 21 miles of the A14. 3million probably just pays for signage thesedays

I suspect most of that cost is for the complicated junctions at either end. I have no idea how much a mile of plain motorway costs but it's a hell of a lot less than 1.5bn/21.

 

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vonhelmet replied to Mark B | 6 years ago
0 likes

Mark B wrote:

Awavey wrote:

1.5 billion to upgrade 21 miles of the A14. 3million probably just pays for signage thesedays

I suspect most of that cost is for the complicated junctions at either end. I have no idea how much a mile of plain motorway costs but it's a hell of a lot less than 1.5bn/21.

 

Googling and reading the first result suggests between £21m and £35m per mile.

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Awavey replied to vonhelmet | 6 years ago
1 like
vonhelmet wrote:

Mark B wrote:

Awavey wrote:

1.5 billion to upgrade 21 miles of the A14. 3million probably just pays for signage thesedays

I suspect most of that cost is for the complicated junctions at either end. I have no idea how much a mile of plain motorway costs but it's a hell of a lot less than 1.5bn/21.

 

Googling and reading the first result suggests between £21m and £35m per mile.

And that's just the estimated cost at the start of the project, the Norwich Northern Distributor Road costs rose by 10% at last proper audit, 12.5miles costing a mere £205million, so £16.4million per mile

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FluffyKittenofT... replied to brooksby | 6 years ago
0 likes

brooksby wrote:

Key points I've taken from the Grauniad article on this:

Quote:

Measures to protect cyclists are to be introduced in the Highway Code, including a new recommendation on how to get out of a vehicle without “dooring” a passing rider.

Or, as we like to call it, "looking".

Quote:

Highways England has announced a £3m contract with Sustrans to improve the National Cycle Network.

£3m! So, like, about a mile of motorway. Hey, big spender!

 

 

Probably just about pay for complementary tea and biscuits for Sustrans volunteers.

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hawkinspeter | 6 years ago
3 likes

So, it's only taken decades to realise that the HC needs improving. How long is it going to be before it actually is revised?

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vonhelmet | 6 years ago
13 likes

Common sense is not common and people are inconsiderate and selfish. Hence we codify good behaviour. The problem is there is basically no reason to comply with the rules when the risk of being caught misbehaving is so vanishingly small.

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RobD replied to vonhelmet | 6 years ago
7 likes

vonhelmet wrote:

Common sense is not common and people are inconsiderate and selfish. Hence we codify good behaviour. The problem is there is basically no reason to comply with the rules when the risk of being caught misbehaving is so vanishingly small.

Unfortunately I agree with you, the perceived benefits to those who speed, jump lights, don't wait to overtake etc (and I say perceived because unless you're very close to your destination you're just going to get to the next bit of traffic more quickly) outweigh the risk of getting caught. I've even recently seen drivers on mobile phones or clearly texting not even bother to try to hide the fact when a police car has gone the other way. Drivers seem to know that unless you crash then the risk of being caught is miniscule.

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