Over half of UK drivers still confused by Highway Code change, shows survey

It's not that they're confused; they just don't care.

I'd like to stick up for the bus drivers and bin lorry drivers on the routes between Kendal and Staveley in particular and South Lakeland in general. Very rarely do they pass close to me on on my rides round the local area. I have on several occassions, when I have caught them up at the next bus stop, thanked them. Massive difference to my old commute in Birmingham where I am sure WUMPTE used to recruit from the blind institute where I often heard SMIDSY.

That's far more of a reflection on the stupidity of most of the population than any shortcomings of the new HC guidelines.

I drive and I cycle. It's not exactly frocket science to look when wanting to turn and give any cyclists or pedestrians priority.

The New HC came into force months before a printed edition was available. I read a preview online.
I then wrote to my MP that the changes need to be publicised. 
He asked the Secretary of State for Transport, "what assessment he has made of the impact of the changes to the Highway Code implemented in January 2022 on (a) motorists (b) cyclists and (c) pedestrians."
The reply was: "the amendments simply reinforce the good behaviours that we would expect every road user to adhere to and drivers should already be following the rules of the road. The changes will lead to improvements in road safety as they encourage more mutual respect and consideration for all road users."
A factual awareness raising campaign ran February to March, alerting road users to the changes as they came into effect" and "A broader behaviour change campaign later in the year, to align with seasonal increases in active travel, to help embed the changes and encourage understanding and uptake of the new guidance"

I didn't notice a campaign - did anyone? 

Viz - good advice as always:

"with bus and lorry drivers the least aware of the road hierarchy"

It is profoundly shocking that professional drivers can ignore the text that fundamentally governs their professional activitiy. Imagine traffic police officers ignore the texts they're mandated to enforce...

Bus drivers don't understand the highway code or the new hierarchy rule, I'm totally shocked by that revelation, oh wait.

What's not clear, from this article, is whether the respondents were totally unaware of the HC updates at all, or whether they simply misunderstand them (with, or without the aid of the "explanations" given on the internet or in the press).

Even those who quote the HWC can be immune from divining its intent. I've had people arguing in all seriousness that an overtaking car breaking the speed limit has priority because of a particular phrase about not obstructing someone who was overtaking. Everyone will tend to interpret it in their favour, but drivists do lean heavily on the guidance to cyclists to be aware of their vulnerability - and any time someone posts a video of a car pulling out causing a cyclist to have to take evasive action, you can guarantee there will be a post saying that cyclists shouldn't complain because you could predict the unlawful driving.

I do think there is a vicious circle of declining standards driven by congestion - congestion made worse by obstructive parking and poor driving. The fact that 20mph areas are widely needed tells us a lot.

As always it depends how the questions are worded. I don't mind lorry/bus drivers getting their ordering up to down wrong as long as they recognise they can do the most harm, so must take most care around the more vulnerable which is the point of the hierarchy.

Equally there's more to the "cyclists and motorcyclists should not ride on the inside of vehicles signalling or slowing down to turn left" than just that rule which is about filtering. One of the new HC rules introduced says cyclists have priority to go straight ahead at junctions, and drivers turning left must check for cyclists before turning, or driving across cycle lanes, and its always been the case to never overtake a cyclist and then lefthook them. So which of those scenarios did the survey pose as the question the filter, the priority or the left hook ?

In practice, there have been no Highway Code 'changes' and no change in driving behaviour. The latter is because the police, in practice, believe the former and they don't care about the Highway Code anyway.

Shocker - drivers of Busses and Lorries think they've got all the priority. Not surprising seeing as they've been using their size to bully their way round for decades...

Ah yes, a bell.

Just like a helmet makes you impervious to nuclear war, a bell alerts drivers to your presence(!)

I shouldn't be, after so many years on this planet, but I am constantly; surprised, alarmed, concerned at the level of wilful ignorance on many matters.

From Government ministers to halfwits on the local Facebook page, it seems that holding a strong opinion is often far more important than seeking to be informed about the subject.

All drivers should have to take regular driving tests to renew their licence.  Our cars have an MOT each year, but it is the driver that causes accidents.

There was a recent set of 4 close passes in the local paper.

Predictable responses including "cyclists should understand that drivers have priority"

Followed by a series of replies explaining the highway code and asking them if they had *ever* read it.

To be fair I suspect most drivers would fail spectacularly on the previous itteration of the Highway Code - to most drivers the HC is something you need to revise when you learn to drive and after that...

It would be interesting to have an online 30 minute HC test in order to renew your VED (those that still bother to tax their vehicle that is). 

I'm on a local mission to get rule H2 acknowledged — that road users should give way to pedestrians crossing at junctions. I always obey it when in the car or on the bike; and try to take it when on foot. Haven't been run over yet, but I do live in a civilised part of the country.

I'm convinced almost no-one is aware of that rule, which makes it pointless and dangerous. DfT doing half a job here...