Motorcyclists and motorcyclists must not run over cyclists, horseback riders or horse-drawn vehicles in front of them when entering or exiting an intersection or changing direction or lane (just as they would not return to the path of another motor vehicle). The code states: “Do not turn at an intersection if it would stop or swerve by [the weakest road user] who is driving straight.” This applies not only if the weakest road user is on the road, but also if they are on a cycle path or cycle path. We are all aware of the legal obligation to be smart and keep our hands well away from our mobile phones while controlling our vehicles. But how many distractions from the rules of the road are we impeccable? The truth is that this is not a legal obligation. Buses, like the rest of us, have to indicate a deviation in traffic and wait for it. “But many of his instructions are enshrined in law and therefore have legal muscles behind them. It appears that the changes to the code will come into force long before most drivers are aware of them. It is not a legal document and its rules are not official traffic laws. It contains 307 regulations, and violation of many of them can result in penalties.
The official introduction of the Highway Code was one of the provisions of the Road Traffic Act 1930. The first edition of the code, which cost a penny, was published on April 14, 1931. It contained 21 pages of advice, including gun signals to be given by drivers and police officers controlling traffic. [4] The second edition, considerably expanded, appeared in 1934 and illustrated road signs for the first time. During the preparation, the Ministry of Transportation consulted with the pedestrian association. [5] This awareness issue is one of the key concerns with the government`s recent plans to revise the Code, which will come into effect in early 2022. The history of the Highway Code dates back to before the first road legislation, the Road Traffic Act 1930, and was published to give motorists advice on the use of traffic lights. The code prescribes rules that should generally give cyclists, riders and horse-drawn carts more space on the roads – when in doubt, yield the right-of-way.
The government says that “many of the rules in the code are legal requirements, and if you ignore those rules, you are committing a crime. Much of the code is actually supported by statutes and it is easy to say which ones because they use the explicit terms “shall” or “cannot”. The Departmental Committee for the Regulation of Motor Vehicles announced in 1920 that “a mandatory and uniform signal code for all road vehicles should come into force”. [2] London drivers had developed a system to signal their intention to turn right or stop with their arm, which was considered so beneficial that it needed to be mandatory and standardised as a code of conduct across the country. The code allowed the driver to use their own arm or dummy arm – which had obvious advantages in wet weather for drivers with the luxury of an enclosed cab or for drivers with left-hand drive vehicles, as in imported American cars. The intention to introduce the mandatory code was delayed, and in subsequent years the code was expanded to include whip signals for horse-drawn vehicles and signals for police officers controlling intersections. Although some rules are not legally supported, it is always best to follow the rules of the road in their entirety. Some rules of the Highway Traffic Act are legal requirements and are indicated by the words “shall” or “may not” in bold red font. In such cases, the rules shall also contain references to the relevant legislation. Depending on the seriousness of the offence, offenders may be warned, fined, banned from driving or imprisoned. Although failure to comply with other regulations does not in itself result in criminal prosecution of anyone, the Highway Traffic Act may be invoked in court under the Road Traffic Act 1988 to establish liability. These include advisory rules with the phrases “should” and “should not” or “do” (or merely mandatory) and “do not”.
The last official printed version of the Highway Traffic Act is the one that is in effect at all times, but in court proceedings, the version in effect at the time of the incident applies. According to the CARs, the Highway Traffic Act itself is not a legal document and the rules described therein are not official traffic laws. Do you want to protect yourself against losses after an accident? Get legal protection insurance from just £15 a year with RAC Legal Care Plus. In 1923, a penny pamphlet was published by His Majesty`s Stationery Office and approved by the Home Office (and Scottish Office). This brochure, entitled Traffic Lights for Police and Vehicle Drivers, was born out of discussions between the police and the Motorists` Association. [3] In the years that followed, the code was not only promoted by automobile associations, but also popularized with posters from the National Safety First Association (which continued this work after being renamed the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in 1936). The Highway Traffic Act is an unusual document in that it regulates how each individual – driver, cyclist, motorcyclist or pedestrian – uses the roads. The Code tells us to give priority to buses, coaches and streetcars when it is safe to do so, especially if they signal to leave stops.
