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The changes to the Highway Code, designed to protect vulnerable road users, were the centre of an investigation on ITV’s Tonight programme last night (I know, six months behind the times, but this TV business doesn’t happen overnight…).
Compared to the rather inflammatory cycling safety segment on Countryfile a few weeks ago, the programme itself – from what I gathered by switching between it and the Women’s Tour highlights on ITV4 – was quite a balanced one.
It considered the actual changes to the Highway Code themselves, the extent to which motorists have been made aware of the revisions introduced in January (with vox pops at a classic car show in Eastbourne underlining how little people actually read the code), and the experiences of cyclists on the roads.
A poll conducted by the show found that 25 percent of people still believe that a car driver has right of way when turning left, and that half of those surveyed think that cyclists should stay to the left of the lane when approaching junctions – results which confirm Cycling UK’s belief (despite the hundreds, maybe thousands, of road.cc articles on the subject…) that the new changes haven’t been publicised enough.
So not so bad then, as far as these things go.
However, a quick glance at Twitter will tell you that not everything is well in car world, where the programme seemed to hit a nerve, judging by some of the tweets:
Just watched a programme heavily weighed in favour of cyclists and pedestrians in terms of the new highway code. After watching it as a motorist I have maintained my original feelings. Fuck cyclists.
— Andy Big Hands Hyde-Harrigan (@andyh1301) June 9, 2022
#whorulesbritainsroads #lewis #tonight making my blood boil, if cyclists are being given all the new rules perhaps they should start paying road tax,take a test and obey the highway code, perhaps stopping at red lights would be a good start!!!!
— MN16 ⚒️ 🏴…🏳️🌈…🇪🇺…🇬🇧 (@therealdavewest) June 9, 2022
Wernt roads invented for cars? Arnt drivers the only ones charged for using roads? Cyclists are an addition. Surely cars are priority they pay for the priveldge…. #whorulesbritainsroads
— Ghostface Pique (@pk0808) June 9, 2022
Cyclists approaching junctions side roads etc, should take obvious note and take responsibility themselves, and not rely solely on driver being aware of the cyclist! 🤔🤗
#Whorulesbritainsroads— Jenny (@ladderack) June 9, 2022
Cyclists….what a f””kin joke. Accident causers #whorulesbritainsroads
— Ghostface Pique (@pk0808) June 9, 2022
#WhoRulesBritainsRoads notice how they mentioned nothing about cyclist hitting pedestrians just picking on car drivers again
— tony gallagher (@tonyturtle1964) June 9, 2022
Cyclists should be banned from our roads. Make them pedal through muddy fields in their stupid Lycra as punishment for getting in the way of motorists.. Don’t get me started on their helmets that are normally worn on ‘special’ buses #whorulesbritainsroads
— Michael (@riprap1) June 9, 2022
(Sounds like a pleasant chap…)
Perhaps drivers would engage if cyclists were registered with insurance and penalised for jumping lights? #whorulesbritainsroads
— Toni Russo 💜🤍💚 💙 (@amnerisuk) June 9, 2022
Be positive to the changes in the new code. Many cyclists are mavericks who damage cars and cause accidents by ignoring the code. Rules should apply to everyone.
— Toni Russo 💜🤍💚 💙 (@amnerisuk) June 10, 2022
For the life of me I can’t think we would need an updated Highway Code…
Motorists are so nice and understanding after all. https://t.co/2eRVMcW0FH— Bike Rogers (@bike_rogers) June 9, 2022
Neither can I, neither can I….
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