Road safety and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist is urging drivers to ensure they understand – and adhere to – the Highway Code changes which were introduced on 29 January 2022.

The changes were intended to ensure that those who can cause the most harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce danger to others. Specifically the changes include:

• Giving priority to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross at junctions
• Requiring drivers to give way to cyclists going straight ahead when turning in or out of junctions
• Establishing safe passing distances and speeds when overtaking cyclists and horse riders
• Encouraging the “Dutch Reach” method when opening car doors to avoid hitting cyclists.

However, three years on, GEM is concerned that the new rules – and the responsibility now placed on drivers – are not well enough understood.

In 2023, 405 pedestrians were killed on the roads of Great Britain with 6067 seriously injured¹. 87 pedal cyclists were killed with 4,942 seriously injured.

In 2024, figures from the British Horse Society³ show that in 2024 there were 58 horses killed in road incidents, with 97 seriously injured. Additionally, 3,118 road incidents were reported to the Society – mostly relating to vehicles passing too close, too fast or both.

GEM head of road safety James Luckhurst said: “This has been one of the most frequently asked questions by GEM members, many of whom feel they do not have a clear understanding of their increased responsibility under the 2022 ‘hierarchy of road users’. They worry that this could lead to confusion and conflict.

“The changes were welcome when they came out as they reflect a shift towards prioritising the safety of vulnerable road users and encouraging more considerate behaviour on the roads. However, they have no chance of being effective when so few drivers appear to know about them or are confused as to what they should be doing differently.  

“It is also concerning to read surveys which suggest that as many as half of drivers are unaware of the ‘new’ rules.

“We encourage the government to lead the way in correcting this situation. A clear communication campaign to car drivers is vital if we want them to know what they are now expected to do differently.”

GEM has complied a brief summary of the Highway code changes and what car drivers should now do:

• Be more vigilant at junctions. Give way to pedestrians and cyclists.
• Maintain safe distances when passing vulnerable road users
• When overtaking a cyclist at up to 30mph, allow a space of at least 1.5 metres. If you are driving faster than this, ensure the space you allow is greater.
• When passing a horse on the road, slow down to a maximum of 10mph and allow a space of at least two metres as you go past.
• Take extra care when turning, ensuring you don’t cut across cyclists or horse riders.
• Be mindful of the harm you can cause and adjust your driving accordingly.

Motorsport fans looking to follow in the tyre tracks of their racing heroes can now live out their dreams following the relaunch today of thirteen driving experience packages which allow participants to get behind the wheel of a single-seat Formula racing car. 

With the start of the 2023 F1 season just around the corner, racing enthusiasts can now select one of the newly reactivated packages from TrackDays.co.uk, emulating their race heroes by driving a Formula 1, Formula Silverstone or Formula Renault 2000 race car at one of the UK’s famous racing circuits, including Silverstone, the home of British motorsport and host to the British Grand Prix on more than 50 occasions. 

With prices starting at £55, it is considerably less than a family day out at a theme park and budding racers receive expert driver tuition from a professional racing driver before taking to the track to hone their own skills. 

Dan Jones, Operations Manager at TrackDays.co.uk, said: “As the 2023 motorsport season gets the green flag, there’s no denying that we’re a nation obsessed with all race cars.

“The Netflix ‘Drive to Survive’ effect has seen our Jordan F1 and Silverstone packages take off in recent months, and to keep up with demand we have launched an all-new section on our website to cater for all budgets and skill sets.” 

Among the newest packages is a new variant of TrackDays’ popular Jordan F1 driving experience. The latest F1 package provides drivers with an opportunity to sit in the cockpit of Jordan’s 2002 F1 EJ12, originally driven by Takumo Sato, and learn how to handle the race car behind a pace car, as well as undergo other various training experiences on the day. 

“We are seeing more people looking for unique experiences since COVID-19, indicating that people are putting more emphasis on looking to tick off things on their bucket list,” added Jones. 

To view the full list of experiences please visit the Single Seater Driving Experiences page on TrackDays.co.uk today.