The last time most of us looked at the Highway Code was the night before our driving tests.
More than 30 years ago for me.
I know it must be another lifetime because my instructor smoked through all my lessons. She’d deposit me in a carpark in Aberavon a little wiser on the concept of Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre but in desperate need of emergency oxygen.
Read more: New Highway Code hierarchy of road users explained
One whiff of Silk Cut in an enclosed space still brings back memories of swotting up all those road signs – rectangles inform; triangles warn and circles give orders. But, if put on the spot now, I may well be as hazy as the air quality in that L-plated Ford Fiesta all those years ago.
The rule I never forget, however, is Don’t Get Stuck in the Yellow Box Junction. But that’s down to the classic cartoon public information film that sees an omnipotent hand reach from the sky to pluck the offending car as its driver squeaks: “Oooo I’ve been pinched!”
Fear of an embarrassing airlift prevented a generation from yellow box penalty fines.
A lot of people are complacent about the Highway Code because either (A) They think they’re expert motorists even though a bumper sticker proclaiming “This car is being expertly driven by Anne-Marie” always suggests the complete opposite to be true.
Or (B) They don’t think the rules of the road apply to them. Purely anecdotal research reveals the following road-users fall into this category: drivers of white BMWs; anyone under 21 with a double exhaust and speakers that could wake the dead and that bloke with no bike lights in a black hoody who does wheelies down Cowbridge Road east while drinking Stella.
Yet we’d all better get into gear on road safety as today sees the biggest overhaul of the Highway Code for decades, with 50 rules being added or updated.
The changes follow a public consultation on a review of the Highway Code to improve safety for people walking, cycling and riding horses. It received more than 20,000 responses from the public, businesses and other organisations. Most people who responded were in favour of the changes.
Yet there may be some way to go to get the message across. Research released this week from consumer legal services company Slater and Gordon shows almost three quarters of Welsh drivers failed to correctly identify the new rules while 51 per cent weren’t even aware the rules are changing.
The driving law changes introduced today present a new “hierarchy” of road users with pedestrians placed at the top, followed by cyclists, horse riders, motorcyclists and cars. Vans, HGVs and buses find themselves at the bottom of the list.
So, for example, if a driver wants to turn into a road where a pedestrian is waiting to cross they should now give way to the pedestrian.
This all sounds pretty sensible, obvious even, yet a third of Welsh drivers, who were aware of the changes, still said they would turn into the road, despite a pedestrian waiting, as they believe it is their right of way, meaning they would be more liable in the event of an accident.
More than one in five Welsh drivers also believe that under the new rules, pedestrians are to be placed at the bottom of the hierarchy. But perhaps this isn’t surprising as 21 per cent admit to not having looked at the Highway Code in at least a decade.
Keep up, mun, The Highway Code has certainly had to adapt to our changing habits behind the wheel. In-car entertainment has come along way since the biggest inadvisable distraction was sticking a pencil in a cassette wheel.
Now, there’s a new rule that will affect people using streaming apps like Spotify and Apple Music on their mobiles. If you get caught changing a song, you’ll risk an immediate fine of £200. Same goes for taking photos or videos. Driving while using the phone in conversation was outlawed in 2003 but this new change reflects the other ways we use what is effectively a mini computer luring our eyes off the road.
Flashing is also covered by the new rules. We’re talking headlights rather than moonies. Intimidatory flashing is strictly forbidden... which will come as news to the driver of every white BMW up your backside on the outside lane of the M4.
At the other end of the spectrum, helpful flashing is also a no no. You might think you’re doing your fellow motorist a favour at a junction, but have they got the right message from you? Rule 111 states: “Never assume that flashing headlights is a signal inviting you to proceed. Use your own judgement and proceed carefully.”
While this kind of magnanimous flashing is unlikely to lead to a fine, you should certainly switch off another form of headlamp help. It’s the car equivalent of a sneaky warning wink – flashing a driver to let them know there are speed cameras up ahead.
But get caught doing that and you’ll be in breach of section 89 of the 1996 Police Act which says it’s an offence to “wilfully obstruct a constable in the execution of his/her duty” and carries a maximum fine of £1,000.
One of the more curious new rules applies to car-door opening. We should now all be using the Dutch Reach method. While it may sound vaguely contraceptive it is a safety-conscious way of exiting your vehicle that has long been used in the cycle-friendly Netherlands. You should use the opposite arm to the side you’re on to open the door. So, for example, if you’re in the driver's seat, use your left hand to open the door.
The theory is this slight turn in your body’s posture means you’re much more likely to see if it’s safe to open the door. In the words of Rule 239 it will “make you turn your head to look over your shoulder. You are then more likely to avoid causing injury to cyclists or motorcyclists passing you on the road, or to people on the pavement”.
It remains to be seen whether the Dutch Reach is suitable for the Welsh bosoms that might get in the way of this manoeuvre but then seatbelt designers have never bothered to accommodate the female body so the well-endowed will just have to give it their best shot.
And once you’re out of the car via the Dutch Reach take your rubbish with you, rather than deposit while in transit. Again, this might seem an obvious suggestion but such is the level of littering on the move a new “incorrect disposal of a cigarette” rule has been introduced. A butt out the window can land motorists a fixed penalty notice fine of between £50 and £100.
I’ve always found it curious that smoking in a car is still allowed given the faff of scrabbling for fags, lighting up, taking a drag, ditching the butt, etc., seems every bit as distracting as changing a song on a playlist.
But hopefully there are no driving instructors out there immersing their learners in a cloud of Silk Cut any more. And officer, as of today, you might want to check the carparks of Aberavon for “incorrect disposal” of fag ends.
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