POLICE are reminding people that the Highway Code is set to undergo a major shake-up this month giving overtaking - or undertaking - cyclists going straight on a right of way over drivers turning into junctions.
Drivers of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm in the event of a collision bear the greatest responsibility to take care and reduce the danger to others.
This principle applies most strongly to drivers of HGVs, LGVs, cars/taxis and motorcycles. Cyclists and horse riders likewise have a responsibility to reduce danger to pedestrians.
At a junction, drivers, motorcyclists, horse riders and cyclists should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which you are turning.
They should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross a zebra crossing (currently you only have to give way if they’re already on the crossing), and to pedestrians and cyclists waiting to cross a parallel crossing.
Drivers should not cut across cyclists, horse riders or horse drawn vehicles going ahead when they are turning into or out of a junction or changing direction or lane.
This applies whether they are using a cycle lane, a cycle track, or riding ahead on the road and you should give way to them.
Drivers should not turn at a junction if to do so would cause the cyclist, horse rider or horse drawn vehicle going straight ahead to stop or swerve. They should stop and wait for a safe gap in the flow of cyclists if necessary.
The new rules come into effect on 29 January.
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