This Thursday [1st August] marks Cycle to Work Day which encourages workers to ditch the car and commute to work on their bikes. The national day means there are likely to be more cyclists on the roads, something to bear in mind for drivers!
Now experts from cycle insurance providers, ALA Insurance, have shared a warning to drivers to follow new rules when it comes to safely sharing the roads.
The rules are part of Highway Code changes which were brought in, in 2021 to create safer travel experiences for all road users. While the changes were widely reported, rules designed to protect vulnerable users are some of the most overlooked, with the experts at ALA keen to raise awareness as more cyclists take to the roads again in the summer months.
The changes introduced a new road hierarchy system which places pedestrians and cyclists at the top, followed by vehicles, which could cause the most damage during a collision. Shockingly, research shows that over half of UK drivers do not know the correct hierarchy since its introduction.
Simon England, Founder and Managing Director of ALA Insurance said:
“There are a couple of important rules in the highway code that all drivers need to be aware of, especially as many people will be cycling to work this Friday. Rule 139 states that you should always leave a cyclist as much room as you would a car when overtaking. Cutting it too close puts cyclists at an increased risk which should be avoided at all costs.”
Rule 163 of the Highway Code also provides more detail stating that drivers should give cyclists at least 1.5 metres distance when overtaking at up to 30mph, increasing this when overtaking at higher speeds.
Those who don’t obey the laws can be found guilty of ‘careless driving’ and may receive up to nine penalty points and a fine of between 15 and 50% of their weekly income, if taken to court.
Simon adds “Many cyclists choose to wear helmet cameras which means that those caught out for not overtaking safely are liable to be named and shamed as footage can be sent directly to your local police force online. The Highway Code’s hierarchy means that drivers have a responsibility to keep more vulnerable road users, like cyclists, safe and this is a simple way to do just that.”
To learn more about protecting your bike with cycle insurance visit the ALA Insurance website.
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