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Department for Transport proposes further changes to cycling rules in the Highway Code

DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT News Release (057) issued by The Government News Network on 1 June 2007

The Department for Transport is proposing further changes to the cycling elements of the revised Highway Code laid before Parliament on 28 March 2007.

The changes put forward are in order to clarify advice in the Code on the use of cycle facilities and cycle lanes. They take account of further representations from and discussions with, the cycling organisation CTC.

The proposal is to amend draft rules 61 and 63 of the Highway Code so that they would read as follows:

* 61 Cycle Facilities. Use cycle routes, advanced stop lines, cycle boxes and toucan crossings unless at the time it is unsafe to do so. Use of these facilities is not compulsory and will depend on your experience and skills, but they can make your journey safer.

* 63 Cycle Lanes. These are marked by a white line (which may be broken) along the carriageway (see Rule 140). When using a cycle lane, keep within the lane when practicable. When leaving a cycle lane check before pulling out that it is safe to do so and signal your intention clearly to other road users. Use of these facilities is not compulsory and will depend on your experience and skills, but they can make your journey safer.

The Department's priority is to introduce a Highway Code that all road users, including cyclists, can feel confident referring to as a source of road safety advice and information on the law. We are confident the changes will help do this and promote safety, understanding and co-operation between all road users.

Notes to Editors

The Department is asking key road safety and cycling stakeholders to comment on these changes, with a view to including them in the new version of the Highway Code later this year.

Following the public consultation on proposed changes to the Highway Code in 2006, more than 40 changes were made to the cycling rules and elsewhere in the Code to improve cyclists' safety. These were included in the proposed new Code laid before Parliament in March 2007. We are now proposing 2 further changes. The previous versions of these rules are as follows:-

Rule 61

Wording in current (1999) Highway Code:

Use cycle routes when practicable. They can make your journey safer.

Wording that went out to public consultation 2006:

Use cycle routes when practicable and cycle facilities such as advanced stop lines, cycle boxes and toucan crossings where they are provided, as they can make your journey safer.

Wording laid before Parliament in March 2007:

Use cycle routes and cycle facilities such as advanced stop lines, cycle boxes and toucan crossings whenever possible, as they can make your journey safer.

Rule 63

Wording in current (1999-2004) Highway Code:

Cycle lanes. These are marked by a white line (which may be broken) along the carriageway (see Rule 119). Keep within the lane wherever possible.

Wording that went out to public consultation 2006:

Cycle lanes. These are marked by a white line (which may be broken) along the carriageway (see Rule 119). Keep within the lane wherever possible.

Wording laid before Parliament in March 2007:

Cycle Lanes. These are marked by a white line (which may be broken) along the carriageway (see Rule 140). Keep within the lane wherever possible.

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Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk