Changes to the Highway Code

[whole diary]

[Marlburian]

Almost four years later, I still have my doubts about motorists deferring to pedestrians WAITING  to cross a road at a junction. Yesterday I was driving behind another motorist who suddenly stopped on a mini-roundabout to allow someone to cross the road. I ws driving slowly and had left a good gap between my car and his, so was able to stop in time, but ...

(A few miles later, I stopped in a village to buy a newspaper, parking  beyond the shop and walking back, then, some hours later, driving back past the shop. On all three occasions there were pedestrians crossing the road obliquely, to the extent they couldn't see traffic approaching them. Reminded me of decades ago when I used to cycle along Marlborough High Street, a very wide road with cars parked either side and in the middle; I could count on someone walking across at an angle.)

[infoman]

When I made a trip to Australia,I recall how motorists gave way to the pedestrians on all road junctions.

[CyclingSid]

Changing the Highway Code, regrettably, is unlikely to change behaviour on its own.

For most people the Highway Code is something people "mug up on" for the driving test, and never look at again. How many people have a copy of the new Highway Code? When did people last look at the Highway Code? A possible Graham poll?

[Chris from Nailsea]

In France, where I have driven a car, "... when pedestrians express the wish to cross at a pedestrian crossing, they have priority, any vehicle must let them pass."

See https://www.onisr.securite-routiere.gouv.fr/en/node/497

In the UK^▸ (United Kingdom), the full updated Highway Code is available online, at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code

[Hafren]

Changing the Highway Code, regrettably, is unlikely to change behaviour on its own.

For most people the Highway Code is something people "mug up on" for the driving test, and never look at again. How many people have a copy of the new Highway Code? When did people last look at the Highway Code? A possible Graham poll?

A driving licence is a strange thing, compared to other forms of licence.

It requires a significant amount of training, and the person is then in possession of a licence, which allows them to be in charge of a vehicle which could do a lot of damage if used incorrectly. There is also a significant amount of law around driving, with changes every so often.

Now in most areas like this, there is a requirement for Continuing Professional Development. A driving licence isn't so different from these, and yet it's just seen as such an everyday skill or right that there isn't the same requirement to keep up knowledge and understanding. Indeed, every so often I see clickbait to articles about how drivers are "only just realising" something that they really should know if they are on top of their game.

Perhaps there should be more of an effort to ensure drivers are up to date with changes, and are actively aware of things. It could be as simple as providing an annual update, requiring acknowledgment, or a simple theory re-test every X years. I don't think it would be popular, given that driving is often seen as a basic life skill and right (there would be more than a few "I've been doing it for 30 years and not had a crash" comments) but at the same time I'm very aware that a driver is able to wield a lot of damage if they don't know what they're doing, and really ought to be aware of what they should be doing! Perhaps it should be a condition of insurance, and paid for by the insurer, on the basis that CPD may reduce the total cost of payouts!

It happens in a small way - for example sending some on Speed Awareness courses. But that's more reactionary than 'normal' CPD!

Edit: I don't drive. Maybe this already happens and I just haven't noticed!

[GBM]

Professional drivers (bus and wagon) have to take a Certificate of Professional Development every five years.
Five day courses over the five years to ensure that certificate is valid and up to date.
No certificate (or invalid) means no professional job!
Generally at least one course covers road traffic signs and situations.

[broadgage]

My late grandmother drove for years and had never passed a driving test ! She started driving a car before passing a test was required.
A driving licence was required, but this was simply purchased from a post office, no test required.

[PrestburyRoad]

My late grandmother drove for years and had never passed a driving test ! She started driving a car before passing a test was required.
A driving licence was required, but this was simply purchased from a post office, no test required.

Ditto for my late father.  I remember his little red booklet that was the licence getting thicker and thicker as each year a new green slip was pasted in for each annual renewal.

[broadgage]

No licence was needed to drive a "coach and four" on the public road, so why should a new fangled horseless carriage be different ?

A horseless carriage should be simpler, no multiple reigns to become tangled, no concerns regarding other road users spooking the horses, no risk of a horse loosing a shoe.

[paul7575]

It’s quite a while since I remember seeing this, but I’m sure in my younger days the DVLA^▸ (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) used to include leaflets in almost every tax reminder, that attempted to keep you updated on changes to the Highway Code etc.

A simple idea, but presumably abandoned on some sort of cost grounds? 

[eightonedee]

When I first visited the Republic of Ireland in 1974, I was told that driving tests had only "recently" been introduced, and before that all you needed was 10 shillings and a trip to the post office to get your licence. I've since looked it up - it was 1964 when tests were introduced. However, for years there was a chronic shortage of test centres, and in 1979 the government introduced a moratorium - if you had held two provisional licences, you got a full licence, no need for any further test!

[infoman]

just wondering if there any countries in the World that don't require a driving licence

[Witham Bobby]

I've still got my Driving Licence little red booklet, with typewritten renewal tickets stuck into it at County Hall, Taunton.  The last renewal of it was 1979

Just had to renew the horrid plastic card on the approach to 70.  To avoid going through the pfaff of a doctor's certificate, I've had to give up the lorry driving bit of the licence.  Seems a shame, but I'm probably not going to need it

[CyclingSid]

I think I still have my original brown HGV licence book somewhere.

I stumbled over these interesting DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) research documents the other day https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/moments-of-change-and-travel-behaviours. Not directly relevant to driving licences and the highway code but interesting to consider when trying to change thinking. Part of the input is from what used to the government "nudge" unit, which I think were shunted out when the previous administration found some of their suggestions too radical/sensible.

[Chris from Nailsea]

just wondering if there any countries in the World that don't require a driving licence

Isle of Sark (Channel Islands).