Government's failure to communicate new Highway Code changes slammed as 'utterly reckless'

The government's failure to alert road users to changes to the Highway Code has been slammed by Labour as 'utterly reckless'.

The Department for Transport (DfT) had promised a campaign to highlight the new rules, which came into force on January 29, but it has still not surfaced.

The AA found that one in three road users were unaware of the new rules before they came into force, and has now accused the government of being “far too silent” on the changes.

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Under the latest Highway Code revamp, nine sections have been updated, while 50 rules have been added or amended.

The new code includes a new “hierarchy of road users” as well as a new responsibility for drivers to give way to pedestrians at junctions.

Other adjustments include cyclists being advised to ride in the centre of lanes on quieter roads, in slower-moving traffic, and when approaching junctions, to make themselves as visible as possible.

When asked about plans to publicise changes, junior transport minister Trudy Harrison said the changes would be communicated "in two phases".

She said there would be "a factual awareness-raising campaign in early February, alerting road users to the changes as they come into effect" followed by a "broader behaviour change campaign later in the year, to align with seasonal increases in active travel, to help embed the changes and encourage understanding and uptake of the new guidance".

Labour’s shadow minister for roads, Gill Furniss, told the Mirror this week that the government’s publicity campaign “will simply come too late when the changes are already in force".

"Failing to communicate these important new rules governing our roads