CHANGES to the Highway Code aimed to introduce a ‘hierarchy of road users’ will have a most impact on small businesses using vans, LCVs and HGVs as the larger the vehicle the greater the responsibility for the safety of other road users.
The ‘Hierarchy of Road Users’ is a concept that places those road users most at risk in the event of a collision at the top of the hierarchy. While the hierarchy does not remove the need for everyone to behave responsibly, the road users most likely to be injured in the event of a collision are pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists, with children, older adults and disabled people most at risk.
Those in charge 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 they pose to others. This principle applies most strongly to drivers of large goods and passenger vehicles, vans/minibuses, cars/taxis and motorcycles.
These changes are due to come into force from 26 January 2022. The Highway Code is not a legal document and the rules outlined in it are not official road laws, but a number of the points outlined in the code are backed up by official traffic laws, meaning drivers can be fined, prosecuted or disqualified if they ignore them.
Independent fleet management specialist Venson Automotive Solutions is calling fleet managers and businesses to make company car and van drivers aware of the changes and the importance of adhering to them.
There are numerous changes to the code and a lot of new information for drivers to take on board, says Alison Bell, Marketing Director for Venson.
It’s essential that businesses operating a fleet of vehicles have a process in place to allow drivers to familiarise themselves with new changes, as well as brush up on existing rules. Businesses and drivers have a Duty of Care to themselves, other road users and pedestrians. A failure to understand the new rules and correctly implement them could result in financial penalties, law breaking or worse, guilty of an avoidable accident.”
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