As the highway code is regularly updated and has since changed potentially many times since you successfully ripped your L plates in half, it’s definitely time to refresh your knowledge. For those working as courier drivers, some of these changes are even more relevant, with new rules and amends that may have a direct impact on your work. Here are some of the latest changes to the highway code you should know in 2022.
Parking and leaving your vehicle
The code has made a new recommendation for leaving and parking your vehicle. This change, in particular, is especially relevant to courier drivers who will need to park up to make deliveries.
The recommendation suggests a technique often referred to as the ‘Dutch Reach’. This means either the driver or passenger opening the door of their vehicle to look over their shoulder and behind them to reduce the risk of causing injury to passing cyclists, motorcyclists, or people on the pavement.
Charging your electric vehicle
Many courier drivers now opt to drive electric vehicles as a way to avoid CAZ and ULEZ charges plus to reduce their own carbon footprint. As such, the code has been updated in accordance with the latest surge in electric vehicle use both by courier drivers and other drivers.
When using an electric vehicle charging point, the code recommends some best practices.
Drivers should:
- park close to the charge point and avoid creating a trip hazard for people walking from trailing cables
- display a warning sign, where possible
- return charging cables and connectors neatly to minimise the danger to other people and avoid creating an obstacle for other road users
What to do when people are crossing at a road junction
When turning into junctions, which courier drivers will often do to enter cul-de-sacs, housing estates, or commercial premises, the code has updated the best way to approach this when a person is crossing the road here.
The code has now provided some clarification on what to do in this situation, where before many drivers were unsure:
- Other traffic should give way when people are crossing or waiting to cross at a junction
- if people have started crossing and traffic wants to turn into the road, the people crossing have priority and the traffic should give way
- people driving, riding a motorcycle or cycling must give way to people on a zebra crossing and people walking and cycling on a parallel crossing
Other important rules of the Highway Code include:
- Drivers of any vehicle must always give way to pedestrians waiting to cross at a zebra crossing
- Only pedestrians may use the pavement, this rule is particularly important for ensuring wheelchair users are able to travel without entering the road. Cars, vans and other vehicles must not be parked on or partially on the pavement.
There you have it, some of the latest changes to the highway code in 2022. As a courier driver, safe driving should be one of your main priorities. To ensure you are driving safely, keeping other drivers, pedestrians, and passengers safe, preventing incidents, and guaranteeing you are keeping within the rules of the road, follow these latest rules and keep your knowledge of the Highway Code regularly updated.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
