On 29 January the Highway Code is changing to better protect more vulnerable road users, with eight new rules being introduced, plus 49 updates to existing rules.

What new rules are being introduced?

The main new rules are:

Rule H1 - A new hierarchy of road users

This is the most significant change and says that road users who can do the greatest harm (those driving large vehicles) have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger they pose to other road users.

The hierarchy of road users is:

• Pedestrians
• Cyclists
• Horse riders
• Motorcyclists
• Cars/taxis
• Vans/minibuses
• Large passenger vehicles/heavy goods vehicles

Rule H2 - Rule for drivers, motorcyclists, horse drawn vehicles, horse riders and cyclists

This gives a new priority for pedestrians at junctions, and states:

"At a junction you should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which you are turning.

You MUST give way to pedestrians on or waiting to cross a zebra crossing, and to pedestrians and cyclists on or waiting to cross a parallel crossing.

Horse riders should also give way to pedestrians on a zebra crossing, and to pedestrians and cyclists on a parallel crossing.

Wait to turn near cyclists or horse riders."

Rule H3 - New priority for cyclists when cars are turning

This rule states that other road users should not cut across cyclists, horse riders or horse drawn vehicles going ahead when you are turning into or out of a junction or changing direction or lane.

You should not turn at a junction if to do so would cause the cyclist, horse rider or horse drawn vehicle going straight ahead to stop or swerve. You should stop and wait for a safe gap in the flow of cyclists if necessary.