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Passing your DVSA theory test first time has never been so important. Backlogs of learner drivers needing to re-sit their expired tests mean slots are in high demand. 

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Simply download the app, create a profile by registering and then get started……take DVSA question courses, review DVSA Hazard Perception clips and pass that DVSA Theory test now!

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King of the road?

Getting behind the wheel can make some drivers think – and behave – as if they’re king of the road. As if no one else matters. As if they rule the road. But that attitude has to change – by law.

In September 2021, the Highway Code introduced a hierarchy of road users as part of an overhaul of the rules of the road. Thirty-three rules changed and two new ones were introduced in a bid to make the roads safer for everyone to use.

Here at RoadHow, we thought we’d delve into these changes and find out what it means for you.

What is the hierarchy of road users?

The hierarchy puts the most vulnerable road users at the top, with those that are considered able to cause the most harm at the bottom:

Pedestrians

Cyclists

Horse riders

Motorcyclists

Cars/taxis

Vans/minibuses

Large passenger vehicles/heavy goods vehicles

Why make the changes?

The government introduced the changes as part of their £338million investment in walking and cycling. On the back of the increase in the activities during the pandemic, the government wants to encourage more people to ditch their cars and find a healthier and greener way to travel. And by making it safer to do so, they hope more people will take heed.

What does it mean for drivers?

The changes in pecking order mean that drivers need to be more aware of those above them in the list and consider their priority when using the road.

So, if you find yourself following a cyclist and wanting to overtake, then as the driver it’s your responsibility to ensure the safety of the cyclist. This doesn’t mean that cyclists and pedestrians can claim all innocence if there was an accident, but it does mean that more responsibility lies with those lower down the hierarchy.

What are the changes?

Some of the changes are small, but nevertheless need to be adhered to. We won’t list all of them here but key things to take note of include:

Pedestrians have priority on pavements and when crossing roads. This clarifies the existing rule that drivers should watch out for a pedestrian who has started to cross the road a driver is turning into.

Cyclists have priority at a junction when travelling straight ahead. Motorists must wait until the cyclist has completed their manoeuvre before driving past them.

Safe passing distances when overtaking a cyclist have been clarified as 1.5 metres if under 30mph, and 2.0 metres at speeds over 30mph.

Love ‘em, hate ‘em, think they’re dangerous or not – whilst debate rages on, smart motorways look set to stay in England in one form or another. But, over 20 years since controlled motorway sections were introduced, their benefits – and how they work – are still leaving motorists confused.

So, here at RoadHow we thought we’d find out more about these newer types of motorway.

What is a smart motorway?

Put simply, it’s a stretch of road which uses technology to control traffic flow and ease congestion.

National Highways [formerly Highways England] developed smart motorways to improve traffic management while avoiding the cost, time and environmental impact of building additional lanes.

What are the different types of smart motorway?

There are three main types:

Controlled: These have three or more lanes with variable speed limits, but they still have a hard shoulder which should only be used in an emergency, as with conventional motorways.

Dynamic: The hard shoulder is still in place, but it can be opened up as a lane for vehicles to use to help ease traffic levels. When it does open, the maximum speed limit is 60mph.

All-lane running: The hard shoulder has been permanently closed to become the inside lane. There are emergency ‘laybys’ for vehicles to use if they breakdown.

All three types of smart motorway use overhead gantries to signal to drivers if a lane is closed; if there’s a hazard ahead; or if the speed limits have changed.

Are smart motorways dangerous?

This is a topical debate, with MPs calling for more investigations on risk, while the Department for Transport (DfT) is presenting data opposing their reasoning.

But it’s the removal of the hard shoulder which is most contentious.

Almost 70% of people surveyed for the RAC Report on Motoring in 2019 said they felt safety was compromised without a hard shoulder. MPs are also unconvinced that the benefits of all-lane running motorways outweigh the safety risks.

What do I do if I break down?

National Highways gives a comprehensive list of guidance [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-drive-on-a-smart-motorway#quick-tips] for motorists who break down on a smart motorway. In a nutshell, these tips are:

Move your vehicle to the left-hand lane, put your hazard lights on and call 999.

Exit at the next junction or services OR pull into the next emergency refuge area and call for help using the SOS phone.

Carry out basic checks on your vehicle before setting off on your journey.

With MPs making a stand against the DfT’s proposal to turn all dynamic motorways into all-lane running, perhaps it’s time to consider: are you risking your life every time you drive on the motorway?

RoadHow is an app that opens the door to a world of opportunity. How do I get started? 

Are you a learner driver who wants to pass the DVSA Theory test and get on the road? 

Download RoadHow and answer all of the questions from the DVSA revision question bank. Pass your DVSA Theory Test by using RoadHow to prepare and you’ll build a score that insurance companies will start to use to offer discounts on premiums. No other app offers data-driven insurance premium discounts after passing your DVSA Theory Test. 

Simply download the app, create a profile by registering and then get started……take DVSA question courses, review DVSA Hazard Perception clips and pass that DVSA Theory test now! 

Website: https://roadhow.co.uk/ 

Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.roadhow 

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/in/app/roadhow/id1490803417 

RoadHow will help you to drive in a more confident and assured way with our unique driving courses. 

To get more confidence, simply download the app, create a profile by registering and then you can start to learn to be a safer driver on the road.…

Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.roadhow

Five people are killed every single day by something we already know how to cure. Our roads are dangerous places, where hundreds of deaths and serious injuries take place every week.But by changing our driving behaviour, we can help to make our villages, towns and cities safer places to be. 

Every action that we take, as a driver or as a passenger, can change the outcome of a journey and the future of a family.