Changes to the Highway Code in January 2022, regarding the priority assigned to pedestrians and cyclists at junctions, led to a notable uptick in fixed penalty notices (FPNs) issued to drivers. Recently released data from the Home Office reveals a 33% increase in the number of FPNs over the 12-month period.
Consequently, there was almost a doubling of FPNs issued to offenders in 2022. The government, on January 29th, 2022, introduced a new 'hierarchy of road users,' emphasising that those with the potential to cause the most harm bear the greatest responsibility in mitigating danger to others.
In accordance with this hierarchy, pedestrians were granted the highest priority, followed by cyclists and horses, with drivers coming next. The updated regulations also provided specific guidelines on safe passing distances, outlining increased space requirements for pedestrians, horses, and cyclists.
Home Office statistics from 2022 demonstrated a significant rise in FPNs issued to drivers for offenses related to 'neglect of traffic signs and directions and of pedestrian rights,' escalating from 78,900 in 2021 to 105,500 in the following year, marking a surge of 33.8%.
Moreover, the overall number of road casualties in 2022 saw a 7% increase compared to the previous year, with 30% of total pedestrian fatalities occurring at junctions.
