Highway Code

Highway Code

The Highway Code is the official road safety manual for Great Britain. [cite web |url=http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070236 |title=Introduction |work=Highway Code |publisher=HMSO |accessdate=2007-11-18] In Northern Ireland the Highway Code for Northern Ireland applies. [cite web |url=http://www.roadsafetyni.gov.uk/tso_highway_code_text.pdf |title=Highway Code for Northern Ireland |format=PDF |publisher=Department of Environment |accessdate=2007-11-18] It contains 307 numbered rules and 9 annexes covering pedestrians, animals, cyclists, motorcyclists and drivers. As well as the rules and annexes, there is information on road signs, road markings and vehicle markings. The annexes contain information on vehicle maintenance, licence requirements, documentation, penalties and vehicle security.

Certain rules in the Highway Code represent various road traffic laws and must be obeyed. Others are not compulsory, but advisable. The Road Traffic Act 1988 says:

A failure on the part of a person to observe a provision of the Highway Code shall not of itself render that person liable to criminal proceedings of any kind but any such failure may in any proceedings (whether civil or criminal, and including proceedings for an offence under the Traffic Acts, the [1981 c. 14.] Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 or sections 18 to 23 of the [1985 c. 67.] Transport Act 1985) be relied upon by any party to the proceedings as tending to establish or negative any liability which is in question in those proceedings.cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1988/Ukpga_19880052_en_2.htm#mdiv38|title=Road Traffic Act 1988 (c.52), s.38(7)|accessmonthday=3 August|accessyear=2006|publisher=Office of Public Sector Information]

The first edition was published in 1931, with a price of one penny, and as of 2004 over one million copies of the modern code are sold each year.cite web|url=http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Category.asp?cat=345|title=History of the Highway Code|year=2004|accessmonthday=3 August|accessyear=2006|publisher=Driving Standards Agency] The current price of the book, as of 2007, is £2.50.

The latest edition of the Highway Code was released in September 2007 and contained new advice such as the risk of smoking while driving and information for novice drivers. [cite web|title= Smoking drivers risk prosecution|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7017543.stm|publisher=BBC News]

There are 29 new rules.

Rule 27 Equestrian crossings, [http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070108 found in Rules for pedestrians] are for horse riders. They have pavement barriers, wider crossing spaces, horse and rider figures in the light panels and either two sets of controls (one higher), or just one higher control panel. Equestrian crossings are used by horse riders. There is often a parallel crossing.

References

Further reading

*cite book|author=Department for Transport, Driving Standards Agency|title=The Official Highway Code 2007 Edition|date=28 Sep 2007|publisher=The Stationery Office|id=ISBN 0-11-552814-8

ee also

*Green Cross Code
*Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions
*Vehicle
*Vienna Convention on Road Traffic
*Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals

External links

* [http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/index.htm Highway Code online]
* [http://www.medical-reports.com/highwaycodesofoldentimes.html Highway Codes of Olden Times]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Highway Code — a publication of the Department of the Environment that gives guidance for road users. It does not have the force of law but is a relevant guide in civil and criminal proceedings as to reasonable conduct. See Hoaxley v . Dartford DC1979 RTR 359;… …   Law dictionary

  • Highway Code — n [singular] the set of official rules and laws about driving and using roads in Britain …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Highway Code — Le Highway Code est un guide officiel britannique d utilisation de la route pour la Grande Bretagne[1]. Pour l Irlande du Nord, le Code for Northern Ireland existe[2],[3] alors que la république d Irlande, en tant que nation indépendante dispose… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Highway Code — noun the code of rules governing the use of public roads • Regions: ↑United Kingdom, ↑UK, ↑U.K., ↑Britain, ↑United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, ↑Great Britain • Hypernyms: ↑code, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Highway Code — n [sing] a set of official rules for British road users, published as a small book. Questions about the Highway Code are asked as part of the driving test. * * * …   Universalium

  • Highway Code — noun a) The official road safety manual for the United Kingdom, covering pedestrians, animals, cyclists, motorcyclists and drivers. b) The rules set forth in the Highway Code …   Wiktionary

  • Highway Code — N SING: the N In Britain, the Highway Code is an official book published by the Department of Transport, which contains the rules which tell people how to use public roads safely …   English dictionary

  • highway code — n. code of rules that govern the use of highways and public roads; official booklet published by the government that contains the regulations and information relating to the use of public roads in England …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Highway Code — official British code of conduct for all road users …   Dictionary of automotive terms

  • Highway Code — noun (singular) the set of official rules and laws about driving and using roads in Britain …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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