The government has relaunched its THINK! campaign to remind all road users about important changes made to the Highway Code last year in a move designed to further improve road safety.

On 29 January 2022, the government introduced new requirements for road users with a particular emphasis on enhancing protections for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.

The guidance changes were communicated in two phases, starting with a factual awareness raising campaign that ran from February to March 2022.

Later in the year, the government ran a broader behaviour change campaign called ‘Travel Like You Know Them’, which was re-launched last week.

Run across video-on-demand, radio, digital audio, online video, social and out-of-home for the next six weeks, the campaign will focus on ‘those who have a greater responsibility to reduce the risk that they may pose’ to other road users.

‘By offering a snapshot into the lives of everyday road users, we want to help people see more than vehicles on the road,’ says the government.

‘The campaign aims to help all road users better understand each other and encourage positive behaviours to help keep everyone safe.’

‘Travel Like You Know Them’ also comes with a series of assets, including illustrations to help communicate the amendments.

As the government notes, the re-launched campaign is designed to remind drivers that they should:

• Give priority at junctions to people cycling straight ahead and people waiting to cross or already crossing the road.
• Pass horse riders at under 10mph and allow at least 2m of space and keep to a low speed when passing people walking on the road.
• Leave at least 1.5m when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph, and give them more space when overtaking at higher speeds.
• Remember that people cycling may ride two abreast or in the centre of the lane if it is safer to do so, pulling in when safe to allow vehicles to overtake.

Commenting on the re-launched campaign, Antony Kildare, Chief Executive at IAM RoadSmart, said: ‘Since the new Highway Code changes were rolled out, there has been further need of an educational campaign to ensure the amendments are disseminated and fully adopted by the millions of existing drivers, motorcyclists and other road users.’

Comment: Drivers need to be aware of the recent changes to the Highway Code.

Source: IOSH Magazine