Highway Code

Front cover of the 2007 revision of the Highway Code

The Highway Code is the official road safety manual for Great Britain.^[1] In Northern Ireland the Highway Code for Northern Ireland applies^[2] while the Republic of Ireland has its own Rules of the Road^[3]. 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.^[4]

The Highway Code, first edition 1931.
(Djvu file: click on the image to browse though the pages)

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.^[5] The current price of the book, as of 2007, is £2.50. Most copies are bought by learner drivers, who are expected to learn the manual for their driving test.

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.^[6]

Further reading

• Department for Transport, Driving Standards Agency (28 Sep 2007). The Official Highway Code 2007 Edition. The Stationery Office. ISBN 0-11-552814-8. 

See 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

• Highway Code online
• Highway Codes of Olden Times

References