In both January and March 2022, important updates to the Highway Code were brought into effect. For fleets operating LGVs, Highway Code training for drivers is vital. Safety on long journeys in large vehicles will affect not only your staff but everyone on the road. These Highway Code changes affect every road user but there are new features that specifically refer to those driving HGVs. Despite this, recent figures show that 20% of drivers remain unaware of changes to the Highway Code for HGV drivers. It is the duty of care of fleet managers to manage their drivers and ensure that they all have access to the new regulations.

The best action for fleet managers is to advise your drivers to read through the full Highway Code as there are changes to many of the rules within it, even if the phrasing has simply been altered. The changes to the Highway Code that most affect HGV drivers and fleets are focused on the below areas:

• The introduction of the Hierarchy of Road Users, which contains 3 new rules.

• Driving in slow-moving traffic.

• Overtaking cyclists, horse riders, or horse-drawn carriages.

• Advanced stop lines.

• Dutch reach.

• Charging electric vehicles.

• Cyclist road positions.

• Use of devices while driving.

In detail, these changes are:

The New Highway Code for LGV Drivers and Other Road Users

The introduction of the Hierarchy of Road Users

The first update is the creation of the Hierarchy of Road Users, which is split into three rules: H1, H2, and H3.

The first section (H1) introduces the concept of this hierarchy. Motorists driving vehicles that are more likely to cause the most harm now bear the greatest responsibility for reducing the danger to others. For example, HGV drivers now have more responsibility than those in smaller vehicles.

It is stressed in the Highway Code that this does not mean that other drivers can behave irresponsibly and should still consider the safety of themselves and others when on the road.

Give way to pedestrians or cyclists on a crossing

The second section of the Hierarchy of Road Users (H2) relates to driver behaviour when at crossings. At a junction, all motorists must give way to pedestrians or cyclists who are crossing or waiting to cross at a road that you are turning into, a road you are emerging from, or at a zebra or parallel crossing.

Do not cut off cyclists, horse riders, or horse-drawn carriages ahead of you when you are turning in or out of a junction, changing direction, or switching lanes.

The final section of the Hierarchy of Road Users (H3) states that motorists should not cut across cyclists or horses ahead of them when they are at a junction, changing direction, or switching lanes. This is the case no matter where on the road the cyclist or horse is e.g., even if the cyclist is on the cycle path.

In slow-moving traffic, allow pedestrians or cyclists to cross in front of you.

Rule 151 of the Highway Code consists of a few rules about how to behave in slow-moving traffic that have been in place since before the code was updated. These include making sure you are not blocking side roads and leaving enough space between yourself and the vehicle in front. As part of the 2022 changes, a new rule has been added to this list: when in slow-moving traffic, drivers should allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross in front of them.

When overtaking, give cyclists, horse riders, or horse-drawn carriages as much room as you would give when overtaking a car.

Drivers should wait behind motorcyclists, cyclists, horses, or pedestrians if it is unsafe to overtake. When overtaking cyclists at up to 30mph, you should leave at least 1.5 metres of space and allow even more room when travelling at higher speeds. For horses, you should slow down to a maximum of 10mph and allow at least 2 metres of space. For pedestrians, lower your speed to an appropriate level and leave 2 meters of space.

Whenever overtaking, drivers should take extra care at night or in bad weather, such as high winds.

Advanced stop lines

Pay attention to advanced stop lines.

There are new rules in place regarding advanced stop lines which, as pictured, include a section for cyclists to wait ahead of traffic.

When waiting at advanced stop lines, motorists must stop at the first stop line and not block the cyclists’ section. Drivers of large vehicles, such as HGVs, should wait far enough back that they have full visibility of the cyclist area.

Use Dutch Reach to open your door.

If you have had to park on the roadside, when leaving your vehicle, you should open your door using the hand on the opposite side to the door you are opening. For example, if opening a door on your right-hand side, you should use your left hand. This will make you turn before opening the door and allow you to check over your shoulder for any cyclists or motorists that may be passing you.

Be aware of causing a trip hazard when charging an electric vehicle.

If charging an electric vehicle, park close to the charge point to avoid creating a trip hazard with the charging cables, even display a warning sign if you can. When your vehicle has finished charging, return the cables neatly.

Cyclist road positions.

As per Rule 72, cyclists are now advised that they can ride in the centre of their lane to make themselves clearly visible if they are:

• on quiet roads or streets,

• in slow-moving traffic,

• or when approaching junctions or narrowing roads where it would be unsafe for motorists to overtake them.

Please keep this in mind when on the road with cyclists.

Use of devices while driving.

As well as the above updates the Highway Code in January, in March new rules were brought in to tighten restrictions on using devices such as mobile phones or satnavs whilst driving. Rule 149 of the updated Highway Code states:

You MUST NOT use a hand-held mobile phone, or similar device, capable of interactive communication (such as a tablet) for any purpose when driving or when supervising a learner driver. This ban covers all use of a hand-held interactive communication device and it applies even when the interactive communication capability is turned off or unavailable. You MUST NOT pick up the phone or similar device while driving to dial a number and then put it in the cradle for the duration of the conversation. You MUST NOT pick up and use your hand-held phone or similar device while stationary in traffic.

There are a few specific exceptions, however. You can call for emergency services if it is unsafe to stop during a genuine emergency, you can use a device to make a contactless payment at a terminal if the vehicle is stationary.

As the Highway Code has seen substantial updates twice so far this year, it’s important to make sure your fleet is up to date on what behaviour is expected of them when on the road. The Highway Code for HGV drivers can be included in LGV driver training, and you can also share this blog with your team to give them an overview.

For more fleet management tips, make sure to keep up to date with our blog. We also offer fleet services including telematics and bespoke fuel card solutions. For more information, get in touch with our team today.

Recently, we discussed our top tips for drivers getting back on the road for long journeys after over two years of intermittent COVID lockdowns. It’s also important, as we come into the summer season, to consider summer fleet maintenance. Summer heat can play havoc on different vehicle parts and making sure your drivers are safe should, of course, be your top priority. Here are the top summer fleet maintenance tips for businesses:

Tyres:

As tyre condition will drastically affect your fleet’s safety and operation, it’s vital to make sure they are ready for summer. Switch over any vehicles using winter tyres ahead of the warmer weather if you haven’t already. Heat greatly affects the grip of winter tyres and can lead to potential safety concerns.

You’ll also need to have your fleet’s tyres assessed for damage, such as bubbles and cracks in the sidewalls or acute wear. You will also need to have the tread depth and tyre pressure monitored to confirm that they are following the given guidelines in the vehicle’s owner manual. Accidents and vehicle downtime are often caused by poor tyre pressure.

Check: Monthly.

Air Conditioning:

For the sake of drivers who may be spending long hours on the road in the summer heat, ensure all your fleet vehicles’ air conditioning units are operational. To be safe, have the units evaluated by a trained staff member or a technician. The most efficient option would be for a technician to check this as part of the vehicle’s service if this is due or upcoming.

A common cause of air conditioning units malfunctioning is a low level of refrigerant. This is easy to fix, but if it is left unmonitored and develops into a fault, these units can be costly to repair or replace.

Check: Annually, before summer.

Oil:

Before your drivers set off on their summer routes, it’s best to keep an eye on their vehicles’ oil levels. Depending on the vehicle, this is checked manually with dipsticks, through electronic monitoring, or through telematics.

It’s generally advised to change a vehicle’s oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles for conventional oil and 5,000 to 6,000 miles for synthetics and to check the oil even more frequently. However, if your fleet vehicles regularly make long journeys carrying substantial loads, you will need to schedule this more regularly.

Check: Every few weeks or every 1,000 – 3,000 miles.

Coolant:

During summer, it is vital that a vehicle’s coolant mix and coolant levels are kept topped up. Coolant changes are usually included in a vehicle’s service to keep your vehicle’s warranty in place. However, during hot weather, it’s a good idea to check them regularly.

Check: As part of a service. Check levels regularly during summer, especially if the vehicle is making long drives in heat.

Brakes:

Brakes can be left damaged by the intense weather changes between winter and summer. Obviously, checking the brakes is a priority during a service, but it’s a good idea for fleet managers and drivers to be vigilant about the condition of their brakes.

You can check the brakes visibly, by looking for cracking or discolouration, or by performing a slow test drive and applying the brakes. There are several ways, such as those listed here, to tell if brakes are in bad condition and need changing.

Check: Every six months or, for vehicles that make long trips, more frequently, such as when the tyres are rotated.

Battery:

As with the brakes, heat can speed up the ageing of a vehicle battery, especially in temperatures over 20°C. You should regularly disconnect battery cables from their terminals to check for signs of corrosion and clean any signs of corrosion away.

When replacing your cables, strap the battery back down tightly, making sure that the connections of the positive and negative leads are secure.

Check: At least every 6 months.

Belts:

When checking the brakes and tyres for signs of wear, it’s a good idea to also have a look at the vehicle’s belts for any signs of damage, such as corrosion or holes. It’s recommended to replace these every 60,000 to 100,000 miles.

Check: Along with brakes and tyres.

Making sure that all your fleet vehicles are ready for summer can be a challenge. If you are needing help keeping track of your summer fleet maintenance, or general fleet data control, we offer an excellent telematics solution which will provide you with easy to track data for each of your vehicles. Get in touch today for a free consultation.