According to the AA, more than three-fifths of British motorists have not studied recent revisions to the Highway Code.
The study of 13,327 members by the motoring organization revealed that 8,090 (61%) drivers had not read the January amendments.
6 972 drivers were aware of the new regulations but had not yet read them, while 1,118 drivers were oblivious of the changes.
The new guidelines prioritized walkers, cyclists, and horse riders on the road.
When passing cyclists, vehicles must leave at least 1.5m (4ft 11in) of space, and 2m (6ft 7in) when passing horses.
Drivers and other road users must yield to pedestrians crossing at road intersections and may not cut across pedestrians when departing a junction.
The Highway Code now instructs cyclists to ride in the center of lanes on quieter roads, when approaching intersections, and in slower-moving vehicles.
A hierarchy of road users was also implemented, meaning that drivers of cars, vans, and trucks have a stronger duty to watch out for others.
The British government stated that the modifications would increase the safety of all road users.
When asked to select five correct sentences from a list of 10 from the new Highway Code, the majority of respondents provided accurate responses.
Tim Rankin, managing director of AA Accident Assist, expressed concern that so many individuals have not yet read the guidelines.
While we are delighted that many of the modifications can be rescinded, we would like for more drivers to be aware of the restrictions so that they can keep others safe.
“It is in everyone’s best interest to take every precaution to prevent collisions and eliminate uncertainty on the road, therefore we urge those who have not yet read the new code to do so immediately.”
