Having being a driver for well over half a century, and having had umpteen versions of the Highway Code, I thought I was pretty much au fait with the rules and laws of the road - but aparently not! I bought the latest Highway Code out of curiosity but soon discovered that life now is far more complex than it used to be, for everyone.



For example do you know:

*There are five different pedestrian crossings all with differing rules?

*That cyclists that ride on pavements still risk a £500 fine?

*How to obey the different patterns of lines in the centre of the road?

* Who has the right of way on a hill?

Which lane to use on a motorway?



Whilst there are infinitely more vehicles on the road now than there were half a century ago the basic "Rules of the Road" have not changed significantly, but infinitely more rules have been added which I am certain a lot of people don't know about.



It's obvious, when using the roads frequently, that many people are oblivious to the laws of the land and not only place other road users in danger but constantly risk their own lives and those of others, their license, and even potentional prosecution. Sadly the irresponsible, incompetant, stupid, dowright dangerous, and selfish driving we all see on our roads cannot be prevented by even the best laws and rules - but they can certainly help!



An interesting section of this book covers how to teach children to use our footpaths and cross roads safely - which you would have thought every parent does, but sadly this is not the case as accidents involving children are rising.



Another, short but to the point, section very clearly shows the penalties [both financial and custodial] that can be levied on those who break our traffic laws. If you don't know, or flout the laws relating to the road you have nobody else to blame but yourself if you get caught - and deserve everything you get.



WARNING There are new rules for drivers which if broken could result in the loss of your license, large fines, or even having to go through the whole driving test process again - an extremely expensive thing to do!



Whilst there are still countless experienced drivers who travel long distances in a myriad of conditions the vast majority of people tend to use their car locally for shopping, the school run, or visiting friends, and are thus confident and comfortable

in their local conditions. Maybe on the odd occasion they venture further afield, perhaps on holiday or to see far flung family or friends.They can then find themselves on unfamiliar roads, in strange places or condtions, which can be most unsettleling if they don't know what unfamilia signs mean or how to comply. An urban driver tackling their first motorway, or single track through a remote mountain pass, will most probably find the experience daunting; as of course would a rural driver confronted with city driving for the first time. The Official Highway Code covers virtually every situation a driver/rider could face and having a copy in your vehicle is an incredibly good idea - even as the basis for a family quiz, if you can drag the kids away from their phones or I-pads.



So, in short, the new revised Official Highway Code is something every driver/rider should own, read, digest, and keep handy in their vehicle. It's should also be found in every home - as it applies to EVERYBODY, not just drivers/riders.



Check to see if you have the latest version of the Highway Code - if not a quick click on Amazon will soon get you updated. There are also other similar publications from the Department of Transport, such as Know Your Traffic Signs, available from Amazon.