When was the last time you brushed up on the Highway Code? Half of drivers haven’t read it since passing their test

More than half (55 per cent) of drivers haven’t read the Highway Code since they passed their driving test, a new poll has revealed.

Two in five motorists over the age of 60 – many of whom have been behind the wheel for over four decades – say they haven’t glanced over the road user’s manual since they gained their licence.

The majority of respondents to the 2,000-strong driver survey said they passed their test more than 10 years ago, which raises ‘major concerns for the nation’s road safety’, says comparison site Go Compare.

The study comes just weeks after the RAC found that many drivers are ignoring some of the latest rules added to the Highway Code, including giving way to pedestrians at junctions. 

More than half of drivers polled in a new study have not read the Highway Code since they first passed their test

The poll found male drivers are more likely to keep on top of road rules and regulations. 

Since passing their driving test, 51 per cent of men claim to have revisited the Highway Code, compared to just 38 per cent of women who have brushed up with the handbook.

While older motorists are more likely to have reacquainted themselves with the Highway Code, the breakdown in numbers fails to give confidence that everyone on the road is aware of the rules.

Drivers aged 60 and over are most likely to have reverted back to the Highway Code since passing their test, with 60 per cent in this age bracket claiming to have re-read the manual.

However, this leaves two in five older drivers navigating the roads likely with a lack of understanding of the abundance of fresh rules since they first passed their test decades earlier, 

Meanwhile, only 44 per cent of respondents aged 40 to 59 said they’d caught up on the Highway Code since passing, as did just under a third (30 per cent) of drivers aged 25 to 39.

Three quarters of drivers between 18 and 24 years old have not read the Highway Code since passing their test. 

In only the last 10 years going back to 2015, the Highway Code has been updated on 24 separate occasions.

Multiple sections have been amended, changed, or added in each review.

And many of the most notably updates have come in recent years. 

This graphic shows two of the major changes to the Highway Code in January 2022 involving motorists, cyclists and pedestrians

The hierarchy of road users introduced in January 2022 is a pyramid scheme of protection to keep those who are most vulnerable safe

Have Highway Code changes failed? A poll of drivers suggests they’ve done little to boost pedestrian safety, especially as more than three quarters of motorists claim to ignore one of the biggest changes introduced two years ago

New rules making it illegal to even to touch a mobile while driving were introduced in March 2022, with the consequence being a fine of up to £1,000 and six penalty points. 

Earlier that year, the Highway Code also introduced a new hierarchy of road users scheme, which made drivers of larger vehicles more responsible for the safety of more vulnerable road users. 

It also brought about changes to rules regarding who has priority at junctions, with motorists expected to give way to pedestrians at the side of the road.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that one in five (18 per cent) of motorists believe this change has failed to improve safety for the most vulnerable road users.

This is largely because many simply don’t know it or choose to ignore it.

Less than a quarter (23 per cent) of 2,500 motorists polled by the RAC in January claimed to always give priority to pedestrians at junctions since the rule change, while a similar proportion (19 per cent) admitted they do not stop very often – and 6 per cent said they never give way to pedestrians in these scenarios.

This is Money conducted its own poll of readers to see how many drivers would give way to a pedestrian who is waiting to cross the road at a junction.

Of the 6,220 MailOnline readers who took park, 65 per cent said they do not give way to pedestrians in this scenario.  

Recent updates to the Highway Code have also provided more rights to cyclists to ride in the middle of lanes and two abreast when in groups – much to the frustration of many drivers. 

The updates introduced in 2022 has already seen a sharp spike in the number of motorists being issued fixed penalty notices (FPNs).

Home Office figures analysed by the AA earlier this month show the number of FPNs issued to drivers being caught using a handheld device in 2022 increased by 93 per cent.

Some 37,900 FPNs were issued to drivers caught on their phones in 2022, up from 19,600 the year before. 

It’s the same case for FPNs issued to motorists for failing to give way to pedestrians.

The Home Office stats shows that FPNs issued to motorists for ‘neglect of traffic signs and directions and of pedestrian rights’ surged from 78,900 in 2021 to 105,500 in 2022. That’s an increase of 33.8 per cent. 

Changes to the Highway Code introduced on 29 January 2022 encourage cyclists to ride in the middle of the road in some circumstances and, even if there is a cycle lane, they will not be obliged to use it

Tom Banks from GoCompare, said: ‘The Highway Code is essential reading for all road users, not just learners. 

‘It’s frequently updated to ensure that drivers remain aware of the latest changes in rules and regulations, so it’s alarming to see that more than half have never revisited it, putting themselves and others at risk.

‘Road users can easily stay up to date with the Highway Code through the official government website. 

‘You can also sign up to receive email notifications when any new changes are published, as well as follow the latest news on the official Highway Code social media channels.

‘Alternatively, motorists can read fully updated versions of the Highway Code by buying a physical copy of the official book or downloading the official app. The latter also includes interactive content, such as quizzes to test your knowledge.’