88 Highway Code Changes Since 2020: Are You Still Driving by the Version You Learned?

Think back to your driving test. Perhaps you memorised stopping distances in a bedroom, or crammed hazard perception clips on the bus. Now ask yourself when you last opened the Highway Code. For many of us the honest answer is "not since the examiner handed over the pass certificate".

That is the uncomfortable point behind a recent Chronicle Live report, which says 88 named Highway Code amendments have been made since 2020. The Code is not a book you learn once and tick off. It is a living document, and the version in your head may be several editions out of date.

What the report says

The Chronicle Live piece makes three main points:

• 88 named amendments have been made to the Highway Code since 2020.
• Many drivers have not checked the Code since passing their test, so they may be unaware of what has changed.
• Two areas stand out for confusion: pedestrian priority and the rules on hand-held mobile phones.

The report does not itemise all 88 changes, and neither will this article, because a long list of tweaks is less useful than understanding where the real risk lies. Some amendments are small wording clarifications. A handful have changed how drivers are expected to behave and, in one case, what the law actually says.

Why these two areas cause trouble

Pedestrian priority

The biggest shake-up came in January 2022, when the Code introduced a "hierarchy of road users". The idea is that those who can cause the greatest harm, such as lorry and van drivers, carry the greatest responsibility to reduce danger to others. Pedestrians sit at the top of the hierarchy, followed by cyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists, with cars below them.

The practical headline is the guidance at junctions. If you are turning into or out of a side road and pedestrians are crossing or waiting to cross, you should give way. Many drivers learned the old convention, where the car in the road has the right of way and pedestrians nip across when they can. Under the current Code, that assumption is out of date.

Other 2022 changes in the same vein include:

• Giving way to pedestrians and cyclists at parallel crossings.
• Being ready to give way to someone waiting to cross at a zebra crossing, not just those already on it.
• Letting cyclists continue straight ahead when you are turning across their path, rather than cutting across them.
• Leaving more space when overtaking cyclists and horse riders, with the Code suggesting at least 1.5 metres for cyclists at speeds up to 30mph and at least 2 metres for horses, passing at under 10mph.
• The "Dutch Reach", which recommends opening a car door with the hand furthest from it so that you turn your body and check for cyclists and pedestrians.

Hand-held phones

The phone rules caused the other big misunderstanding. Many drivers still believe the law only bans calling or texting. Since 25 March 2022, the law is broader. Changes to the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations mean it is an offence to hold and use a hand-held device for almost any purpose while driving. That includes taking photos, filming, scrolling through music playlists and playing games, not just calls and messages.

This does not mean phones are banned in cars. Using a device in a hands-free way, such as via a dashboard cradle, Bluetooth or voice control, is generally permitted so long as you are not holding it and remain in proper control of the vehicle. There are limited exceptions, such as calling 999 or 112 in a genuine emergency when it is unsafe or impractical to stop, and making a contactless payment while stationary, for example at a drive-through.

For a deeper dive, see our existing guide to Highway Code mobile phone rules and the £200 fine.

The legal angle: what is law and what is guidance?

This is where the confusion gets expensive. The Highway Code is not itself a statute, but it carries legal weight. Under section 38(7) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, failing to follow the Code does not in itself make you liable to criminal proceedings, but it can be relied upon in court as evidence of whether you drove properly.

The wording of each rule matters:

• "Must" or "must not": the rule reflects a legal requirement. Breaking it can be an offence in its own right.
• "Should" or "should not": this is advice. Ignoring it is not automatically an offence, but if something goes wrong, a court or insurer can point to it.

So with pedestrian priority, a driver who fails to give way at a junction might not be breaking a specific statute with that rule alone. But if a pedestrian is struck or forced to jump back, the driver could face allegations of careless or inconsiderate driving under the Road Traffic Act 1988. Careless driving can be dealt with by fixed penalty (currently £100 and three points) or through the courts, where fines can be much higher and disqualification is possible. At a zebra crossing, there are separate legal requirements to give way to people on the crossing.

For hand-held phone use, the penalty is clearer. The fixed penalty is £200 and six penalty points. If you are within two years of passing your first test, six points triggers automatic revocation of your licence under the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995. If the case goes to court, the fine can be significantly higher. Courts can also consider a charge of careless driving, or driving without proper control, even where a phone is not strictly "hand-held". Individual cases vary, so anyone facing prosecution should seek advice from a qualified solicitor or an organisation such as Citizens Advice.

There is also a civil angle. After a collision, insurers and solicitors often examine whether a driver followed the Code when assigning liability. Departing from it will not automatically make you liable, but it can shape how blame is shared.

The parking connection

It is easy to assume the Highway Code governs parking tickets. For the most part, it does not. Penalty Charge Notices from councils are enforced under traffic regulation orders and the signs and road markings that go with them. Private parking charges rest on contract and the terms on the signs. The Code's parking rules, such as not stopping near junctions, on zig-zag lines or across dropped kerbs, are best read as a strong indication of what the law and local enforcement will expect.

Still, the changes matter for parking behaviour. Opening a door into the path of a cyclist or pedestrian, parking where you block pedestrians' sightlines at junctions, or leaving a vehicle on a crossing approach can all attract enforcement or create liability. Pavement parking is a good example of the gap between the Code and the law: the Code advises against it, there is a London-wide ban, and elsewhere in England the position depends on local restrictions. Our explainer on pavement parking rules and the 2026 crackdown covers that in more detail.

What drivers should do

None of this requires a law degree. A few habits go a long way.

1. Read the Code again, properly. It is free on GOV.UK, and the site publishes details of updates. You do not need to read it cover to cover. Start with the sections on road users who need extra care, junctions, crossings and the use of mobile devices.

2. Treat the junction rule as a habit. When turning into a side road, look for people about to cross before you commit. If someone has stepped off the kerb or is clearly waiting, give way. Slow early rather than braking late.

3. Make your phone a non-event. Set your route, playlist and call preferences before you move. Use a proper mount, and if it needs more than a glance or a single touch, pull over somewhere safe and legal. Remember that being stopped at traffic lights or in a queue does not make it legal to hold your phone while the engine is running.

4. Give cyclists and horses room. If you cannot pass with that space, wait. Treat the distances in the Code as a minimum and allow more at higher speeds or in poor conditions.

5. Try the Dutch Reach. It feels odd for the first week and natural by the second. It is a simple way to avoid injuring someone and avoid trouble.

6. Consider a refresher. Some drivers take a voluntary refresher lesson with an approved instructor or look at advanced driving courses. It is not mandatory, but it can reveal habits you did not know you had.

7. Keep evidence if something goes wrong. A dashcam, photographs and witness details can help show what happened in a dispute. If you receive a notice of intended prosecution, a fixed penalty or a court summons, check the official guidance and consider professional advice, as the consequences for your licence can be serious.

Looking ahead

The 88 changes since 2020 suggest the Code will keep evolving rather than settling into a stable text. Several forces are pulling in the same direction: more cyclists, e-scooters and e-bikes on the roads, more electric vehicles and charging points, new in-car technology and more automated enforcement. Cameras that detect phone use or seatbelt offences are the kind of development that makes the gap between "what I think the rules are" and "what the rules are" far more visible. See our piece on AI road safety cameras for more.

There is also an obvious policy question that the report raises without answering. Learners are tested on the Code once, but qualified drivers are never asked to revisit it. Whether the government, insurers or the driving industry should do more to promote updates is a debate that will likely continue. For now, the responsibility sits with each of us.

The bottom line

The report's message is simple and slightly uncomfortable: your driving test was a snapshot, and the rules have moved on. Pedestrian priority at junctions and the hand-held phone ban are the two areas where outdated assumptions are most likely to catch people out, and the consequences range from points and fines to real harm on the road.

Spend half an hour with the current Highway Code on GOV.UK. It costs nothing, it could save you points, and it might spare someone a very bad day.

This article is general information about UK motoring rules and is not legal advice. For your own circumstances, check the official Highway Code on GOV.UK or speak to a qualified professional.