Current campaigns

We will keep this page updated with information of currently active local, regional and national road safety campaigns.

Travel like you know them - THINK!

The Highway Code was changed in 2022, following extensive consultation with walking, cycling and disability groups on the proposed changes in 2020.

The campaign has been relaunched with the new campaign Travel like you know them – THINK!

We encourage people again to:

• give priority at junctions to people cycling straight ahead and people waiting to cross or already crossing the road
• pass horse riders at under 10mph and allow at least 2 metres of space and keep to a low speed when passing people walking on the road
• leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph, and give them more space when overtaking at higher speeds
• remember that people cycling may ride 2 abreast or in the centre of the lane if it is safer to do so, pulling in when safe to allow vehicles to overtake.

Changes to mobile phone laws

The "Hands on the wheel? Hands off your phone" campaign has been launched by THINK! to reduce handheld phone use among young drivers, following a strengthening of the law.

It is now an offence to use a hand-held mobile to use a phone to take photos or videos, scroll through playlists, play games, or hold a phone or similar device in your hand to follow a map, read or send messages, make or take calls, use the Internet, take photos or change music tracks.

If you use a hand-held phone behind the wheel, you can get a £200 fixed penalty notice and 6 points on your licence up to £1,000, 6 points on your licence, and a driving ban.

There is an exemption that allows contactless payments, so long as the vehicle is stationary. A device can also be used hands-free while driving if secured in a cradle, for sat nav use.

Drivers must always take responsibility for their driving and can still be charged with an offence if the police find them not to be in proper control of their vehicle.

Highway Code update January 2022

Rules for all types of road users have been updated in The Highway Code to improve the safety of people walking, cycling and riding horses.

These are summarised by changes to:

• Hierarchy of road users
• People crossing the road at junctions
• Walking, cycling or riding in shared spaces
• Positioning in the road when cycling
• Overtaking when driving or cycling
• People cycling at junctions
• People cycling, riding a horse and driving horse-drawn on roundabouts
• Parking, charging and leaving vehicles.

Contact us

If you have any questions please email road.safety@bcpcouncil.gov.uk.