O'Toole, Sarah, Christie, Nicola and Poulter, Damian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2521-5959 (2025) Driver compliance with the 2022 UK highway code rule on giving way to pedestrians at side roads: a naturalistic observation study. Journal of Urban Mobility, 8:100140. ISSN 2667-0917 (Online) (doi:10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100140)

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Abstract

The 2022 update to the UK Highway Code introduced a new H2 rule granting pedestrians right of way at side road junctions. However, the communication campaign for this change was limited and there has yet to be a systematic evaluation of driver compliance. This study therefore involved a naturalistic observation of driver yielding behaviour when turning from a main road into a side road. A total of 809 driver-pedestrian interactions were observed to assess compliance with the rule, alongside driver, vehicle, pedestrian, and environmental characteristics. Results indicated that only 31 % of drivers complied with the rule when turning from a main road
into a side road where pedestrians were approaching or waiting at a junction to cross. However, female drivers and taxi drivers were more likely to yield to pedestrians at junctions. Further, compliance was greater when there was a group of pedestrians opposed to a single pedestrian or when it was early afternoon. These findings suggest
further interventions may be necessary to enhance adherence and improve pedestrian safety.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	highway code, driver compliance, pedestrian safety, naturalistic observation, traffic policy, yielding behavior
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HE Transportation and Communications
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development > Centre for Thinking and Learning Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Human Sciences (HUM)
Last Modified:	06 Nov 2025 10:11
URI:	https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/51473

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