The 2022 Highway Code introduced a hierarchy of road users that directly affects how children cycle. Here's what schools should be teaching and why it matters.
On 29 January 2022, the Highway Code received its most significant update in years. Three new rules — H1, H2, and H3 — introduced a formal hierarchy of road users, placing greater responsibility on those who can cause the greatest harm. The changes did not alter the law itself, but they clarified existing legal responsibilities and added new guidance that every road user, including children who cycle, needs to understand.
Four years on, research shows that awareness of these changes remains worryingly low. A Cycling UK survey found that most drivers still do not know the updated rules, while a separate study revealed that around 7 million UK drivers remain unaware of the changes altogether. If adult road users are struggling to keep up, what chance do young cyclists have unless schools step in?
The three new hierarchy rules form the backbone of the update.
Rule H1 — The Hierarchy of Road Users establishes that everyone has a duty of care on the road, but those capable of causing the greatest harm carry the greatest responsibility. The hierarchy runs from the most vulnerable (pedestrians) through cyclists and horse riders, up to large goods vehicles and buses. This is not about blame — it is about proportionate responsibility.
Rule H2 — Pedestrians at Junctions requires drivers and cyclists to give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross at a junction. This is a critical point for young cyclists: the rule places obligations on them too, not only on drivers.
Rule H3 — Protecting Cyclists states that drivers must not cut across cyclists travelling straight ahead at junctions or roundabouts. When overtaking at speeds up to 30 mph, drivers should leave at least 1.5 metres of space. If the road is too narrow, they must wait behind.
Taken together, these rules create a framework of mutual responsibility. Children who cycle need to understand both their protections and their obligations within it.
There are three reasons why schools are uniquely placed to teach the updated Highway Code rules.
Despite the government investing £2.4 million in advertising the changes, external research confirms that awareness remains poor. Less than two thirds of adults can correctly answer a basic Highway Code question on pedestrian priority. If adults are failing to grasp these rules, children who cycle to school or ride recreationally are even less likely to know them — unless they are explicitly taught.
Department for Transport data shows that in 2024, 82 cyclists were killed on UK roads, with 3,822 seriously injured. Across the 2020 to 2024 period, an average of two cyclists died and 78 were seriously injured every week. Among 12 to 15 year olds, male cyclists are nine times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than females, reflecting both higher participation rates and greater risk-taking behaviour in this age group. The DfT also notes that cycling casualties are among the most under-reported, meaning the true figures are likely higher.
These are not abstract statistics. They represent the age group sitting in secondary school classrooms right now.
Government policy is actively encouraging more children to walk and cycle to school. Active Travel England funding, School Streets programmes, and Modeshift STARS all push schools toward supporting active travel. But encouraging children to cycle without equipping them with up-to-date road safety knowledge creates an obvious gap. Surveys show that 81% of people believe there is too much traffic around schools, and parents frequently cite safety concerns as the main barrier to letting children cycle.
Schools that teach the updated Highway Code rules are not just meeting a safeguarding need — they are enabling the active travel agenda that government policy demands.
A meaningful response to the 2022 changes goes beyond a single assembly or a poster in the corridor. Schools should aim to cover:
This content is relevant across key stages. For younger pupils in Years 5 and 6, the focus can be on understanding the hierarchy and basic road positioning. For secondary pupils in Years 7 to 11, the content can extend to junction behaviour, risk assessment, and the legal framework underpinning the rules.
Awareness alone is not enough. Research consistently shows that structured learning with assessment produces better retention and behaviour change than passive information. Schools already apply this principle to every other area of the curriculum — road safety should be no different.
Effective cycling safety education should include:
This is particularly important for schools working toward Modeshift STARS accreditation or delivering School Travel Plans, where evidence of safety education strengthens the case.
BCSA Training's digital safety education programme is designed to give schools exactly this structure. Our courses cover the 2022 Highway Code changes, the hierarchy of road users, junction safety, and cyclist responsibilities — delivered through short, practical modules with timed assessments and automatic certification.
The programme is age-differentiated for Years 5 to 6, 7 to 9, and 10 to 11, with school-controlled access, minimal data collection, and reporting that supports travel plan delivery and safeguarding requirements.
Whether you are a headteacher looking to strengthen your active travel offer, a PE lead integrating road safety into the curriculum, or a safeguarding officer ensuring duty of care, BCSA Training provides a scalable, low-admin solution that produces measurable outcomes.
**Get in touch to find out how BCSA Training can support your school.**
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