You should not cut across cyclists, horse riders or horse drawn vehicles going ahead when you are turning into or out of a junction or changing direction or lane, just as you would not turn across the path of another motor vehicle. This applies whether they are using a cycle lane, a cycle track, or riding ahead on the road and you should give way to them.
Do not turn at a junction if to do so would cause the cyclist, horse rider or horse drawn vehicle going straight ahead to stop or swerve.
You should stop and wait for a safe gap in the flow of cyclists if necessary. This includes when cyclists are:
- approaching, passing or moving off from a junction
- moving past or waiting alongside stationary or slow-moving traffic
- travelling around a roundabout
This is one of the new rules introduced in the Highway Code changes at the start of 2022 and applies if there is a cycle lane or cycle track and if you are turning right or left into the junction.
The rule clarifies a previously grey area for many people of “do I or don’t I turn” when coming up to a junction – very clearly you don’t! Of course, as advanced motorists we would have waited anyway but now the law is clear.
For more information on this and other Highway Code rules, go to https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code