Brenna Cooper
Drivers who passed their test before 2022 have been warned to make sure they're aware of recent changes to UK driving laws - as it could see them slapped with a £5,000 fine.
There's a widely held belief among drivers that once you've passed your practical test everything you memorised from the Highway Code can be cast into the depths of your memory and never looked upon again.
Unfortunately this is not always the case, as driving laws are constantly being updated and falling foul of new changes could see you facing some pretty costly penalties.
With that said, who do you believe has right of way at a junction, a driver or the pedestrian?
Most of us would naturally assume the driver has right of way, as it's typically easier to stop walking instead of slowing down a car, and for many years this was exactly the case.
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However, this line of thinking could now see you fall foul of the law if a collision were to occur.
Back in January 2022 the Highway Code was amended, with rule H2 now stating that motorists 'should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which you are turning'.
This applies to cyclists, motorbike riders and horse riders as well as those in cars.
The main grey area with this rule is the use of the world 'should' instead of 'must', which is used in the wording regarding pedestrian crossings - which could lead drivers to believe the rule is circumstantial.
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The law change is clearly causing confusion among drivers and pedestrians alike, with a report from the RAC stating that around 51 percent of drivers were still unsure about the changes after two years, while only 18 percent believe these changes have increased pedestrian safety.
Perhaps more concerning is that when the group were asked if they'd ever had cars stop at a junction for them as pedestrians, around 65 percent of respondents said drivers had rarely given way to them.
Responding to the report, RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said that uncertainty around the rules meant that collisions were more likely to occur and urged motorists to keep up to date with changes.
"Part of the reason may be that drivers simply don’t know that the changes have been made, least of all the consequences of ignoring them," he said.
"Most drivers probably rarely refer to the Highway Code once they’ve passed their tests, and that’s where the problem could lie."
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He added: "We urge motorists to take another close look at the changes - either by visiting the Highway Code... We’d also urge the Government to make another concerted effort in communicating the changes to all road users."
Should you find yourself ending up in a collision due to uncertainty over the law, pleading ignorance to the change in the law won't help you - with the maximum penalty for driving without due care or attention being £5,000 and even a driving ban.