Earlier this year, a sweeping set of changes to Britain’s Highway Code established an official ‘hierarchy’ of road users, from most vulnerable to least. At the top of the tree, pedestrians receive the greatest protection, then cyclists, horse riders, cars, and, at the very bottom, the BMW X7. In short, if it’s squishier than you, give it a wide berth.
The changes were slammed in some quarters as an assault on the motor car, with some papers dubbing them “a war on motorists” and “a recipe for road rage”. I’m struggling to get riled up by this one. I have, for a while now, attempted to drive by what I call the Don’t Be A Pillock principle. Basically, if what you’re doing behind the wheel might make an onlooker think,…
