As part of Road Safety Week we’re shining a spotlight on the people most at risk on our roads. This month’s Toolbox Talk is a reminder that drivers of larger and heavier vehicles have the greatest responsibility to protect those most at risk.

Despite the Highway Code changes that were introduced in 2022, research shows many drivers still don’t understand the H rules that prioritise pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders. National surveys suggest that over 40% of drivers remain unaware of at least one major rule change, and only 6% can explain the H rules correctly.

This lack of understanding is mirrored in casualty statistics: across both the UK and London specifically, vulnerable road users continue to make up the majority of people killed or seriously injured each year, with pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists consistently over-represented in collisions with larger vehicles.

This month’s Toolbox Talk brings these issues to the forefront, drawing on clear, practical messaging from recent TfL behaviour-change campaigns and the national THINK! road safety programme. These campaigns highlight the real-world risks at junctions and crossings – the locations where most driver-VRU collisions occur. The Toolbox Talk reinforces this by focusing on four essential behaviours:

• Giving way to pedestrians and cyclists when turning
• Not cutting across cyclists approaching from behind or filtering
• Slowing earlier and scanning wider at junctions
• Recognising that heavier vehicles carry greater responsibility and require greater anticipation

A critical point is also that professional drivers can’t assume others know the rules or behave predictably. Many road users don’t understand the hierarchy, and some may misinterpret priorities altogether. This makes anticipation, low-speed control and early decision-making essential parts of professional driving.

This Toolbox Talk offers an easy, structured way to support Road Safety Week, refresh drivers’ understanding of the hierarchy, and demonstrate a clear commitment to protecting the most vulnerable people on the road.