Motorists should always give way to cyclists at junctions, says British Cycling

Motorists should always give way to cyclists at junctions, according to British Cycling, who want a change to the Highway Code.

The governing body for cyclists, led by British Cycling’s policy adviser and former bike champion Chris Boardman wants the change made to protect cylists from drivers turning left at junctions.

Olympic gold medallist Mr Boardman said Britain should follow the European standard where anyone turning at junctions gives way.

It comes amid concerns over the safety of road users, particularly cyclists who experience motorists cutting across them to turn left while the bike continues straight ahead.

Boardman, whose mother Carol was killed in a collision with a pick-up vehicle while cycling in Connah’s Quay, North Wales, in July, told BBC Breakfast: “At the moment there are 14 rules around junctions and they’re all announcing different things.

“What we have in the vast majority of Europe is a very simple, universal rule that you give way when you’re turning. It just creates a duty of care for everybody and it makes it really simple. It compels people to treat others as human beings and not obstacles.

The 48-year-old, who won individual pursuit gold at the 1992 Barcelona Games, said current rules were “over-complicated”. “At the moment, no one’s quite sure what the rules are.”

Duncan Buchanan, of the Road Haulage Association, said the rule change would introduce confusion and sets an "incredibly dangerous precedent".

"It is doing exactly the opposite of what we hope which is to ensure the safety of road users," he told BBC Radio 4's Today.

He added: "This rule while superficially appearing simple in fact makes it much more complicated - it means that you become responsible as the motorist for someone overtaking you on the inside when they have full visibility of what you're doing."