When was the last time you took a closer look at the Highway Code? Half of drivers haven’t read it since they passed their test

More than half (55 percent) of motorists have not read the highway code since passing their driving test, a new poll shows.

Two in five drivers over the age of 60 – many of whom have been behind the wheel for more than 40 years – say they have not looked at the owner’s manual since getting their driver’s license.

The majority of respondents in the survey of 2,000 motorists said they passed their test more than a decade ago, which “raises major concerns for the country’s road safety,” says comparison site Go Compare.

The research comes just weeks after the RAC found many motorists are ignoring some of the latest rules added to the Highway Code, including giving way to pedestrians at junctions.

The poll shows that male drivers adhere better to traffic rules.

Since passing their driving test, 51 percent of men claim to have re-read the Road Rules, compared to just 38 percent of women who have brushed up on the handbook.

While it is more likely that older drivers have been reacquainted with the Highway Code, the breakdown of the figures does not provide confidence that everyone on the road is aware of the rules.

Drivers aged 60 and over are the most likely to have returned to the Highway Code since passing their test, with 60 per cent of young people in this age group claiming to have re-read the manual.

However, this leaves two in five older drivers navigating the roads, likely with a lack of understanding of the plethora of new regulations since they first passed their test decades earlier.

Meanwhile, just 44 percent of respondents aged 40 to 59 said they had followed the highway code since arriving, as did just under a third (30 percent) of drivers aged 25 to 39.

Three quarters of motorists between the ages of 18 and 24 have not read the highway code since passing the exam.

In the past ten years, going back to 2015, the highway code has been updated 24 times.

Each review has had multiple sections changed, changed, or added.

And many of the most notable updates have come in recent years.

In March 2022, new rules were introduced making it illegal to even touch a mobile phone while driving, carrying a fine of up to £1,000 and six demerit points.

Earlier that year, the Highway Code also introduced a new arrangement for the hierarchy of road users, making drivers of larger vehicles more responsible for the safety of vulnerable road users.

It also brought changes to the rules on who has priority at intersections, with motorists expected to give way to pedestrians on the side of the road.

Earlier this month it was revealed that one in five (18 percent) of motorists believe this change has failed to improve safety for the most vulnerable road users.

This is largely because many simply don’t know it or choose to ignore it.

Less than a quarter (23 percent) of the 2,500 motorists surveyed by the RAC in January claimed they always give way to pedestrians at intersections since the rule change, while a similar percentage (19 percent) admitted they don’t stop often – and 6 percent say they never give priority to pedestrians in these scenarios.

This is Money conducted its own reader survey to see how many drivers would give way to a pedestrian waiting to cross the road at an intersection.

Of the 6,220 MailOnline readers who parked, 65 percent said they would not give priority to pedestrians in this scenario.

Recent updates to the Highway Code have also given cyclists more rights to ride in the center of lanes and two abreast when in groups – much to the frustration of many motorists.

The updates introduced in 2022 have already seen a sharp spike in the number of motorists being issued a fixed penalty notice.

Home Office figures analyzed by the AA earlier this month show that the number of FPNs issued to drivers caught using a handheld device will increase by 93 percent in 2022.

In 2022, some 37,900 FPNs were issued to drivers caught using their phones, up from 19,600 the year before.

The same applies to FPNs issued to motorists for not giving way to pedestrians.

The Ministry of Home Affairs statistics show that FPNs issued to motorists for ‘neglect of road signs, directions and pedestrian rights’ increased from 78,900 in 2021 to 105,500 in 2022. That is an increase of 33.8 percent.

Tom Banks of GoCompare said: ‘The Highway Code is essential reading for all road users, not just students.

‘It is updated regularly to ensure drivers are kept up to date with the latest changes to the rules and regulations. So it’s alarming to see that more than half have never watched it again, putting themselves and others at risk.

‘Road users can easily stay informed of the Highway Code via the official government website.

‘You can also sign up to receive email notifications when new changes are published, and follow the latest news on the Highway Code’s official social media channels.

‘Alternatively, motorists can read fully updated versions of the Highway Code by purchasing a physical copy of the official book or downloading the official app. The latter also includes interactive content, such as quizzes to test your knowledge.’