London is launching a wide-reaching push to close a dangerous knowledge gap on the Highway Code. Transport for London and the Mayor are rolling out a behaviour-change campaign after research showed many road users do not understand rules that protect pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
Why the campaign matters: stark numbers behind the drive
TfL’s survey found that just 16% of Londoners correctly understood five crucial Highway Code rules. The gap is worrying given last year’s casualty figures.
- In 2024, vulnerable road users made up 81% of all fatalities and serious injuries in the capital.
- The total number of people killed or seriously hurt reached 2,988.
Those figures underline the urgency of targeted education on rules introduced in 2022. Many motorists and cyclists still appear unaware of legal duties designed to keep people safe.
Which Highway Code changes are being highlighted
The campaign focuses on five specific rules where public understanding was weakest. TfL and partners say clarity here will help reduce collisions.
- Drivers must come to a complete stop for pedestrians using zebra crossings.
- When turning, drivers must give way to people crossing the road.
- Drivers must not cut across cyclists; cyclists should be allowed to pass first when turning.
- Zebra crossings built on cycle tracks carry the same stopping requirement for vehicles.
- Cyclists are legally required to stop at red traffic signals.
Stopping at a zebra crossing means a full stop, not slowing down or attempting to pass behind someone who is crossing.
How TfL will reach Londoners: a multi-platform approach
The awareness drive will use a mix of physical and digital channels to reach commuters, drivers and young people.
- Roadside and station displays across the transport network.
- Targeted social media content on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
- Short digital video adverts aimed at high-visibility audiences.
The Department for Transport is backing the initiative, which aims to change behaviour rather than simply inform.
Investment and infrastructure tied to safer streets
TfL has protected funding for local boroughs to upgrade streets and cycling facilities.
- £87 million set aside to help councils improve road safety.
- Potential to deliver about 95 kilometres of new cycling infrastructure over three years, subject to future budgets.
Other measures include standards and schemes designed to reduce the worst crash types.
- The Direct Vision Standard for heavy goods vehicles reduces blind spots and is estimated to prevent six deaths every year.
- The Safer Junctions programme has already improved 45 locations, with major works under way at Lambeth and Battersea bridges.
Voices behind the campaign and the wider goal
City leaders framed the initiative as part of a long-term push to eliminate serious road harm.
Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said the Mayor sees safer streets as a key priority. He linked the campaign to investment in sustainable transport and to the Mayor’s aim of zero road deaths and serious injuries by 2041.
Lilli Matson, TfL’s Chief Safety, Health and Environment Officer, described the effort as a reminder that road safety depends on everyone. She urged road users to learn and follow the rules that protect people walking and cycling.
Howard Jones, chief executive of RoadPeace, issued a blunt plea: breaking traffic rules can destroy lives. He warned that carelessness behind the wheel has sometimes fatal consequences.
What drivers, cyclists and pedestrians should do now
To reduce risk on London’s streets, TfL recommends straightforward steps everyone can take:
- Drivers: stop fully at zebra crossings and yield correctly when turning.
- Cyclists: obey traffic signals and approach junctions with caution.
- Pedestrians: use crossings where provided and be visible to turning vehicles.
More public education and better street design are at the heart of TfL’s plan to shift behaviour and cut serious injuries.
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