Highway Code

[Rhythm Thief]

But as a pedestrian, horse rider, cyclist etc. you are not forced to read it, hence my question. I was just wondering if it should be taught in schools?

You're not forced to read it as a driver once you've passed your test. I haven't looked at a copy for years, and I drive for a living. Most things out on the road come down to the application of common sense, and if your driving philosophy is "keep an eye on everything and be nice to everyone" as mine is, then you won't go far wrong. I've never had points in nearly 25 years on the road, so I must be doing something right.

 

[John the Monkey]

... if your driving philosophy is "keep an eye on everything and be nice to everyone" as mine is, then you won't go far wrong.

True dat.

I read it at the .gov.uk website, although I have held a clean driving license for years - like other posters, I tend to focus on the bits that apply to me.

I've often thought that it could be usefully boiled down to "Rule 1: Don't be a c**t."

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I've often thought that it could be usefully boiled down to "Rule 1: Don't be a c**t."

True enough.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

True enough.

Or "Thou shall get away with it"???

 

[Dan B]

I've often thought that it could be usefully boiled down to "Rule 1: Don't be a c**t."

Yes, but for the hard of thinking you also need "Rule 2: if the other guy is being a c**t, responding in kind makes you just as much of one. Chill out".

 

[John the Monkey]

Yes, but for the hard of thinking you also need "Rule 2: if the other guy is being a c**t, responding in kind makes you just as much of one. Chill out".

Covered in rule one!

The history of the HC is an interesting one- there was great resistance to it, on the grounds that the British driver would know how to behave, and didn't need some busy body to tell him how to. It's covered briefly in Joe Moran's wonderful "On Roads".

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Yes, but for the hard of thinking you also need "Rule 2: if the other guy is being a c**t, responding in kind makes you just as much of one. Chill out".

That's true too. I see a lot of incidents where my sympathies are initially with the injured party, until he goes and does something mind - numbingly stupid and dangerous (and pointless) in "retaliation". Then my sympathy evaporates while I watch a couple of c**ts waving their willies at each other.

 

[cd365]

I've often thought that it could be usefully boiled down to "Rule 1: Don't be a c**t."

People should live by that rule in all aspects of life!