Summary
In our first podcast of the ‘Let’s talk Motor’ series, Principal Associate Philip Nicholas talks with Chris Hallett, Director of Technical Claims from First Central Insurance about the Highway Code Changes of 2022 one year on. They provide a refresher on those rule changes, and discuss whether there have been any changes in claim numbers, the types of claims, and road user behaviours.
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Transcript
Philip Nicholas: Hello, and welcome to the first in the series of 'Let's talk Motor' podcasts. I'm Phil Nicholas, Principal Associate in the Manchester Large Loss team and I'm joined today by Chris Hallett, Director of Technical Claims from First Central Insurance. Hello, Chris!
Chris Hallett: Good morning Phil.
Philip Nicholas: Thanks very much for joining me. The subject of today's podcast is the Highway Code changes of 2022 — one year on. And where are we for those who either weren't aware, or perhaps need a bit of a refresher on those rule changes.
In January, 2022 some rule change came in which was essentially to provide greater protection for vulnerable road users. The idea of the changes of the rules were to promote safety on the road, whilst also supporting a healthy, sustainable, and efficient transport system
Lots and lots of rules changed. I certainly won't go into all of those for those who are interested. There's 29 pages worth of new versus old changes if reading that sort of thing will float your boat. But the the main area of it really was to promote the protection of vulnerable road users and a mutually respectful and considerate culture of safe and efficient road use that benefits or uses. So the first question for you, Chris is that, I guess overnight from when the rule changes came in, we saw a sea change in everyone's attitudes. Claims have gone through the floor, and everybody has changed their with their personalities, and drive far more carefully.
Chris Hallett: Well, you might think that might be the case that so what we're seeing is, there's been very little, no change really, in terms of what we're seeing from behaviours that I into the changes to the highway code. In fact you know with us with everything you expect more injury claims. But this market said injury claims are genuinely lower on on the back of the the new as well as the act in the and the whiplash reforms that we're we're seeing. But so no, not much, not much changes result of the highway code changes.
Philip Nicholas: So not really what the the changes were in, and intended to to bring about. So I guess the question then to to ask is, well, if we start with with some numbers of of claims as an industry, or certainly within first central. What are you seeing in types of claims that are being presented? Any particular notable changes at all.
Chris Hallett: No, we obviously we would like my probably most ensures you track to the the claims we get from the different, especially on injury, or in the plans where this is what it's out with some of the vulnerable road use pedestrians and cyclists, and we all that, and in terms of those that our the frequency of those cases we're seeing relatively stable. They fluctuate summers and things up, and more people are on there. But, generally speaking, the the the level of consciously inform vulnerable road us, as you say, which the highway I was there to you putting a bit more detection in, or more awareness of of those load users is, is, is is flat, and and has been since the change and pretty the pandemic as well.
Philip Nicholas: Yeah, no it makes for interesting reading. I had a look at some statistics which were published by the Department for transport, and Al albeit these only run to June, 2022. These figures are compared with 2019 being the June really before the pandemic which you can compare, and there's some reduction in in in in claims across the board. And as much as we'd love to think that's due to the highway code.
Yeah, it may certainly be other other other factors. What do you think in terms of the behaviours of, for example, your policy holders? Do you think that that's change at all in terms of the of the drivers.
Chris Hallett: Well as as a as a business when the changes were announced. Obviously we saw a small flood of articles within the paper, and obviously in the insurance publications, and we, as a business, the changes to the attention of our customers through our regular updates, we provide not only just to explain the changes to the code and and specifically laboured on the on the impact on cyclists and and pedestrians but they also gave them some some hints and tips about how to, you know, safely pass cyclists on the road, and not so. Yeah, we we did all that. Now suppose the question is, is that a lot like articles in that in in the press? And that is, some people will read that and take note. Some people will not read it, and I know, I think, in terms of changing behaviours, to sort of build on that is that you know road users, if they've read it right, may well take a different different stance. Obviously, and I think more importantly, is the the maybe the change of behaviours for for the vulnerable road users is that I think most people would have I degree of self preservation in mind when they, when they're using their bike, and when they use a when they're walking, when they're crossing the road, whether it be a junctions or or or it's a controlled crossing. So I'm pretty certain that just because the changes the highway code has suggested, there's more protection for them.
Would they change their attitude, and not have that self preservation, and be careful when they so I don't think people would deliberately or or be more less in clients, take their own safety in mind. It's where we are when they're making their crosses or riding their bike. So I don't think that would make me maybe more careless in my action from the road if I was on a bike or walking.
So, I think the behaviours are two ways is that I think this might see much change, and there's nothing we can see in our in our numbers that would suggest that the Highway code is generated more for all this crimes.
Philip Nicholas: It's interesting. You talk about the the behaviours of motorists, but also of the more vulnerable road user groups. When the changes were introduced and and the papers certain certain papers which I don't wish to name. But we were giving headlines such as you know, war between cars and cyclists. Because of these new changes, and perhaps cycling groups, being aware of some of the changes in what the highway code permits them to do. But sadly as a cyclist I agree with you. I know that I've got priority when going straight on over a left turning vehicle. That's one of the main changes, but I certainly don't want to try undertaking on the assumption that the the driver concerned will have read the Highway code and give way to me for for sure, and as far as pedestrians, obviously one of the again one of the big changes was they get priorities.
I'm over vehicles when crossing at a junction, and then one of the partners in our department put that to the test a few days after the rules were introduced across the road in front of a turning BMW. And who was shouted out for for being in the way, and when he responded that the said driver should read the highway code. I don't think the response was to ply, and obviously I will add that other German motor vehicles are are available, but it it goes to show that perhaps many, not many people read read the changes of the of the rules, or if if they do that they don't. They're not particularly bothered by them. You touched on a point where you sent out some literature to your customers in introducing the changes to them and trying to raise awareness. What was it particularly, did you focus on what? Just that the rules were changing and that vulnerable road. Users might act slightly differently because of these changes. What what was the main purpose, or or the main sort of content behind that you sent them.
Chris Hallett: It was bring it to their attention there is now a hierarchy, and that's the priority would be. It is property, I suppose, is a bit of a strong word would be given to it's some give cart blocks, people just to walk out in front of cars, as we we often see, or will not take care when crossing behind a bus, or between park cars, etc., so it's just like it was so late. It a little bit on the on on the front of the road, as opposed to the overall hierarchy from, you know, from from lorries down to vans and the cars and the motorcycles, etc. But obviously we just just referenced on that. And again, as as I mentioned before, just gave them some tips about how to pass up a site list, you know carefully, which you know we we, the vast majority of people, obviously on the vote do do now, and that we're doing before the before the the highway code, you know, was changed.
So it was. We did it once, and it's like, take up in in terms of who get it is not clear from the number of policy holders. Others we've got that we issue is this is not just to it as part of a regular bulletin that we send our customers about all sorts of things, whether it be by way code, how to be safe and driving in the winter, and all hints and steps that we be sure what are customers are aware of, be responsible for sure.
Philip Nicholas: You know, absolutely, and I mean I suppose it's a question that follows is that if people aren't, so aware of the of the changes, is, is it something for the well for the industry, for the Government to make people more aware of, because you know the highway code. It is what we need to look at, for how how to use the roads; and if people aren't aware who who is it down to, to make people more aware if they are going to indeed read them, or or care about the changes.
Chris Hallett: This is a good question. Personal view is that you know, if you want some like changes to any kind of legislation, regulation, or whatever is that it then needs to be to be followed up on and bad driving behaviours when observed, need to be addressed, and you know, through the right channels you'd see that would be through the the police, the the the police would be to to pull people up and to like they do with speeding fine some people.
Have we got the resources, you know, within the country to ensure that you know bad driving behaviours are picked up on and taken them through the process, and the court process, and the licenses pointing license and made examples of them. Until that happens, I think you know, and any bad driving behaviours will, you know will continue so. It's not really easy, you've got to if you put something in place you think I'll monitor it and get deal with the deal, and that comes across by to pedestrians and from cyclists as well as as well as cars. But you know, as we say, a lot of these always near misses.
Philip Nicholas: Yeah
Chris Hallett: Therefore never get picked up on but in terms of when something happens in the highway code in the new highway code maybe we'll see in the fall of the time. Some of the more serious you know incidents that involve pedestrians and and cyclists particularly maybe the prosecutions might follow, based on that that might create more personal elsewhere public awareness of of these changes.
Just so, if you just to go back on some point you said about your free pandemic, or whatever you know. We all see now, instance and driving habits almost back to where we were prior to, you know, sort of March 2020, and obvious indications that there is a change of accidents. For instance, reporting down to the Highway Code changes.
Philip Nicholas: No really, I mean really interesting that because I did a bit of research in terms of various surveys after the changes came in, and I found a survey conducted by the AA of their membership, and that they surveyed over 13,000 of their members, and the numbers made for quite, well, quite depressing reading, really, that 61% hadn't read the the recent highway code changes, and 8% weren't. Even aware that there were any so clearly, there's an issue with with people either not knowing or not caring to to drive in accordance with these new rules.
So if your intel is that driving habits are back to where they were pre-pandemic. There's a new set of rules which some road road users are going to be taking on board such as cyclists and pedestrians, knowing that they've got different priorities, and what appears to be a majority, either not knowing what they are or not even being aware that rules are changed, it it could lead to a bit of chaos.
And so, yeah, certainly need more need needs to be done in in that respect. So just to wrap up. Chris just now that we've covered off some of those issues, and trying to put the crystal ball on the table. I appreciate it. It's a difficult thing to do. But if we were to have this conversation again, or we're called up a podcast in a year's time do you think there's going to be any change from what you're seeing right now.
Chris Hallett: Based on the lat, the whole year you know the changes were ere introduced I'm not sure that you will. I think it would depend on whether there's any you know high profile cases that might go through which might talk to people would change in terms of awareness of people. It might be yeah in the industry, but also whether there's any further communication and it just confirmed the sort of media coverage of the of the changes in the holy calendar. It's a message that probably just needs to be keep, you know, needs to be reiterated. You know, more sticky, so people can hear it, and a little bit. But you know people on the road sometimes all thinking about what my, what they read 2 or 3 months ago, and I think also that you know you know behaviours within the the claims
Fraternity has not change as well. But you know again, maybe cases that are [...] but we don't see behaviors from drivers, accidents, obviously, or from the planning process. That is, any way you could attribute to the changes in the highway.
Philip Nicholas: No, absolutely, and maybe a couple more high-profile cases involving the new rules, andperhaps a couple of county court judgments might might help bring it more into the eye. But that that's really really fascinating stuff. Now, thank you very much. Chris very much appreciated, and thank you for taking the time to join me.
If you enjoyed this podcast, why not join us on a future podcast on the 'Lets talk Motor' series.
Philip Nicholas: Thank you very much.
Chris Hallett: Thank you.