Motorists risk £100 fine and licence points for breaching major Highway Code traffic offence

Car insurance experts are urging motorists to make sure they understand the rules around bike boxes at traffic lights, as many drivers may be unaware they are committing an offence.

The warning follows new research from the company, which found that more than half of drivers rarely keep up with changes to the Highway Code.

According to the survey, 56 per cent of motorists never check for updates to the Highway Code, meaning an estimated 23.5 million drivers could be missing important rule changes.

The research also found that 72 per cent of UK motorists would like to be notified when Highway Code rules are updated.

Although the Highway Code does not have a set schedule for updates, major changes were introduced in January 2022 to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians.

Among the changes was updated guidance on Rule 178, which covers advanced stop lines, commonly known as bike boxes.

These marked areas at traffic lights allow cyclists to position themselves in front of other vehicles while waiting for the lights to change.

The Highway Code states: "Some signal-controlled junctions have advanced stop lines to allow cyclists to be positioned ahead of other traffic.

"Motorists, including motorcyclists, MUST stop at the first white line reached if the lights are amber or red and should avoid blocking the way or encroaching on the marked area at other times."

The rules also explain what motorists should do if they have already crossed the first white line before the traffic signal changes.

It states that if a vehicle is over the first white line at the time that the signal turns red, they should stop at the second white line, while any cyclists should be given enough time and space to move off when the green signal shows.

Additional guidance is provided for larger vehicles, including lorries and buses, noting that they should stop far enough behind the first white line so they can clearly see cyclists waiting in the box, while accounting for blind spots in front of the vehicle.

Alicia Hempsted, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, warned that many drivers may not realise they are breaking the law at busy junctions.

She said: "Drivers who stop inside a bike box at a red light could face three penalty points and a £100 fine, and many may not even realise they're breaking the rules."

Ms Hempsted urged motorists to approach traffic lights more carefully and give themselves time to react by reducing their speed.

The expert noted that this can keep all road users safe and cut their insurance costs by avoiding a fine.