CHANGES to the Highway Code are about common courtesy and protecting more vulnerable road users, Cheshire East Council's walking and cycling champion has said.

Independent councillor Suzie Akers Smith welcomed the changes which came into force at the end of last month and said the new rules are there to protect everyone because, at some time, "everyone is a pedestrian".

The new hierarchy of road users places those road users most at risk in the event of a collision at the top of the hierarchy although, it is stressed, It does not remove the need for everyone to behave responsibly.

Altogether eight changes have been made aimed at improving the safety of people walking, cycling and riding horses.

These include traffic giving way when people are crossing or waiting to cross at a junction; encouraging cyclists to ride in the centre of their lane on quiet roads, in slower-moving traffic and at the approach to junctions or road narrowings, and, it also says, cyclists may pass slower-moving or stationary traffic on their right or left.

There is updated guidance on safe passing distances and speeds for people driving or riding a motorcycle when overtaking vulnerable road users, such as horse riders, pedestrians and cyclists.

Cllr Akers Smith said: "The biggest reason why people don't walk or cycle is because of traffic and how dangerous it can be, so if we can improve driver behaviour, it should give people the confidence to be more active."

The Congleton councillor said cyclists often take the brunt of motorists' anger and it's not usually warranted.

"Every time I go out on my bike I get abused," she said. "You get told to get in the cycle lane that's just about to end, for example."

But she said the rules are there to protect everyone.

"If you've parked your car, then you become a pedestrian, don't you? So it's not like you're just a driver, and you're only a driver."

Cllr Akers Smith said we've committed to fight climate change "and we have to do something that supports that".

"The aim is to get more people walking and cycling more so making the roads safer with changing driver behaviour is key to that," she said.