Recent changes to the Highway Code for Great Britain will not be implemented in Northern Ireland (NI) at this time, it has been confirmed by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI).

However, a DfI spokesperson noted that the Department "will consider whether corresponding amendments are required for the NI Highway Code".

The DfI spokesperson continued: “A review of the Highway Code will be considered as part of the work on the new Road Safety Strategy.

"Departmental officials are now considering the responses to the consultation before providing the Minister with a final report for her consideration, in advance of a final strategy being published by spring."

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter last week about the Highway Code changes in Great Britain, Conor McCann, the Chairman for the Fermanagh Driving Instructor’s Association, explained that the English driving division usually introduces changes before the NI Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) does.

"It’s the same with the driving test. There was a new driving test introduced – it’s on the go about five years now, we [Northern Ireland] were to follow suit, but we still haven’t," he said.

He added: "Even if they [the DfI] were thinking of bringing them in [changes to the NI Highway Code], due to consultations, you’re talking a minimum of two to three years down the line, if they ever were going to bring them in."

Acknowledging some of the changes to the Great Britain Highway Code, which are largely focused on priorities for everyone from pedestrians to HGVs, Conor said: "The way we would teach over here would be in line with those anyway.

"We give way to cyclists at junctions and pedestrians, because there’s a lot of people out walking around towns. It’s taking the role of the vehicle and putting the attention onto the pedestrians and cyclists more."

Questioning whether he thinks the North will follow suit with the Highway Code changes, Conor said: "I’m not sure. It depends on the way we feel over here.

"I’m sure the Assembly will monitor how [such changes] go down in England, and it will take the feedback from the DVA over there and introduce some [changes] or introduce none, depending on their thinking themselves."