At the other end of the scale, traffic lanes wider than 3.9 metres\u00a0are also safer for cyclists, as they allow for a vehicle to give the 1.5 metres\u00a0of space that the Highway Code suggests.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Whilst the risk of collision is reduced at this width, it still might not be wide enough for motor vehicles to safely overtake.\u00a0<\/p>\n
>\u00a0Drivers give cyclists more space on roads without central markings, study finds<\/a><\/p>\n The guidance states that \u201clanes between 3.25m and 3.9m should be avoided\u201d, which includes a painted cycle lane, for example,\u00a01.2 meters\u00a0inside a 2.5-meter lane.\u00a0<\/p>\n It also says that unprotected cycle lanes within standard traffic widths are unsafe, as advisory cycle lanes increased injury odds by 34 per cent.<\/p>\n \u201cIt might seem like tinkering with history, but not only is shifting lane widths good for helping cyclists stay alive, it\u2019s also good for making places nicer too,\u201d Simon Munk, Head of Campaigns and Community Development at the London Cycling Campaign, told Zag Daily<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cAt 12ft 8in or over, it\u2019s easier for drivers overtaking cyclists to avoid a \u2018close pass\u2019. At the other end, narrowing lanes to 10ft 8in lanes can mean more room for busy pavements and bus stops, while making it clearer drivers shouldn\u2019t overtake cyclists.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The review recommends that either buffers between the cycle lanes and parked cars (either outside or inside of the cars), or removing painted lanes so cyclists are encouraged to ride in a more defensive position.\u00a0<\/p>\n This advice is regarded as good practice\u00a0and will be applied to a \u00a343 billion road building programme across England.\u00a0<\/p>\n For the current 3.65m roads, the study recommends that either the centre line should be removed, or it should be split into a 3.25m lane and a 4.05m lane.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Hull](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/hull-city-councils-15m-overtaking-sign.jpg\" "\\"Hull")
Hull City Council’s 1.5m overtaking sign (credit: BBC)<\/p>\n