
The Departmental Committee on the Regulation of Motor Vehicles announced in 1920 that "a compulsory and uniform code of signals for all road vehicles is to be brought into operation". (Djvu file: click on the image to browse though the pages) There is a Northern Ireland version, available in English and Irish. The Great Britain version, available in English and Welsh, applies to England, Scotland and Wales, but region-specific signs such as driver location signs in England and bilingual signs in Scotland and Wales are not covered. In particular, a new "hierarchy of road users" classifies road users according to their risk in the event of a collision, with the most vulnerable at the top. The 17th edition (2022) introduced some significant changes. It is prepared by the Department for Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, and is published by The Stationery Office in electronic form and as a printed book. The Highway Code was first published in 1931, and is regularly updated to reflect current practices. There are annexes on vehicle maintenance, licence requirements, documentation, penalties, and vehicle security. It gives information on road signs, road markings, vehicle markings, and road safety. The Highway Code applies to all road users including pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists, as well as motorcyclists and drivers. The Highway Code is a set of information, advice, guides and mandatory rules for road users in the United Kingdom. The Official Highway Code, 17th edition, 2022
