Overtaking on a Pedestrian Crossing

[7db]

Get Karter said:

Care to have a pop at the slightly trickier question from my post above 7db's?

It's not.

[Get Karter]

Good. So what's the answer?

[vonhosen]

7db said:

vonhosen said:

7db said:

Why isn't a taxi a public service vehicle?

PSV is not defined within the The Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations.

Elsewhere it's a motor vehicle (other than a tramcar) which-

(a) being a vehicle adapted to carry more than eight passengers, is used for carrying passengers for hire or reward; or
(b) being a vehicle not so adapted, is used for carrying passengers for hire or reward at separate fares in the course of a business of carrying passengers.

So are you saying a taxi isn't (b)?

BUT

Note Transport Act 1985
11.
Advance booking of taxis and hire cars at separate fares.
(1) Where the conditions mentioned in subsection (2) below are met, a licensed taxi or licensed hire car may be used for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward at separate fares without thereby—

(a)
becoming a public service vehicle for the purposes of the 1981 Act or any related enactment;
blah blah blah

It is possible for a taxi to be a PSV where it is to be used for a local bus service. This would (I venture) be rare & in any case they would need a PSV operator's licence from the Traffic Commissioner in order to identify themselves as such.

[7db]

Get Karter said:

Good. So what's the answer?

It's not.

[Zeeky]

Get Karter said:

vonhosen said:

7db said:

vonhosen said:

Get Karter said:

vonhosen said:

Yes you could have passed him.

It would be an offence to pass the 'moving' 'motor vehicle' nearest the crossing.
OR
The lead stationary 'vehicle' according precedence to a pedestrian using the crossing.

Edited by vonhosen on Monday 15th October 19:36

Thanks for that. I will know next time.

Was the taxi driver in the wrong to stop on zig zags....I know the Police book anyone parking on them. Surely stopping to pick up a fare causes the same 'visibility' problems as a parked car?

No they shouldn't stop to pick up passengers within the zebra controlled area.

Unless it's on the zig-zags after the crossing, Von?

Not a taxi but a public service vehicle providing a 'local service' or to carry passengers for hire or reward (separate fares NOT tours or excursions), if the vehicle has proceeded past the crossing & is waiting in that area in order to pick up or set down passengers.

So how is "a public service vehicle" causing less danger by stopping on these lines than a non-public service vehicle?

It's like residential areas where there are double yellow lines on corners to aid junction visibility/space, but cars with disabled badges can park on them all day.

Never understood the logic tbh. I guess they are laws created by committees.

Good point. Stopping and waiting restrictions aren't just based on safety. It is also about convenience for other road users and the authorities most likely thought the need for PSVs to stop on a zig zag line is sufficiently great to outweigh the disadvantages in terms of inconvenience for other road users.

As for stopping before the crossing the authorities most likely thought the danger is sufficient to forbid all vehicles from doing so.

[7db]

Thanks for the extra detail, Von. I couldn't help thinking there was a better answer than because it's something else.

[Zeeky]

The section of the Transport Act 1985 you quote refers to advanced bookings. If you pick passengers up off the street (as a Hackney taxi does) and you carry more than one passenger paying separate fares at at time (not when a group split a fare up between them when they get dropped off at different places) then you need a PSV licence.

Hackney taxi operators are entitled to special PSV licences should they decide to work a local bus service.

You can be driving a 'taxi', not acting as a local bus service and be a PSV vehicle so long as you have a PSV licence.In this case you would be able to stop on the zig zags along with the proper buses.

Edited by Zeeky on Saturday 20th October 16:46