Giving way to pedestrians at junctions
Discussion
This topic will inconceivably have been brought up many times.
It's been a year since the new highway code rules regarding giving way to pedestrians was brought into place.
I have tried my very best to be open-minded but have still arrived at the same conclusion that whoever thought these rules were a sensible idea has never driven a motor vehicle on public roads.
It increases the chances of vehicles being rear-ended if you suddenly stop.
If you do stop to give way to pedestrians waiting to cross (which I have tried a few times), a huge portion hesitate or don't go at all resulting in inching forward then stopping.
A large percentage of drivers and pedestrians have never heard of the new rules (most drivers can't seem to grasp the most basic highway code principles to begin with.) It's not like clear new signage has been installed like zebra crossings where right of way is clear.
I walk multiple times a day to the shops. It's not that hard to wait. I'm not stepping out in front of a moving vehicle just to prove a point and no one else does (most people won't even cross zebra crossings until I've come to a stop out of fear I'm distracted).
All the new rules have done is muddy the waters.
It's been a year since the new highway code rules regarding giving way to pedestrians was brought into place.
I have tried my very best to be open-minded but have still arrived at the same conclusion that whoever thought these rules were a sensible idea has never driven a motor vehicle on public roads.
It increases the chances of vehicles being rear-ended if you suddenly stop.
If you do stop to give way to pedestrians waiting to cross (which I have tried a few times), a huge portion hesitate or don't go at all resulting in inching forward then stopping.
A large percentage of drivers and pedestrians have never heard of the new rules (most drivers can't seem to grasp the most basic highway code principles to begin with.) It's not like clear new signage has been installed like zebra crossings where right of way is clear.
I walk multiple times a day to the shops. It's not that hard to wait. I'm not stepping out in front of a moving vehicle just to prove a point and no one else does (most people won't even cross zebra crossings until I've come to a stop out of fear I'm distracted).
All the new rules have done is muddy the waters.
I agree the rule (without accompanying legislation) is poorly concieved.
I find it quite easy to navigate though, pedestrians who will assert their precedence generally do so with a confident stride and can be spotted easily compared to the ditherers. I give people the way but if they don't take it I'm not going to force it upon them. As a pedestrian, if I want to wait for a gap instead of force a pile-up I'll pretend to look at the moon or whatever until I see it's time to grab the way and cross.
I find it quite easy to navigate though, pedestrians who will assert their precedence generally do so with a confident stride and can be spotted easily compared to the ditherers. I give people the way but if they don't take it I'm not going to force it upon them. As a pedestrian, if I want to wait for a gap instead of force a pile-up I'll pretend to look at the moon or whatever until I see it's time to grab the way and cross.
The rules may have changed. In my experience as both a driver and pedestrian. Nothing has changed.
It was/is a stupid idea. No sensible pedestrian is going to step out in front of 2 tonnes in f car doing 15-30mph. They would be bloody foolish.
So what happened. A few people who did know about the new rules and understand them tried to operate by them. This resulted in confusion as both pedestrian and driver sat there looking at each other going who the f
k has the right of way.
It was quickly established it was all bks and as far as I am concerned we have all carried on like we were before he rules changed.
There might be the odd place like large city centres where there are large swathes of pedestrians where it might have changed a bit but as I don’t really live in a major city or drive in a major city I’ve seen no evidence of this.
It was/is a stupid idea. No sensible pedestrian is going to step out in front of 2 tonnes in f car doing 15-30mph. They would be bloody foolish.
So what happened. A few people who did know about the new rules and understand them tried to operate by them. This resulted in confusion as both pedestrian and driver sat there looking at each other going who the f
k has the right of way. It was quickly established it was all b
ks and as far as I am concerned we have all carried on like we were before he rules changed. There might be the odd place like large city centres where there are large swathes of pedestrians where it might have changed a bit but as I don’t really live in a major city or drive in a major city I’ve seen no evidence of this.
matchmaker said:
It's always been the case that cars have to give way to pedestrians when turning at junctions. It's not difficult.
No it hasn't. https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/legal/new-highw...
I agree with everything the OP says. It's a stupid rule that will cause accidents. It will also cause bunching of traffic on the main road that people have had to block when they're about to turn off, which increases congestion and air pollution.
If we must have this silly rule then let's also have a rule that people cross at least one car length into the road that they're crossing so someone who has to stop for them can get clear of traffic following them on the road that they're turning off of. If pedestrians can't be trusted to know what a car length is then put markings down too.
If we must have this silly rule then let's also have a rule that people cross at least one car length into the road that they're crossing so someone who has to stop for them can get clear of traffic following them on the road that they're turning off of. If pedestrians can't be trusted to know what a car length is then put markings down too.
sunnyb13 said:
Saying that if you get rear ended it’s clearly the fault of the lunatic behind you not paying attention
Sure, but the fact that it's someone else's fault is little consolation when you're injured, your insurance has gone up because someone else crashing into you somehow makes you a higher risk and your P&J doesn't drive quite the way it did because it's been bent and repaired.matchmaker said:
It's always been the case that cars have to give way to pedestrians when turning at junctions. It's not difficult.
It was always that case that you had to stop for someone who was already crossing the road that you were turning into, but you're now expected to stop for someone who's waiting to cross too.MB140 said:
The rules may have changed. In my experience as both a driver and pedestrian. Nothing has changed.
It was/is a stupid idea. No sensible pedestrian is going to step out in front of 2 tonnes in f car doing 15-30mph. They would be bloody foolish.
So what happened. A few people who did know about the new rules and understand them tried to operate by them. This resulted in confusion as both pedestrian and driver sat there looking at each other going who the fk has the right of way.
It was quickly established it was all bks and as far as I am concerned we have all carried on like we were before he rules changed.
Pretty much, yes.It was/is a stupid idea. No sensible pedestrian is going to step out in front of 2 tonnes in f car doing 15-30mph. They would be bloody foolish.
So what happened. A few people who did know about the new rules and understand them tried to operate by them. This resulted in confusion as both pedestrian and driver sat there looking at each other going who the f
k has the right of way. It was quickly established it was all b
ks and as far as I am concerned we have all carried on like we were before he rules changed. Trying to apply it to exiting roundabouts was especially stupid.
RizzoTheRat said:
If you're turning from a major road to a minor road you still cross a give way line, unless it's a very minor country road with no road markings at all.
No you don't. The single dotted line at the entrance of a side road is not a give way line. The double dotted white line at the end of a road is.I do a half mile walk taking my middle daughter to school. We cross over a number of side roads and I'd say maybe one in five or six drivers gives way.
I teach her to stop and look for cars but most just turn even if we are quite obviously standing there waiting. These are slow moving side streets with a 20 limit. Not like expecting someone turning from a 40 zone to stop for us to cross.
From a pedestrian perspective, I've not seen it change much.
In fact, even more so up in London where you still take your life in your hands as Deveroo and cab drivers definitely haven't read that update.
I teach her to stop and look for cars but most just turn even if we are quite obviously standing there waiting. These are slow moving side streets with a 20 limit. Not like expecting someone turning from a 40 zone to stop for us to cross.
From a pedestrian perspective, I've not seen it change much.
In fact, even more so up in London where you still take your life in your hands as Deveroo and cab drivers definitely haven't read that update.
aceofspades1 said:
This topic will inconceivably have been brought up many times.
It's been a year since the new highway code rules regarding giving way to pedestrians was brought into place.
I have tried my very best to be open-minded but have still arrived at the same conclusion that whoever thought these rules were a sensible idea has never driven a motor vehicle on public roads.
It increases the chances of vehicles being rear-ended if you suddenly stop.
If you do stop to give way to pedestrians waiting to cross (which I have tried a few times), a huge portion hesitate or don't go at all resulting in inching forward then stopping.
A large percentage of drivers and pedestrians have never heard of the new rules (most drivers can't seem to grasp the most basic highway code principles to begin with.) It's not like clear new signage has been installed like zebra crossings where right of way is clear.
I walk multiple times a day to the shops. It's not that hard to wait. I'm not stepping out in front of a moving vehicle just to prove a point and no one else does (most people won't even cross zebra crossings until I've come to a stop out of fear I'm distracted).
All the new rules have done is muddy the waters.
No, it's not. It's not in a car either. It's been a year since the new highway code rules regarding giving way to pedestrians was brought into place.
I have tried my very best to be open-minded but have still arrived at the same conclusion that whoever thought these rules were a sensible idea has never driven a motor vehicle on public roads.
It increases the chances of vehicles being rear-ended if you suddenly stop.
If you do stop to give way to pedestrians waiting to cross (which I have tried a few times), a huge portion hesitate or don't go at all resulting in inching forward then stopping.
A large percentage of drivers and pedestrians have never heard of the new rules (most drivers can't seem to grasp the most basic highway code principles to begin with.) It's not like clear new signage has been installed like zebra crossings where right of way is clear.
I walk multiple times a day to the shops. It's not that hard to wait. I'm not stepping out in front of a moving vehicle just to prove a point and no one else does (most people won't even cross zebra crossings until I've come to a stop out of fear I'm distracted).
All the new rules have done is muddy the waters.
Whilst the rules are somewhat poorly thought-out in that they are too broad (and also atrociously communicated) giving way to pedestrians before turning into, or coming out of, the vast majority of sides streets in built up areas is very easy and should become the norm.
Agreed, it’s a bit of a mess.
In SE London you’ve now got the whole spectrum from nervous-give-wayers (probably newer drivers who’ve been taught that it’s the rule) to I’m-charging-through-regardless, all within a couple of roads….
I didn’t think the old rules were that bad or dangerous, but now I feel a bit silly as a ped causing cars to come to a complete stop on a main road while I cross the road - it’s far more efficient for me to slow down/wait than it is 2 tonnes of car
In SE London you’ve now got the whole spectrum from nervous-give-wayers (probably newer drivers who’ve been taught that it’s the rule) to I’m-charging-through-regardless, all within a couple of roads….
I didn’t think the old rules were that bad or dangerous, but now I feel a bit silly as a ped causing cars to come to a complete stop on a main road while I cross the road - it’s far more efficient for me to slow down/wait than it is 2 tonnes of car
Dark85 said:
No, it's not. It's not in a car either.
Whilst the rules are somewhat poorly thought-out in that they are too broad (and also atrociously communicated) giving way to pedestrians before turning into, or coming out of, the vast majority of sides streets in built up areas is very easy and should become the norm.
Whilst the rules are somewhat poorly thought-out in that they are too broad (and also atrociously communicated) giving way to pedestrians before turning into, or coming out of, the vast majority of sides streets in built up areas is very easy and should become the norm.
Drivers have very much brought these poorly thought-out draconian rules on themselves but failing to behave with even a shred of consideration for anyone using the road who isn't in a car, so f people want to cast blame for rules which say drivers must always give way to pedestrians crossing roads they're turning into, they should blame the drivers who previously didn't give way in such situations where it was easy and reasonable to do so. TheAngryDog said:
Cyclists should also always give way to pedestrians, but they do not, especially in London. But then they ignore red lights in London as well so *shrug*
As do drivers, which is hardly surprising when you consider that the huge majority of cyclists are also drivers. Of course in both cases we tend to notice and remember the idiots and ignore the quiet majority who are behaving reasonably.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff