All the new rules...How are we doing?
All the new rules...How are we doing?
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Discussion

Milkyway

Original Poster:

14,528 posts

82 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
quotequote all
Early days I know.
I’ve had my licence for forty years, I will still drive the same, but try to retrain my grey cells to absorb the new / refreshed Highway Code regulations.
A couple of times, I had to think... should I have done that.
( Plus, glad I haven’t got a dog to worry about either).
Trying to update Milkyway Sr (92).
scratchchin

Edited by Milkyway on Thursday 3rd February 14:56

RazerSauber

2,894 posts

89 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
quotequote all
I have managed to have no accidents and kill no cyclists or pedestrians. Things appear to be working well so far. This brings my total number of accidents with cyclists and pedestrians before and after the rule change to.... 0.

I have, however, opened my door not using the Dutch technique. I like to live on the raggedy edge.

Milkyway

Original Poster:

14,528 posts

82 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
quotequote all
RazerSauber said:
I have managed to have no accidents and kill no cyclists or pedestrians. Things appear to be working well so far. This brings my total number of accidents with cyclists and pedestrians before and after the rule change to.... 0.

I have, however, opened my door not using the Dutch technique. I like to live on the raggedy edge.
Ditto,ooh, also forgot the Dutch reach... tut - tut
But I did flash a car through... as they were stopped in a precarious position.
Pedestrian... Did give me a funny look when I didn’t stop.
( Naughty me) rolleyes


Edited by Milkyway on Thursday 3rd February 15:06

rigga

8,805 posts

230 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
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Followed a cyclist this morning, he took great pleasure in riding down the center of the lane, and kept looking back at me, I wasn't in a rush, and stayed behind until safe to pass, not going to bother me much.

S100HP

13,777 posts

196 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
quotequote all
Milkyway said:
Early days I know.
I’ve had my licence for forty years, I will still drive the same, but try to retrain my grey cells to absorb the new / refreshed Highway Code regulations.
A couple of times, I had to think... should I have done that.
( Plus, glad I haven’t got a dog to worry about either).
Trying to update Milkyway Sr (92).
scratchchin

Edited by Milkyway on Thursday 3rd February 14:56
If you haven't been driving like a for the last 40 years there is nothing new for you to learn confused

devnull

3,859 posts

186 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
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I keep forgetting to do the dutch reach around. I constantly live in fear that plod is going to notice I haven't done it and fine me a grand.

TheDrownedApe

1,775 posts

85 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
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Been out a couple of times on the ironhorse since the new rules and am noticing a higher % of motorists leaving me more room (country side riding mainly). However there are still the *&$%*" that don't care.

One overtook me today approaching a cross junction where i wasn't indicating (going straight on) and they zoomed past me to slam on the brakes and turn left - they got a bang on their rear window and some expletives for their stupidity.

But thankyou all for keeping me safe

toon10

7,134 posts

186 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
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I've not used the new rules as a driver or pedestrian and things are working out just fine like they always have. I've decided not to walk onto the road in front of any cars and also not come to a stop in my car on the off chance someone wants to cross the road in front of me. I've not seen any cyclists yet. The only Dutch reach around I'll be observing is on P0rnHub.

Super Sonic

14,209 posts

83 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
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S100HP said:
If you haven't been driving like a for the last 40 years there is nothing new for you to learn confused
Agree.

MattyD803

2,408 posts

94 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
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I live directly adjacent to a T-junction on a residential road....as I popped out to the car earlier I noticed a post office combo van come down the main road, which piqued my interest as I am waiting for a delivery, hence I was watching to see where he went.

Nonetheless, he was indicating into the side road on his nearside, but had a silver fiesta bearing down on him quickly from behind with very little gap. I noted an old couple were waiting at the kerb to cross the side road, for which the van then spotted and slowed down to a complete stop in the mouth of the road, to allow them to cross. (fair play to the van driver, spot on with regards to the new rules).

However, said fiesta who was (not uncommonly for this road) going too quick and too close to the van in front, noticed the van stopping at the very last minute, went into full emergency stop (ABS chittering of tyres) and ended up centimetres from hitting the back of the van. It was enough to slightly shock the oldies, as well as the driver of the fiesta. (young girl).

The worrying thing here is that whilst the van did the right thing (according to the new rules), his van was pointing in towards the side road with his wheels turned accordingly. Had he had a big shunt from behind (buses also use this road), I expect said force would have sent the van directly into the oldies, would be looking at some serious injuries or worse.

Make of that what you will, and whilst I fully appreciate the driving standard of the fiesta was horrendous (and at complete fault for driving without due care and attention), I can only imagine many people will be 'caught out' by cars which are slowing for a side turn (hence brake lights showing) who then come to a complete stop (with no increase in brake lighting/warning)......for which the best outcome will be nudge from behind....the worst....launching the car in front into pedestrians.


toon10

7,134 posts

186 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
quotequote all
MattyD803 said:
The worrying thing here is that whilst the van did the right thing (according to the new rules), his van was pointing in towards the side road with his wheels turned accordingly. Had he had a big shunt from behind (buses also use this road), I expect said force would have sent the van directly into the oldies, would be looking at some serious injuries or worse.
And therein lies the problem. Rightly or wrongly, the roads are full of bad drivers who simply won't be expecting a vehicle in front to stop when the traffic is clear in front of them. To the old couple who may get wiped out as a result, it will be of little consolation that they were in the right and the driver in the wrong. That's why I'll continue to use common sense and teach my young son the same. If there is a car at a junction, I'll wait until it is clear before stepping into the road.

NDNDNDND

2,546 posts

212 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
quotequote all
Super Sonic said:
S100HP said:
If you haven't been driving like a for the last 40 years there is nothing new for you to learn confused
Agree.
I'm genuinely puzzled by posts like these, which profess that nothing has changed.

See Matty's post above for a good example of what's wrong with the new regulations. Imagine how many times this is happening up and down the country. How long before we start hearing of crashes and injuries associated with this new rule?

I've only been out once since the new rules and encountered a mother and two children approaching the kerb at a minor road and waiting to cross. I approached cautiously and made eye-contact to ensure she was waiting and then turned off the main road as I would have done before. I gave her a wave to thank her for giving way. I watched as I drove away and she and her children crossed safely in their own time, just as it should be.

Milkyway

Original Poster:

14,528 posts

82 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
quotequote all
I did read, that somebody stopped at a green light to let a pedestrian cross... confused
( But I may have to take this with a pinch of salt)


Edited by Milkyway on Thursday 3rd February 17:34

boyse7en

8,170 posts

194 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
quotequote all
NDNDNDND said:
I'm genuinely puzzled by posts like these, which profess that nothing has changed.

See Matty's post above for a good example of what's wrong with the new regulations. Imagine how many times this is happening up and down the country. How long before we start hearing of crashes and injuries associated with this new rule?

I've only been out once since the new rules and encountered a mother and two children approaching the kerb at a minor road and waiting to cross. I approached cautiously and made eye-contact to ensure she was waiting and then turned off the main road as I would have done before. I gave her a wave to thank her for giving way. I watched as I drove away and she and her children crossed safely in their own time, just as it should be.
So you are puzzled by people saying nothing has changed, then point how when you met a pedestrian on a junction you didn't make any changes to your behaviour or driving technique. That's exactly what i expect to happen.


Drivers don't need new rules to cause crashes, there are plenty of rear end shunts at traffic lights and pedestrian crossings already despite those rules being in place for decades.

MattyD803

2,408 posts

94 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
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boyse7en said:
Drivers don't need new rules to cause crashes, there are plenty of rear end shunts at traffic lights and pedestrian crossings already despite those rules being in place for decades.
I would suggest the new rule meaning drivers 'give way' to pedestrians crossing at T-Junctions (where the hazard is likely to be unseen by the car behind the one which is turning), increases the risk of a rear end shunt massively.....more so than people just not paying attention in the cases you have described above.

Don't get me wrong, you should be driving at a speed and distance from the car in front that means you can stop in such an instance, but lets face it, very few do. To my mind this is probably one of the main reasons why they haven't increased the motorway speed limit to 80mph....because whilst cars are safer, people are still utter idiots.

markymarkthree

3,606 posts

200 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
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Cant say i have spotted change.
Pedestrians still walking on the road with their backs to traffic.
Cyclists still doing what they do best, taking the pi55 out of traffic rules/regs/guidance.
Horses still 5hiting on the road for us body part donors to ride over.

dreamcracker

3,331 posts

246 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
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This morning, I saw a car stopping to let a pedestrian cross the road, but this was not at a junction, and nobody was stopping on opposite side of the road.

I can see from this that we may see some drivers slamming on the brakes every time they see a pedestrian trying to cross the road, rather than at junctions.

We may also see vigilante pedestrians with bodycams recording everyone that fails to let them cross.

I think there wil be more accidents as a result of the new rules.

BertBert

21,235 posts

240 months

Thursday 3rd February 2022
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Stood waiting to cross a side road. 3 cars turned in and didn't give way. No knowledge or interest in the new rules I guess. Lots to change to make it work

VSKeith

1,956 posts

76 months

Friday 4th February 2022
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I'm all for giving pedestrians and cyclists more protection/priority where suitable, but effectively turning every side road into a zebra crossing makes no sense.

Side roads are generally smaller than the road that crosses them. Most traffic will not be turning into them, so to oblige the vehicle turning in to stop in the larger/busier road where the likelihood is that they will be past in a few seconds with no one behind them sounds half baked at best and as many point out, dangerous at worst.

Highway Code said:
The updated code clarifies that:

- when people are crossing or waiting to cross at a junction, other traffic should give way
- if people have started crossing and traffic wants to turn into the road, the people crossing have priority and the traffic should give way
To me, the second point is unecessary as the first covers it, and was the case anyway.

Or am I reading it wrong?

Edited by VSKeith on Friday 4th February 01:37

Second Best

6,534 posts

210 months

Friday 4th February 2022
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I've been on the road a fair amount this week - think I've covered just over 1,000 miles, which is nearly double what I did even pre-covid. No major issues, in fact I noticed other drivers actually giving me more room as I was in a car. A few uber drivers didn't seem to understand how roads worked and got very frustrated when, after cutting me up and being overtaken, I didn't bother moving forwards to let them exit the main road so they could wait (with no passengers on board).

RE cyclists, only had one issue where a couple of lycra idiots decided to ride in the middle of a NSL single carriageway (two opposing lanes, no traffic, easy enough to dip in a bit and give the cars space to overtake safely). They seemed affronted when the cars and trucks overtook them with less than a foot to spare, splashing the standing water in the middle of the road into their faces. I struggled to find any sympathy.