Drivers not following Highway code

Slow middle lane drivers boil my piss when I'm driving one of our trucks as I'm not allowed in the fast lane. Sadly the type of people that hog the middle lane also tend to be the type that don't know HGVs can't use the outside lane.

Exactly and also pay attention to when someone is crossing.

As a pedestrian I don't like this rule. I'll cross when I think its safe, not when a car driver pauses and waves me across - especially as they are only generally focusing on letting you cross in front of them & aren't looking at what is going on in the other lane & the wider picture of traffic around you.

9 times out of 10 they don't need to stop, they just need to slow down a touch.

It's like how the pedestrian has the right of way to use a crossing or dropped curb crossing on a corner, that the drivers still seem that they can keep going when your already crossing.

Obviously I try to be safe .

The highway code is clear in saying you should wait for cars to stop before stepping into the road. Surely people apply this logic at all crossings though? I don't assume people are definitely going to stop because there's a red light either, or a zebra crossing. If there's any doubt in my mind then I won't risk stepping out. It's not a mistake you would get to make often

The problem is that so many drivers are on their phones, speeding etc that makes this rule incredibly risky. If they aren't going to stop using their phones they certainly aren't going to stop to let a pedestrian across.
I will carry on waiting to cross when it's safe for me. Not when the highway code thinks I should cross.

Yes, it really is. The lack of awareness of this by so many motorists is what makes it dangerous and more likely to cause accidents.

@tttigress yes it is. It was brought in in Jan 2022. I'm rather surprised at a PP who did their theory recently and says otherwise:

Recently did my theory test. Thought you only had to give way to pedestrians already in the road?

Here is a link

The updated code clarifies that:

• when people are crossing or waiting to cross at a junction, other traffic should give way

Is this really part of the highway code. Could potentially be very dangerous and more likely to cause accidents.

Because its dangerous why they think giving priority to the road user who can stop the quickest is safer baffles me.
I'm assuming the green cross code hasn't been updated to reflect the changes.

@OneTC

People do observe it though don't they?

The thread is about drivers not doing so.

People do observe it though don't they? I do, I frequently did before it was an official rule. You don't have to whack the anchors on mid turn if you've approached the situation correctly, and no pedestrian ever, should step in front of a moving vehicle, regardless of priority because it's a poor survival strategy. Pedestrians can stop and look, drivers can stop and wait while they pass. If everyone does that all the time then no one gets run over.

If you're indicating to turn and someone still rear ends you then it's because you were being followed by an incompetent unobservant driver as interacting with pedestrians at side roads is a totally common and valid reason for someone to be stopping

I hate this rule change as a pedestrian.

So many drivers earnestly waving me into the road, and so many other oblivious drivers ready to plough me down for my troubles.

Me (7.5m pregnant) and a couple with a pram were crossing a local road when it was clear, and a moronic SUV driver whizzed into view and had to slam the breaks when he turned in and saw us. This is the really dangerous situation, and the new rule does nothing to solve it at all.

I give way to pedestrians as much as I can but it is frustrating when some people loiter on a corner and you’re not sure if they are planning on crossing or not.

Well said!

Please don’t stand close to the edge then because if a driver is following the Highway Code and sees you stood waiting to cross whether you like it or not they are doing the right thing by stopping.

The pedestrian might know of the change, but not feel safe acting on it, hardly surprising.
The look they give you is probably one of pleasant surprise. Yes, pedestrians should be aware of the change, but many motorists don't seem to be, and that's a worry.

I’m confused how many people talking about getting rear ended when they stop for someone crossing. So what? If they hit you it’s their fault. If you hit the pedestrian that’s your fault. The pedestrians life is worth more than your car so why aren’t people just following this rule and stop complaining about it?! Make the roads a safer place for all.

I will not be encouraging my kids to step out on a road until they see its clear. I don't care who has right of way it won't help if they're dead.

Ridiculous change, cars slamming in for people stepping into the road won't help anyone. Yes if a pedestrian is crossing stop as you always would. But encouraging people to cross here there anywhere is stupid.

I've just remembered I nearly had an argument with a driver who 'helpfully' stopped for me at a busy T junction. I was waiting for all the traffic to clear and didn't budge and they got pissed off at me. I still didn't move.

Also I used the official DVSA app to prep for the theory test so it’s not great if the rules aren’t very clear to new drivers 😅

Because it's a dangerous change. As a mostly pedestrian I cross when I think it's safe. I don't want cars stopping for me, that way accidents happen.

Ohhh. When I looked this rule up before the test it said when turning from a main road into a side road only pedestrians already in the road have priority. But is it for all junctions and all turns into side roads that they have priority when still on the pavement? Sorry to sound dense, I did pass the test but clearly with the wrong info! As PP said, you’d have to be a shit driver to just mow them down. But I thought it was more about not kind of scaring them out of your way

There are a lot of drivers out there who never had to take a theory test - I'm not sure exactly when it came in but I'm mid 50s and passed my test at 17, the examiner asked you a few theory questions. I'm not sure how you could introduce it retrospectively but it wouldn't be a bad idea.

Around us the pedestrians crossing side roads nearly always wait. When I was teaching the DCs to cross toads I hated it when drivers stopped and waved us over in case there was one coming the other way and not stopping. I think many drivers see a car indicating left for a road turning ahead of us and don't slow down enough, assuming it will be turning straight in because that's what nearly always happens whereas we should be assuming that the turning could be blocked and be ready to stop or go round the car just as we do when we see someone indicating to turn right.