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Original poster

To think there should be public information adverts on TV to highlight changes in the Highway Code

61 replies

Financial · 09/10/2025 13:09

Because many road users have no idea.

Zipper Merge
HC Hierarchy
Crossing at the Head of Junctions
Cyclist Road Positioning

OP posts:
Original poster
Financial · 09/10/2025 21:57

cordeliabuffy · 09/10/2025 21:52

I did that the other day, driver behind threw up her hands dramatically, then leaned on her horn. She spent the rest of the drive up my arse before I eventually pulled over and let her pass as she was better off in front of me given she was in such a rush and so important Hmm
real reason - I didn’t want to get rear ended

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Then you agree it needs publicising more?

OP posts:
Original poster
Financial · 09/10/2025 21:53

napody · 09/10/2025 21:48

Rubbish. If you'd started turning then stopped it could happen, so just indicate, slow and if there is a pedestrian crossing you have to wait until they're done to start turning, just as you would if there were a car in the opposite lane. Why should a pedestrian walking along a main road with loads of side roads have to add onto their journey going up and down each side road? Drivers need to adjust to not being the priority in urban areas.

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Agreed.
Pedestrians are at the top of the Highway Code Hierarchy

OP posts:
cordeliabuffy · 09/10/2025 21:53

Backgroundnoises · 09/10/2025 21:51

Yes to Zip Merging!! This has been my bug bear for ages. Very few drivers seem aware of how to zip merge correctly. Those of us who do use it correctly are treated like arrogant queue jumpers, often being blocked from merging at the correct point..

I’m sure my most said words driving are
INDICATORS, i am not mystic meg
ZIP MERGE oh FFS

cordeliabuffy · 09/10/2025 21:52

napody · 09/10/2025 21:48

Rubbish. If you'd started turning then stopped it could happen, so just indicate, slow and if there is a pedestrian crossing you have to wait until they're done to start turning, just as you would if there were a car in the opposite lane. Why should a pedestrian walking along a main road with loads of side roads have to add onto their journey going up and down each side road? Drivers need to adjust to not being the priority in urban areas.

Show quote history

I did that the other day, driver behind threw up her hands dramatically, then leaned on her horn. She spent the rest of the drive up my arse before I eventually pulled over and let her pass as she was better off in front of me given she was in such a rush and so important Hmm
real reason - I didn’t want to get rear ended

Backgroundnoises · 09/10/2025 21:51

Yes to Zip Merging!! This has been my bug bear for ages. Very few drivers seem aware of how to zip merge correctly. Those of us who do use it correctly are treated like arrogant queue jumpers, often being blocked from merging at the correct point..

napody · 09/10/2025 21:48

BorgQueen · 09/10/2025 19:00

Turning into a side road from a main road means that if you did stop for a pedestrian, you would likely be rear ended, it’s the most stupid rule ever, really dangerous.
Pedestrians shouldn’t be able to cross within 10m of a junction.

Rubbish. If you'd started turning then stopped it could happen, so just indicate, slow and if there is a pedestrian crossing you have to wait until they're done to start turning, just as you would if there were a car in the opposite lane. Why should a pedestrian walking along a main road with loads of side roads have to add onto their journey going up and down each side road? Drivers need to adjust to not being the priority in urban areas.

Original poster
Financial · 09/10/2025 21:44

BorgQueen · 09/10/2025 19:00

Turning into a side road from a main road means that if you did stop for a pedestrian, you would likely be rear ended, it’s the most stupid rule ever, really dangerous.
Pedestrians shouldn’t be able to cross within 10m of a junction.

This has been the law in many other countries across the world. They cope.

OP posts:
Original poster
Financial · 09/10/2025 21:42

Macherie53 · 09/10/2025 19:09

The Highway Code says what it says but common sense should tell you to stop at a road op. Most people don’t read the Highway Code ….

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I was already crossing before the car appeared

OP posts:
Redpeach · 09/10/2025 20:39

mumofoneAloneandwell · 09/10/2025 20:29

Yeah it was on GMB randomly! Zero real press other than those clickbait newspapers that you dont really pay attention to

Insane honestly, not everyone watches tv news, there needs to be a big campaign

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I know about it without watching gmb

mumofoneAloneandwell · 09/10/2025 20:29

ShallWeDance · 09/10/2025 20:24

You are right.

I only found this out the other day when someone stepped into the road and obviously expected me to stop. My son (learner driver) said that there was a new(ish) rule about this.
It was news to me.

Show quote history

Yeah it was on GMB randomly! Zero real press other than those clickbait newspapers that you dont really pay attention to

Insane honestly, not everyone watches tv news, there needs to be a big campaign

mumofoneAloneandwell · 09/10/2025 20:28

PrincessASDaisy · 09/10/2025 13:59

And put their window down to swear at you when you, a pedestrian, had the audacity to do so 🥲

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😅 gosh, never me I promise!

ShallWeDance · 09/10/2025 20:24

mumofoneAloneandwell · 09/10/2025 13:12

Yanbu at all, almost no-one knows what you have to give way to pedestrians crossing when youre trying to turn left and right.

You are right.

I only found this out the other day when someone stepped into the road and obviously expected me to stop. My son (learner driver) said that there was a new(ish) rule about this.
It was news to me.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 09/10/2025 20:04

Yes, I can still remember the 'Public Information Adverts' from years ago.
They were in black and white, before the world became colourful and belligerent.

Waipai · 09/10/2025 19:53

I'd definitely like an announcement explaining the new priority for pedestrians at junctions OP as I'm unclear as to when it applies. Several roundabouts and junctions where I live have pedestrian crossings nearby to facilitate crossing so are cars still supposed to stop for pedestrians if they try to cross at the actual junction rather than walk down the road a bit to use the provided crossing? Or are they still expected to use the (much safer) lighted crossing provided? I haven't been able to find anything that clarifies this.

Treeleaf11 · 09/10/2025 19:39

Yellowpingu · 09/10/2025 18:54

I think we need to bring back Public Service Announcements full stop. Green Cross Code, water safety, fireworks, the lot.

I agree. They were definitely worthwhile

AzureCats · 09/10/2025 19:37

Remember folks it's better to be alive than be correct and dead. Make sure the car is actually slowing and stopping before stepping out into traffic in any circumstances. Eye contact with drivers helps.

I can't even get people to stop when I'm stepped onto a zebra crossing so I don't see how these new rules will become well known and actually obeyed in the near future.

Even in the 90s/2000s there used to be public service adverts. Absolutely none these days because adverts are all about money making. Maybe everyone registered with the DVLA should get a letter about it. 🤔 Wracking my brains to think of a way people would actually give a shiny shit though! 😂

Shade17 · 09/10/2025 19:26

Maybe they should publicise more of the HC, you only have to look at some SM posts to see how many people have no idea what a dual carriageway is or what the NSL is.

Macherie53 · 09/10/2025 19:09

Financial · 09/10/2025 13:57

I was crossing yesterday and a car turned in and cut in front of me, if I hadn’t stopped walking I would have walked into the side of the car. Similar this morning when I even had a buggy and toddler, then I had to wait midway as they couldn’t exit the junction.

The Highway Code says what it says but common sense should tell you to stop at a road op. Most people don’t read the Highway Code ….

taxguru · 09/10/2025 19:07

BorgQueen · 09/10/2025 19:00

Turning into a side road from a main road means that if you did stop for a pedestrian, you would likely be rear ended, it’s the most stupid rule ever, really dangerous.
Pedestrians shouldn’t be able to cross within 10m of a junction.

Unfortunately, councils across the land have put the dropped kerbs far closer than 10 metres, so that's where people cross, because that's basically where they're told to cross.

As for being rear ended, the driver should be going slow enough around the corner anyway in case of obstructions at the junction or just further down the road, so if they'd been slowing down on the main road, as they should have been, and indicating, as they should have been, the car behind them should have been aware of the hazard and be slowing down too!

taxguru · 09/10/2025 19:05

BallerinaRadio · 09/10/2025 14:14

The highway code might as well not exist to be fair. They know the rules, people these days just don't give a shit.

Add into that a complete absence/lack of interest of the police re relatively low level crimes and it's no surprise so many people break the laws and can't be arsed to keep up to date. We need consequences for people to start sitting up and taking notice. We can show public information films until the cows come home but without enforcement, people will ignore them.

BorgQueen · 09/10/2025 19:00

Turning into a side road from a main road means that if you did stop for a pedestrian, you would likely be rear ended, it’s the most stupid rule ever, really dangerous.
Pedestrians shouldn’t be able to cross within 10m of a junction.

Yellowpingu · 09/10/2025 18:54

I think we need to bring back Public Service Announcements full stop. Green Cross Code, water safety, fireworks, the lot.

Original poster
Financial · 09/10/2025 14:47

AgnesMcDoo · 09/10/2025 14:14

Who watches tv adverts anymore though?

Ok.
So TV, FB, IG, wherever.
Or a booklet with your road tax reminder

OP posts:
AgnesMcDoo · 09/10/2025 14:14

Who watches tv adverts anymore though?

BallerinaRadio · 09/10/2025 14:14

The highway code might as well not exist to be fair. They know the rules, people these days just don't give a shit.

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