How are the new Highway Code going?

[HardStareBear]

I almost had a car go into the back of me and was then sworn at and had a horn blared at me when I stopped to let a pedestrian cross (who was already in the road) on the junction of a road I was turning into. Because of this, I haven't dared stop for anyone waiting on the pavement, despite the new law that says I must.

Anyone else had a crap experience of the new law, so far?

I like the fact more cyclists are riding in the centre of the road. I’m very cautious around them and this removes the pressure to overtake. I actually find it quite irritating now when I find one who’s cycling along in the gutter.

I was sceptical about the changes re pedestrians crossing turnings, but no issues so far. My concern was that there would be a mix of behaviours that would make it confusing as opposed to previously, when I would watch for them but keep driving unless they clearly weren’t stopping. That has happened; there is now a bit more eyeballing to see whether or not the pedestrian will keep going or they will wait for me to turn (and on their side whether I’ve seen them and if I’ll stop), but it has been much easier to deal with than I thought. I’m not sure I think this rule needed to be made as it makes sense that the faster-moving vehicle keep going and any good driver was already ready to stop if needed, but it’s not been a big deal so far.

Sadly Entirely predictable. When driving I see people not looking suddenly stepping out having made no attempt to consider their environment. I've seen bikes swerve out of cycle lanes because they can do what they like. Incidentally as a pedestrian I still get hassled by bike users to move out of the way despite me being the more venerable road user in that situation.

I’m a horse rider. There has been a noticeable difference in how drivers (and cyclists) approach me on the road, with nearly all now slowing down and cyclists calling out or ringing a bell if approaching from behind. Much better, fewer knobs and twats.

Cyclist riding in the middle now means I have upgraded my old efficient car to a much less efficient higher powered petrol engine so I can perform the overtake safely. Not sure that is helping the carbon footprint.

You would have had to stop for a pedestrian already in the road before the changes OP so I’m not sure why someone driving badly under existing rules means you refuse to follow the new ones. All you are doing is making pedestrians hate you by not stopping when they have right of way

I'm a bit bemused but this new rule though. Is it a re-introduced rule? Back in the last century my school took part in a county quiz about the Highway Code and, because I've always been able to memorise things easily, I was on the team. I distinctly remember being wrong in a practice (thus jeopardising my place on the team!) about pedestrians having priority over turning traffic: I thought they didn't and the teacher/code said they did.

I can't remember the exact wording of the rule but it used to be if you queue turning into a junction where pedestrians were crossing/waiting to cross then the pedestrians had priority and you should let them cross. There were also various rules about pedestrians on official crossings after the lights had changed and so on.

Now pedestrians have priority on all roads and drivers have to stop to let them cross.

I have noticed no difference at all. Our school run requires crossing at a junction, all cars turning left totally ignore the pedestrians, it’s a blind corner so even more difficult to see cars coming from the left. Drivers will occasionally flash a car turning in from the right which has resulted in a few near misses as families mistake this for a signal for them to cross- this is then followed by a barrage of beeping and hand gestures from drivers.
I think a national ad campaign may be needed!

Recently in a European city where this law is obviously well embedded and it worked brilliantly. Traffic always stopped for pedestrians and there seemed to be no issues and felt very safe.

My Yr4 DD has her road safety sessions coming up (they take them outside school to look at roads etc, council run). I think they should do these for parents before being allowed to drive the children to school as so many seem to completely lose the ability to drive and park safely and legally...

I'm a bit bemused but this new rule though. Is it a re-introduced rule? Back in the last century my school took part in a county quiz about the Highway Code and, because I've always been able to memorise things easily, I was on the team. I distinctly remember being wrong in a practice (thus jeopardising my place on the team!) about pedestrians having priority over turning traffic: I thought they didn't and the teacher/code said they did.

Anyway it seems like common sense to me surely? You turn into a road, especially if it's a blind corner, going slowly enough to stop if your way is blocked by anything, whether it's a cyclist, a pedestrian, a hole in the road, a dog...

I think regardless of what the letter of the HC was (and I admit to not being 100% on this), the working assumption previously was that the pedestrian will stop and wait (which I do think makes sense from the perspective of their safety), but that if they don’t and the driver continues they are at fault for any resulting consequences. This is certainly in line with how I was taught to drive - I was instructed to watch out for pedestrians at junctions, zebra crossings and similar, but it was only the latter where I HAD to stop if someone was waiting. In other situations you kept going, but were ready to stop if necessary. This is also what I was taught as a pedestrian. That seems to have been reversed, whether formally or not, and drivers need to assume they’ll be stopping. The only problem with that is that pedestrians are often unwilling to chance it and I now encounter the are-they-going-or-not thing with hesitant pedestrians. Hopefully that will change as everyone gets used to the change. Or non-change!

I'm constantly stopping and indicating to pedestrians they can cross. Obviously make sure it's safe all round. Only as I'm about to enter a main road, not turning in as its dangerous for cars behind me. Cyclists are getting more space. I don't stop if they ore on the pavement and I'm on the main road, as I'll get hit from behind I'm sure

I was taught in my driving lessons that you never indicate to anyone else that the road is safe for them to make a maneuver. Because it may not be.

Why are people gesturing to pedestrians that it is safe to cross? What if it isn't?

I was taught the same. I did block a mini roundabout once because I saw a child struggling to cross the road and nobody was stopping to let her and she looked anxious. In sure I would have been lashed if I was caught though. Irritates me they've took the lollypop lady off that part of the road. But indicating to pedestrians isn't right either I remember from my lessons..

Although drivers are asked to give way more often, pedestrians still have a responsibility to cross safely. A new addition to Rule 8 makes it clear that pedestrians should ‘cross at a place where drivers can see you.’
Crossing on a blind bend is far from ideal, will no one think of the children?

I was turning into a road and there was a man waiting to cross. I obeyed the rules and stopped to let him cross, but he waved me on.

The thing is, THE MAN WAS BLIND, complete with a white stick.

I'm still not over it now, me trying to obey the (stupid) new rules, and blind man man telling me to break them. I just can't get over it.

I only gesture if its safe. Our school crossing patrol retired and it is chaos outside school now as not even a zebra crossing and a very busy road. So I ensure its safe and stop and gesture the kids across because otherwise they'd end up roadkill. Others do this too. Its a 2 lane road so no chance of missing traffic and no overtaking me as there are cars parked all along... because of the parents needing to take kids to school by car as its not safe alone with no traffic patrol!

The idea is you slow down, make sure its safe to pass, when it is, leave a min of 1.5m or 5 feet of space.

No need to for fast acceleration, unless you re want to get past just before a blind bend or to avoid a head on collision.

Most regular cyclists use front and/or rear cameras now, often combined with those flashing red lights.

I try not to stop for a pedestrian unless they're on a zebra crossing.

This is after reading about someone who stopped to let someone cross, the person started crossing but a car going in the opposite direction carried on driving and killed them.

I'd hate to have that on my conscience so would rather the person was a bit pissed off at me than accidentally run over by someone

bernadette I don't cross if someone gestures at me, that pisses drivers off but it's tough.
As a driver I never gesture at others to cross either.

I don't really understand what you mean here. If a cyclist is in the middle of the road, it means you can't overtake safely, that's why they've moved into the primary position. Saying you need a high powered gas guzzling engine in your car is ridiculous. I have a 1.4l engine. If I'm behind a cyclist and there is adequate space for me to overtake then I can.

It’s a marked crossing with mid way pause, it’s blind because of dense hedging. Reported repeatedly.