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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think this driver should have waited for me to cross first?

85 replies

Lauren1983 · 13/10/2015 16:35

I don't drive so not sure who has right of way in this circumstance. I was waiting to cross a road with DD in her pushchair. This is a fairly long road so normally easy to see traffic coming however a van had parked on the side of the road I was crossing on obscuring my view (I had to stand back from the kerb to see approaching traffic).

I waited a minute or two until I thought it was safe to cross and then started crossing when a car reversed out of a driveway on the opposite side of the road coming directly at me. I managed to move out of the way but was annoyed the driver didn't wait. Maybe I should have noticed him getting into his car but I was more concerned on looking at traffic coming from both my right and left to notice. He must have seen me in his rear view mirror waiting.

Should he have waited until I had crossed? or was it a no-one has right of way situation?

OP posts:

tiggytape · 13/10/2015 17:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ThenLaterWhenItGotDark · 13/10/2015 17:42

Pedestrians absolutely don't have right of way.

As said upthread, only on pedestrian crossings and certain side roads.

Both were U I think on this occasion. The driver for reversing willy nilly, the Mum for crossing willy nilly (and thinking she is right because she's not in a car and therefore more vulnerable.

MissFitt68 · 13/10/2015 17:52

If pedestrians had right of way at all times why bother with pedestrian crossings??

ThenLaterWhenItGotDark · 13/10/2015 17:53

EternalDalmatian · 13/10/2015 18:31

Are you sure sharon? So a pedestrian can just cross a road anywhere and cars have to give way to them? That can't be right surely
What's the alternative if that isn't right? You can just mow them down because they've crossed in a stupid place

That's absolute rubbish.

If I have 'right of way' when i'm going around a roundabout it doesn't mean that I'm going to keep my foot down and plough into any stupid driver who cuts me up as he pulls out. Of course i'd slow down/stop if I see a hazard.

But it is STILL my right of way when i'm already on the roundabout. Just like, except for pedestrian crossings, it's cars that have right of way on the roads, not pedestrians. That doesn't mean you mow them down if someone walks in front of you

Original poster

Lauren1983 · 13/10/2015 18:38

MissFitt68 Tue 13-Oct-15 17:05:00
Why did you've never attempt to cross When there was an obstruction ( the van)

I would never expect an adult it's a child in tow to do that tbh

I either had to cross there or go right to the top of the road and back down adding 5 minutes to my journey home. When I stood back from the pavement I could see that the road was clear. I didn't walk into the road blind.

OP posts:

whois · 13/10/2015 19:03

You were already in the road - so you had ROW

RobinHumphries · 13/10/2015 19:05

First rule of the Green Cross Code is find the safest place to cross. Don't cross where you can't see in all directions and where drivers can't see you.

If the top of the road was the safest place to cross that's where you should have gone.

Shutthatdoor · 13/10/2015 19:07

I either had to cross there or go right to the top of the road and back down adding 5 minutes to my journey home.

So you add 5 mins to your journey!

fulldutypaid · 13/10/2015 19:13

It just sounds like you both decided to either cross the road or reverse onto the road at exactly the same time.

To be fair though if it was me with a child in a pushchair I would have walked on until my view wasnt obscured.

MissFitt68 · 13/10/2015 19:17

well more fool you op!

Risk your child's life and risk causing a road accident because you can't walk on for an extra five minutes....

memememum · 13/10/2015 19:23

josie1983 "Maybe I should have noticed him getting into his car but I was more concerned on looking at traffic coming from both my right and left to notice. He must have seen me in his rear view mirror waiting."

It's possible that neither of you noticed each other because it was so tricky to negotiate. No matter who was right or wrong, try to take it as a lucky lesson on the fact that you need to think of absolutely every where to look when you cross, especially when you are not only the most vulnerable road user (no tin can around you) but are also in charge of a baby or child.

limitedperiodonly · 13/10/2015 19:30

It amazes me when drivers don't think to slow or stop for pedestrians who are already in the road they're turning in to.

You would stop for another car, wouldn't you? Same thing.

MissFitt68 · 13/10/2015 19:37

OP wasn't 'already in the road'..... It's sounding like she wasn't very visible either, what with stepping out from behind a parked van because she couldn't be bothered to walk for another 5 minutes to a safe place to cross

limitedperiodonly · 13/10/2015 20:03

Walk five minutes for a place to cross the road so as not to inconvenience drivers? I can walk a long way in five minutes. The pavements outside my house aren't long enough.

I wouldn't get run over but I'd starve to death because I wouldn't be able to go to the shops.

I really worry about people who have driving licences but can't drive.

MissFitt68 · 13/10/2015 20:15

There was nobody driving, it was a parked vehicle!

CerseiHeartsJaime4ever · 13/10/2015 20:26

Drivers are so entitled.

Rule 170 of the Highway: Give way to pedestrians who have started to cross.

CerseiHeartsJaime4ever · 13/10/2015 20:28

And stupid. If you have a license, you should know the highway code FFS. Otherwise you are a fucking liability.

limitedperiodonly · 13/10/2015 20:34

There was nobody driving, it was a parked vehicle!.

That she was emerging from behind. It makes no difference whether she was on foot or not.

As a driver you must have edged out cautiously from roads that don't have good sight lines.

limitedperiodonly · 13/10/2015 20:36

Cersei I realise I was being far too polite

Shutthatdoor · 13/10/2015 20:41

Drivers are so entitled

Otherwise you are a fucking liability.

Glad to see you are so perfect.

Do you think that pushing your child in their pushchair from behind a van who you admit is obscuring your view is a good idea then?

CerseiHeartsJaime4ever · 13/10/2015 20:54

I don't care really, I'm just aghast at the comments on here saying that it's ok NOT to give way to pedestrians when they DO have the right of way. If you are a driver and you don't know this, you are a danger.

Pedestrians absolutely don't have right of way.

If pedestrians had right of way at all times why bother with pedestrian crossings??

WTF?

Shutthatdoor · 13/10/2015 20:57

I don't care really

You don't care about a child being pushed into a road from behind something that means the pusher can't see what is coming.

OK then....

Shutthatdoor · 13/10/2015 20:59

Pressed too soon.

Or that the driver can't see they are there!

CerseiHeartsJaime4ever · 13/10/2015 20:59

You seem defensive. Perhaps you didn't know your Highway code either?

I've posted a link, there's still time to read it

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