To post this for road users unaware of upcoming highway code changes

[FluffyBooBoo]

That's loads of info available online, but the AA have done a study that shows that two thirds of people are unaware of the charges.

Photo attached with basic info.

Most of this isn't new, they are simply codifying it eg specifying distances left overtaking

Pedestrians should be crossing the road at safe areas not wherever the hell they like.

Pedestrians can choose the safest place available on a particular section of road but their safety will still depend both on their alertness and vehicles being driven responsibly and considerately.

It's not an us v them. I drive and walk. (I only cycle off-road). I can start crossing with nothing in sight or sound but a car may appear round a bend and have to slow down. Not stop, just adjust their speed (often merely get back down below 30 instead of accelerating towards the derestricted sign).Sometimes they don't seem to be doing that so I have to stop in the middle of the road or run.
Changing the balance will hopefully make bad drivers more aware of their responsibility to other road users.

@stormy11

Genuine question - why do so many cyclists go over red lights? I thought the rules of road applied to them too. They make it dangerous for themselves, drivers and pedestrians using junctions/crossings.

It's mostly to reduce their journey time by avoiding the wait at the red light.

@ArblemarzipanTFruitcake

You’re in the wrong for not knowing and it’s really not that difficult! Passing a driving test is about a lot more.

There's no legal requirement to know the highway code before going out for a walk.

There’s no legal requirement but there are things people should know for their own safety. If ignorance was acceptable then there’s no need for things like pedestrian operated traffic lights. People don’t need to know right, so they can just cross without pushing the button 🙂

I am a safe pedestrian. I cross in safe places. yes cars have been dicks but the majority of people stop. I see other people constantly distracted, running out across the road into the flow of traffic etc. There are people who run across the road when pedestrian crossing are just half a metre away! But they don’t want to wait at all so they just run figuring that cars will stop for them.

People blame drivers for a lot of things but pedestrians are a lot worse considering that they’re the ones who are more in danger!

I thought pedestrians always had right of way?

There’s no legal requirement but there are things people should know for their own safety.

Many people aren't capable of retaining information about how a car's signals work. Others are visually impaired so even if they know, it makes no difference to them.

Of course everyone has a responsibility not to take obvious risks, whether pedestrian, driver or cyclist.

My point is that a car driver should never assume a pedestrian will know what they are about to do by virtue of their car's signals and lights.

Close passing is illegal, so yes the police will and do pursue this.
Again lovely victim blaming. The cyclist is putting themselves in a position to actively stop close passing, so the car driver must try and get past anyway

I very much doubt that close passing of pedestrians by cyclists or of cyclists by drivers is something that the police routinely waste resources pursuing. Of course, my post didn’t victim blame at all, you chose to interpret it that way. Here - have a little back.

My point is that a car driver should never assume a pedestrian will know what they are about to do by virtue of their car's signals and lights.

True. Because apart from whether the pedestrian has some impairment, they're often unable to be sure what a car is likely to do from its lights because so many don't bother signalling, or doing so in a timely manner, if it's just a pedestrian waiting.

@SirChenjins they certainly do. That's one of the reasons many cyclists have head cams. Sure chose not to believe it's illegal but it certainly is.

How many drivers have been reported for passing too close? How many have been successfully prosecuted for passing too close?

How many cyclists have been reported and prosecuted for doing the same to pedestrians?

Just out of curiosity.

@ArblemarzipanTFruitcake

There’s no legal requirement but there are things people should know for their own safety.

Many people aren't capable of retaining information about how a car's signals work. Others are visually impaired so even if they know, it makes no difference to them.

Of course everyone has a responsibility not to take obvious risks, whether pedestrian, driver or cyclist.

My point is that a car driver should never assume a pedestrian will know what they are about to do by virtue of their car's signals and lights.

How do you know that 'most' people aren't capable? It's in one's own interest, for one's own safety, to know about road rules. Of course if you can't there's a different matter. But signals, road markings etc are there to protect everybody. Would you expect people to know that they shouldn't cross when a vehicle traffic light is green? If your answer is yes, then what magically makes signals something that people don't need to bother about? There are many people who cannot understand signals, road markings etc due to disability and that's fine. People shouldn't assume, also fine. Even drivers can't assume what other drivers are doing as some don't signal or may have signalled incorrectly. However if you're an able bodied adult then you should know basic road safety and know what other road users around you are doing. This applies to everybody. Vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians always always know what is happening around you. When there is no designated right of way (e.g. a zebra crossing ) then everybody relies on communication with each other to carry on. And part of that communication is vehicle signals.

*sorry should have said many

Thank you Freedomdrops.

Bit confusing because Highway Code isn't a legal document and is separate from the road traffic laws.

How do you know that 'most' people aren't capable?

I said "many" people not "most" people. A significant number of people in the UK are disabled/impaired - hence the word 'many'. That doesn't mean a majority are, hence I didn't use the word 'most' even though you have put it in inverted commas.

But signals, road markings etc are there to protect everybody. Would you expect people to know that they shouldn't cross when a vehicle traffic light is green? If your answer is yes, then what magically makes signals something that people don't need to bother about?

My point is that drivers should never assume knowledge in pedestrians. Whereas it's reasonable for a driver to expect another driver to have knowledge of the Highway Code and to be able to see well enough to read signals etc. none of that can or should be assumed in a pedestrian.

Of course it makes sense to educate yourself where possible, but there is absolutely no obligation for a pedestrian to do so. Non-drivers didn't ask drivers to take over the country with their vehicles - if you choose to drive a car it's your responsibility to look out for more vulnerable, non-vehicular road users.

@TractorAndHeadphones

*sorry should have said many

x-posted with you, thank you for correcting.

Biggest clusterfuck (and where most cyclists are killed in London I believe) is when large vehicles are turning left and cyclists 'undertake' them, which isn't really undertaking because they're just continuing in their cycle lane.

I always let cyclist go before turning left, but I'm almost of the opinion that they should wait if a large vehicle is already in the box when they're approaching. This is because waiting for a cyclist to whizz past on the inside before turning can result in still being in the box long after the lights change and possibly getting a ticket from the cameras on places like London, given how slow trucks are to pull away. When turning right you're often clearing the junction as it turns red because oncoming cars will keep nipping through even on amber.

Freedom drops, is that the same reason that cars drive through red lights?

In fact, I think the above is quite typical of the traffic police. Must give way to cyclists but we'll still fine you if you're in the box when the lights change.

Bit like how some ambulances will pull up behind cars at a junction with siren blaring, knowing full well that any cars who pull across the line on red to let them through will still get three points and a fine if there's a working red light camera.

Eightwheelgirl, that's why forward stopping boxes for cyclists (not sure of the official name) are a good thing (as long as they are adhered to), because it gives a chance for cyclists to get in front of the left turning vehicle

*advanced stop lines

@Fomofo

Eightwheelgirl, that's why forward stopping boxes for cyclists (not sure of the official name) are a good thing (as long as they are adhered to), because it gives a chance for cyclists to get in front of the left turning vehicle

Absolutely.

It can be quite a balancing act when approaching a left turn on a relatively stale green light and seeing a cyclist appearing at speed in your nearside mirror. You usually have no idea whether they're going to slow down or just blast straight past on the inside and large blind spots in some vehicle doesn't help either.

Cyclists feel the same way about vehicles, alot of the time people don't indicate, you have no idea what they're about to do

It's all a load of tosh.

We already protect pedestrians with such things as crossings!

Cyclists should be banned from the road as they're a nuisance. I drive a 44t lorry and am fed up of following 2 cyclists for miles because they won't use common sense and pull in to let us past. We aren't like cars who can nip round a cyclist, we need a long distance to overtake!

Rant over!

@Fomofo

Cyclists feel the same way about vehicles, alot of the time people don't indicate, you have no idea what they're about to do

Yes, loads of car drivers don't indicate properly, especially at roundabouts, but an arctic isn't going to squeeze down the inside as you're turning left.