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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think a driver (or cyclist) having to give way to a pedestrian waiting to cross is a crazy new rule?

449 replies

flashbac · 31/12/2021 07:17

To clarify, if a pedestrian is waiting to cross on a road a driver is turning into, new rules from January state the driver has to let them cross.
Also applies to cyclists as pedestrians have priority.
All very well and good until you consider how chaotic this could be at junctions. Fine on unbusy roads.
I'm thinking:
What if you are turning into a 30 mph road from a 40?
What if you are turning right at a busy junction?

It sounds crazy to me.
And before anyone jumps at me and says they do it in Europe and its fine. I'd like to know how congested and busy the roads in these countries are and what the public transport is like.

OP posts:
RobinPenguins · 31/12/2021 11:15

@loudbatperson

I think if more drivers and cyclist obeyed the old rule (pedestrians already crossing the new road had priority over those turning in), and drove accordingly and cautiously when turning into a junction, the new rule wouldn't have been needed.
This. I’m generally a pedestrian, there’s no way I will start to assume drivers will give way. So many didn’t follow the rules before so I don’t imagine they will now.
Flipflopblowout · 31/12/2021 11:19

So what if you are turning into a busy road where the speed limit is higher? You are approaching a road junction and you should be prepared to stop if required to do so and this now includes pedestrians. If there is a solid white line cross the road you are required to stop anyway.

Iamanunsafebuilding · 31/12/2021 11:21

Another change included in this is if you're turning left as a motorist it will now be your responsibility to check there's not a cyclist riding up your inside, and if they are you have to give way to them

CrumpledCrumpet · 31/12/2021 11:22

Hardly great for people’s health if they are flattened by a jack knifing HGV because the cab part stopped but there wasn’t enough distance, even at slow speeds, to stop the container part from having no where to go apart from swinging around the cab.

C’mon now, HGVs aren’t going to be jackknifing because they have to give way to a pedestrian.

CrumpledCrumpet · 31/12/2021 11:22

@Iamanunsafebuilding

Another change included in this is if you're turning left as a motorist it will now be your responsibility to check there's not a cyclist riding up your inside, and if they are you have to give way to them
Frankly I am amazed this wasn’t explicit already!
Puzzledandpissedoff · 31/12/2021 11:26

It's all very well saying if someone collides into you it's their fault but it's you that suffers having to get the damage to the back of your car repaired. It's stressful dealing with the insurance and then the hassle of being without the car whist it's fixed

This is all very true; however you don't get to deal with stress and hassle by simply passing it onto someone else, particularly when that other person is more vulnerable

If there's an issue with idiots not paying attention and ploughing into those in front, take it up with the ones actually to blame

Signalbox · 31/12/2021 11:38

I’d be grateful if cars just gave way to already crossing pedestrians on side roads. The number of drivers who are not aware that they should is surprising.

jgw1 · 31/12/2021 11:44

That's idiotic.

Isn't that just a description at the average attempts at driving on our roads?

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 31/12/2021 11:45

Frankly I am amazed this wasn’t explicit already!

As a general rule, "undertaking" isn't encouraged.
As a cyclist, if you are ignoring a vehicle that is indicating left and attempting to pass them on the inside, that's a foolhardy enterprise, however there are also idiots in motor vehicles who "left hook" cyclists who are riding along minding their own business and are then passed a speed by vehicle that immediately executes a left turn ahead of them.

If cyclists think the new rule allows them to tear up the inside of all vehicles oblivious to any indication those vehicles are giving, there will be more accidents - cyclists are not visible at all times to all drivers, and especially if there is a large speed differential.

I am not anti cyclist or anti car (I do both).

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 31/12/2021 11:47

@Signalbox

I’d be grateful if cars just gave way to already crossing pedestrians on side roads. The number of drivers who are not aware that they should is surprising.
This is a fair point - see also drivers who don't bother to indicate - I am a pedestrian but also a car driver - indication of your intent can help pedestrians too.
deadlanguage · 31/12/2021 11:48

A) YABU
And B) all opinions on this are irrelevant as the rule change has already been made so you just need to suck it up at this point…

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 31/12/2021 11:49

@megletthesecond

This "fucking pedestrian" pays road tax. I just prefer to keep fit and reduce my car use so don't use it often.

I really can't see how this new rule will work. Approx 10% of drivers are on their phone, they aren't going to care about the new rules. They don't care about the old ones.

This is so true - I see so many people on their phones and driving every single day. We could make a fortune if that law was enforced.
deadlanguage · 31/12/2021 11:59

@BabyLove22

It's nice to know we pay road tax and congestion charges to not have right of way on roads, we now have to give way to fucking pedestrians.
You don’t pay ‘road tax’, you pay a tax on the amount of pollution your car produces. Roads are paid for by everybody, whether they have a car or not.
WonderfulYou · 31/12/2021 12:02

A town near where I live has gotten rid of all crossings and so people can cross where they want to - I’ve never known anything so stupid.

Some people will wait until you’ve fully stopped before crossing but many will just start walking in front of you.
I think non-drivers think because they can see you clearly, you can see them clearly. But they forget you’re concentrating on other people and traffic, as well as reading road signs or if it’s sunny or rainy which means they’re harder to see.

WonderfulYou · 31/12/2021 12:05

The only reason I don’t like giving away to pedestrians in normal circumstances is because the car on the other side might not be aware.
If it’s clear on the other side I’ll happily do it but if it’s busy I don’t risk it unless it’s a proper crossing place.

elelel · 31/12/2021 12:08

@Unescorted

Surely if you are turning into a junction you are going slow enough to pause momentarily to allow a person continue in their straight line journey. If you can't manage that without causing chaos then you may want to think about your ability to drive.

And the drivers behind you? This is going to cause so many accidents with people turning suddenly stopping to give way to a standing pedestrian. Yes, the cars are supposed to leave an adequate gap, but when someone indicates and begins a turn we don't ordinarily expect them to stop, so it will cause rear end colisions, which will more then likely often shunt the turning car into the pedestrian.

ErrolTheDragon · 31/12/2021 12:11

The driver behind should always be far enough behind /slow enough to stop. Hmm
And of course, they should already be aware that cars ahead may need to slow more or stop when turning into a junction.

WindyState · 31/12/2021 12:14

"And the drivers behind you? This is going to cause so many accidents with people turning suddenly stopping to give way to a standing pedestrian. Yes, the cars are supposed to leave an adequate gap, but when someone indicates and begins a turn we don't ordinarily expect them to stop, so it will cause rear end colisions, which will more then likely often shunt the turning car into the pedestrian."

Utter bollocks. Most drivers following turning cars do, actually, have the awareness that the car turning is going to need to slow significantly or stop.

People who come out with this shit are the same crap drivers who go on about speed limits being dangerous because it means drivers are constantly having to monitor their speed. Well, yes, that's what being a safe driver is about.

jgw1 · 31/12/2021 12:20

@WindyState

"And the drivers behind you? This is going to cause so many accidents with people turning suddenly stopping to give way to a standing pedestrian. Yes, the cars are supposed to leave an adequate gap, but when someone indicates and begins a turn we don't ordinarily expect them to stop, so it will cause rear end colisions, which will more then likely often shunt the turning car into the pedestrian."

Utter bollocks. Most drivers following turning cars do, actually, have the awareness that the car turning is going to need to slow significantly or stop.

People who come out with this shit are the same crap drivers who go on about speed limits being dangerous because it means drivers are constantly having to monitor their speed. Well, yes, that's what being a safe driver is about.

But it is important to drive as close as possible to the car in front, even better if it is a lorry as it is more fuel efficient. Think of the environment.
phoenixrosehere · 31/12/2021 12:25

I think non-drivers think because they can see you clearly, you can see them clearly. But they forget you’re concentrating on other people and traffic, as well as reading road signs or if it’s sunny or rainy which means they’re harder to see.

As a non-driver, I don’t. I actually think most drivers look out for other cars than they do pedestrians so I do not put my life in their hands and will wait til they pass by because I don’t trust any of them to give a sh*t about my safety. Many can barely put their blinkers on so that cars AND pedestrians know which way they’re turning so they can cross the street.

Mofomo · 31/12/2021 12:35

Spotting pedestrians I would think is one of the first prerequisites of driving

RobinPenguins · 31/12/2021 12:37

It's nice to know we pay road tax and congestion charges to not have right of way on roads, we now have to give way to fucking pedestrians.

Maybe get out of your car occasionally and you might learn a bit of fucking consideration. And learn that there’s no such thing as road tax.

ivykaty44 · 31/12/2021 12:41

I actually think most drivers look out for other cars than they do pedestrians

id always taken it thats why drivers take over the pavements as to leave the roads clear for other drivers & sod the pedestrians which the pavement is meant to be used by and don't give a second thought to mobility aids or prams. even when there is more than enough to park on the road, they drive on the pavement?

longtompot · 31/12/2021 12:41

Considering drivers around here still don't seem to know they need to approach pedestrian crossings with caution and stop when someone wants to cross the road, I'm not sure they would do this. I wouldn't start crossing a road thinking a driver would give me right of way though.
That said, I thought if you were already crossing a road you had right of way anyway?

Grumpyosaurus · 31/12/2021 12:42

@jgw1

That's idiotic.

Isn't that just a description at the average attempts at driving on our roads?

I've lived in several different countries and travelled widely and believe me, the UK is one of the better ones for driving standards.