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Original poster

Accident waiting to happen-Highway code

48 replies

refraction · 10/01/2022 19:58

Apologies if there is a thread already on this but looking at the new Highway code rules. The giving way to a pedestrian when turning is an accident waiting to happen. Have I got this wrong?

Accident waiting to happen-Highway code
OP posts:
MsAgnesDiPesto · 10/01/2022 20:03

It’s not very different from what the rule is now - it’s just that you now have to look for pedestrians waiting to cross, as well as ones who have started to cross. If you’ve slowed enough to take the corner you will be able to stop in time to avoid hitting them.

If you’re worried about being rear ended, it’s not a big problem either. You would have had to stop on the main road previously if someone was already in the act of crossing, so it’s no more likely to cause a crash from behind than it does now.

Deisogn · 10/01/2022 20:04

It's fine. It's this way in other places and works out just fine.

5keletor · 10/01/2022 20:06

As others have mentioned above, I don't think this particular example is a big risk. The new hierarchy, however, I won't mention. 🙈

Pasithea · 10/01/2022 20:07

The new hierarchy rules re pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders is more scary.

Offredismysister · 10/01/2022 20:07

I thought the same when I saw this last week.
The entry to our road is the same as that picture and last week a car parked a few yards in (totally illegal) a car turning in had to stop & a car behind hit it. I guess similar will happen when stopping for pedestrians. Often dropped kerbs where people with prams on bikes etc are positioned so you can see them until you’ve actually turned in.

Offredismysister · 10/01/2022 20:09

Can’t see them*
Also, I’m just going from the layout of my road with high hedges & trees, so visibility isn’t great.

Yarnivore · 10/01/2022 20:10

It's fine. And if you can't see what's around a corner you should be slowing down anyway.

It works well elsewhere.

SilverRingahBells · 10/01/2022 20:10

When you're turning you already need to be able to stop for a pedestrian who's just put one toe onto the road anyway.

DuckonaBike · 10/01/2022 20:12

I don’t see a problem - just make sure you indicate and slow down well in advance before turning. Then you can stop if you need to.

I actually thought this was the rule already. Surely it makes sense for traffic continuing along the main road to have priority over traffic turning off? And that includes pedestrian traffic.

Mumteedum · 10/01/2022 20:13

I don't think this is going to work in many places. For example, there is a right turn traffic light with a box junction at work. It's nose to tail on a morning. I immediately have to turn left after the box junction and oncoming traffic also has a filter to turn right into same road. Pedestrians often hang about on that corner not always intending to cross. It also has a garage on the corner with 3 exits. If I have to stop suddenly to let a pedestrian cross, someone behind me will get stuck in the box junction, someone turning right from opposite direction will assume I'm letting them out and so might cars exiting garage. Sometimes this idea just won't be the safest thing in practice.

DrunkenKoala · 10/01/2022 20:14

This happened to us today walking home from school. DD and I were waiting to cross road (same set up as top picture) and the motorist turning into the road stopped on main road and ushered us to cross and the cars behind him were fine about it too.

When I first heard about this a few weeks ago I was concerned it would be carnage but I’m now seeing/hearing it advertised more and I think motorists are becoming more aware and changing their driving accordingly.

Original poster
refraction · 10/01/2022 20:14

United Kingdom/Kiribati
There are two countries tied for third on the list. The more notable one being the United Kingdom, with 2.9 vehicle deaths per 100,000 people. It had an estimated 1,827 deaths total throughout 2015. The second country tied for third is the tiny island nation of Kiribati, which is also tied at 2.9 road deaths per 100,000 people, with just 3 total road deaths occurring throughout 2015

You say it works well elsewhere but we were third for road safety.

OP posts:
GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 10/01/2022 20:14

Nightmare near schools or busy areas where presumably you'll just have steady stream of people crossing which will in turn cause a back up of traffic on the main road that you can't quite turn off from.

LoveMyPiano · 10/01/2022 20:16

I swear someone was testing this out today, as she walked across the road (busy-ish, downhill, no real need to cross at that point, and known for speeding) with her dog, and did not even turn her head to check if the road was clear as I was approaching. She was lucky it was me, not one of the people around where I am.
(Hashtag, crazy drivers Angry)

NuttyinNotts · 10/01/2022 20:20

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat

Nightmare near schools or busy areas where presumably you'll just have steady stream of people crossing which will in turn cause a back up of traffic on the main road that you can't quite turn off from.
Why should vehicular traffic get precedence over foot traffic? The old rule would mean that when a road was busy, as at school run time, then technically a pedestrian could never cross unless they stepped into the road as a car approached. Meaning a build up of pedestrian traffic waiting to cross.
Oakdog · 10/01/2022 20:20

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat I don't quite get this. Our large secondary school is on a junction of a busy 40mph, if cars are waiting for people to cross I think they'll be there for 15/20 minutes as the pupils all amble out.

rrhuth · 10/01/2022 20:22

It would be fine if there weren't so many shit drivers.

If you can't manage this, get the bus?

rrhuth · 10/01/2022 20:23

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat

Nightmare near schools or busy areas where presumably you'll just have steady stream of people crossing which will in turn cause a back up of traffic on the main road that you can't quite turn off from.
Currently pedestrians have to wait for ages when cars are streaming, so this will at least even things up a bit as cars still have priority when going straight on.
Lockheart · 10/01/2022 20:25

It won't be an accident waiting to happen if people slow down, look properly, and leave enough of a gap between them and the driver in front.

Original poster
refraction · 10/01/2022 20:27

@Lockheart

It won't be an accident waiting to happen if people slow down, look properly, and leave enough of a gap between them and the driver in front.
I don't think that will happen. Too many crazy drivers and what about if a pedestrian just strolls out as they get complacent.
OP posts:
GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 10/01/2022 20:33

Sorry I realise every can only picture the traffic and areas around them.

This school has a lolly pop lady most will cross at but it's not the natural place where people want to cross (it's at a safer place but it's the 'wrong' side of the school for most). Instead I think they will head up to the junction and cross there, it's a busy high street so the lolly pop lady has been excellent for safety but people can get lazy.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 10/01/2022 20:35

@NuttyinNotts not that many cars turn in to the school road (dead end) so but when you do have a car that needs to it will block the busy high street it's turning off from.

MargaretThursday · 10/01/2022 20:38

I do have some reservations, but that's because the only time I've been hit was in that exact situation. I stopped to let a pedestrian across the road, and someone went into the back of me.
It was a bit of a different situation, I'd turned from a minor road into a major where traffic lights weren't working. Directly after the corner was a pedestrian crossing-with the traffic lights so they weren't working either, which was why I slowed to let the lady across the road.
The missing lights definitely added into it though.

Gtfcovid · 10/01/2022 20:45

Is it only if the car is turning left? What about if a car is turning right into the side street and someone wants to cross? This scenario doesn’t seem to be mentioned.
I’m not telling my teenagers that they have the right of way as I’ve taught them never to assume a car is going to stop.

SpikeDearheart · 10/01/2022 20:50

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat

Sorry I realise every can only picture the traffic and areas around them.

This school has a lolly pop lady most will cross at but it's not the natural place where people want to cross (it's at a safer place but it's the 'wrong' side of the school for most). Instead I think they will head up to the junction and cross there, it's a busy high street so the lolly pop lady has been excellent for safety but people can get lazy.

Sorry, you're saying it's the people on foot who are lazy, rather than, um, the people sitting in their cars?