To ask about the new Highway Code rules

[SparkleTwinkle101]

Just after some thoughts on this scenario as I can't tell who is supposed to do what. We live in an estate which begins with a massive secondary school. To enter and exit the estate onto the main road there are two mini roundabouts next to each other.

With the new rules regarding pedestrians does that mean that when turning off the roundabout into the estate we would need to give way to pedestrians. I can see that it will result in accidents as it is a very very busy road. Also I have no idea if that is the case how anyone will enter or exit the estate as there are constant students!

AIBU to be totally confused about what we are supposed to do

It's roundabouts that concern me mostly. People's attention isn't necessarily going to be on a pedestrian waiting to cross. There's a couple like this near me so watching with interest.

It's all well and good saying "well people should be paying more attention" but that isn't going to save a pedestrians life.

Pedestrians have always had right of way in that situation so can’t understand what the fuss is about.

Thing is they are very very busy mini roundabouts and chances to move always need to be done quickly so if you are concentrating on looking for a gap on the right your attention is that way not on your left turn I can see accidents by hesitating to look left and pulling out on a car to the right

@JayAlfredPrufrock

Pedestrians have always had right of way in that situation so can’t understand what the fuss is about.

I wasn't aware of this and certainly no one around us would be as no one has stopped before!

@JayAlfredPrufrock

Pedestrians have always had right of way in that situation so can’t understand what the fuss is about.

No, they haven't. Pedestrians already on the road did, pedestrians waiting to cross did not.

(Aside from on a crossing etc.)

AIBU to be totally confused about what we are supposed to do

Drive with due care and attention, as you would have done under the "previous" regime which is actually no different - all that's happened is clarification in the highway code.

If that's not an option then get rid of the car.

@SparkleTwinkle101

Thing is they are very very busy mini roundabouts and chances to move always need to be done quickly so if you are concentrating on looking for a gap on the right your attention is that way not on your left turn I can see accidents by hesitating to look left and pulling out on a car to the right

This is what concerns me. I'm guilty of stepping into the road at a zebra I'd cars aren't stopping. It's worrying to think people will step into the road, on a junction and a driver not see.

The reality of the situation is the driver will be physically fine. There's no guarantees for the pedestrian.

I wouldn't think it applies on roundabouts because it's pretty dangerous, but I live near a zebra crossing immediately off a roundabout so you never know.

The thing I think that's important to remember is that people have generally pretty good survival instinct

I don't see people suddenly assuming that because they have right of way that is going to improve their chances in a collision with a car

Most people approach pedestrian crossing, both drivers and pedestrians, with a degree of caution and make a judgement

Cyclists aren't going to suddenly start riding across you any more than they do now and pedestrians are not going to start throwing themselves in front of trucks

@JayAlfredPrufrock my understanding was that previously pedestrians had priority if they were already on the road. The new rules are that they have priority when still standing on the pavement so it is different.
I’m confused for roundabouts too and worry there will be more accidents.

Why not drop an email to your local councillor and ask for some advice/help? If the rules have changed then some crossing points need to be thought out differently.

I don’t think the new guidance refers to roundabouts? I cut and pasted a bit:

“ The updated code clarifies that:

when people are crossing or waiting to cross at a junction, other traffic should give way
if people have started crossing and traffic wants to turn into the road, the people crossing have priority and the traffic should give way “.

It mentions junctions.
Not roundabouts.

I don’t think it can apply there or it would have surely said so? Or are roundabouts classed as junctions…..

It’s a total nightmare. Designed to overcome problems with oblivious people on their phone or listening to their headphones and paying no attention to where the are going or the traffic around them so drivers have to take more care to make up for them not taking any care at all.

But if they walk out in front of me at a roundabout they will get squished as I won’t be expecting them to do that.

but I live near a zebra crossing immediately off a roundabout so you never know.

A very common road layout that doesn't make people die or crash all the time.

The new laws are a codification of existing good practice, that's it. Most people drive like this anyway because most people are good drivers and people

@Lockheart as people have pointed out above the previous rule was if they were already in the road not standing at the junction.

My worry isn't that if his a person it's that car accidents will happen because people suddenly stop on a mini roundabout

I'm puzzled on this, not necessarily the roundabouts bit, but the whole stopping to let pedestrians cross on a junction, what if a car coming the other way ploughs into them?

Obviously it's always been common sense to stop if a pedestrian strolls out in front of you, but this?

I think the new rules are unfortunately going to cause a lot of very accidents.

I always give way to a pedestrian waiting to cross a side road and believed that was the right thing to do.

If someone is already crossing of course they’ve got right of way otherwise you’d run them over 🤔

*very bad accidents.

@Elieza

I don’t think the new guidance refers to roundabouts? I cut and pasted a bit:

“ The updated code clarifies that:

when people are crossing or waiting to cross at a junction, other traffic should give way
if people have started crossing and traffic wants to turn into the road, the people crossing have priority and the traffic should give way “.

It mentions junctions.
Not roundabouts.

I don’t think it can apply there or it would have surely said so? Or are roundabouts classed as junctions…..

It’s a total nightmare. Designed to overcome problems with oblivious people on their phone or listening to their headphones and paying no attention to where the are going or the traffic around them so drivers have to take more care to make up for them not taking any care at all.

But if they walk out in front of me at a roundabout they will get squished as I won’t be expecting them to do that.

See I didn't think so either but DH raised the question earlier and stated that technically it classes as a junction

But if they walk out in front of me at a roundabout they will get squished as I won’t be expecting them to do that.

You should always expect that pedestrians may walk / fall into the road and pay attention accordingly. It was in the hazard perception half of your theory test.

You can't bimble along assuming your path will be clear because you're not expecting there to be hazards.

@JayAlfredPrufrock

I always give way to a pedestrian waiting to cross a side road and believed that was the right thing to do.

If someone is already crossing of course they’ve got right of way otherwise you’d run them over 🤔

I'm specifically talking about roundabouts

I don't drive so put no attention to high way code but curious so if am waiting to cross the road instead of waiting 10 mins to cross because no 1 ever stops to let me cross now they have to actually stop and let me cross is that correct?

@JayAlfredPrufrock

I always give way to a pedestrian waiting to cross a side road and believed that was the right thing to do.

If someone is already crossing of course they’ve got right of way otherwise you’d run them over 🤔

I generally do. Traffic dependent. I think the concern comes from the possibility of some pedestrians launching (slight hyperbole) themselves into the road because they are in the right.

If you run into the car in front because they did something so crazy as stop then you drive too close and don't pay enough attention

If we lose some of these people from driving it will be no bad thing

@Bakewelltart987

I don't drive so put no attention to high way code but curious so if am waiting to cross the road instead of waiting 10 mins to cross because no 1 ever stops to let me cross now they have to actually stop and let me cross is that correct?

ONLY if you are waiting to cross the end of a side road that someone is about to turn into, or out of. Not at any point on any road.

I think that the junction would be when you have stopped to go round the round about - not when coming off it - so only people IN the road would have right of way not those waiting - but if you approach the round about and they are waiting you do have to give way - it's clear as mud really but that would be my take!

@Bakewelltart987

I don't drive so put no attention to high way code but curious so if am waiting to cross the road instead of waiting 10 mins to cross because no 1 ever stops to let me cross now they have to actually stop and let me cross is that correct?

Only at junctions.