Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask about the new Highway Code rules

119 replies

SparkleTwinkle101 · 30/01/2022 19:30

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

OP posts:
SparkleSpangle · 30/01/2022 19:48

I dont think anything will change really. (most) pedestrians aren't stupid enough to step out in front of a moving car and (most) cars won't wait for pedestrians to cross the road.

Original poster
SparkleTwinkle101 · 30/01/2022 19:49

@OneTC

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

I think you are deliberately having a go here. It's a very very busy double mini roundabout. When cars go round and your path is clear to the right you pull out if a car that has just gone past suddenly stops of course it may cause and accident because you don't expect it to happen. There isn't room like a normal roundabout to have a bit of space to play with
OP posts:
Doveyouknow · 30/01/2022 19:49

Surely drivers should be looking left before coming off a roundabout regardless of the highway code. It basic good practice. Also checking in their wing mirror for cyclists...

Original poster
SparkleTwinkle101 · 30/01/2022 19:50

@SparkleSpangle

I dont think anything will change really. (most) pedestrians aren't stupid enough to step out in front of a moving car and (most) cars won't wait for pedestrians to cross the road.
Debatable. Some of the students seem to have a death wish Grin
OP posts:
HunterHearstHelmsley · 30/01/2022 19:50

I've just read this is in one of the newspapers

^Give way to pedestrians at junctions
When people are crossing or waiting to cross at a junction, traffic should give way. If someone has begun crossing and a driver wants to turn into the road, they must wait for the pedestrian.^

To me, that reads that only cars turning out of the junction have to give way to those waiting to cross and those turning in only have to give way to those already crossing.

That makes more sense but not sure if that's correct..

Original poster
SparkleTwinkle101 · 30/01/2022 19:51

Just to clarify I'm not worried I'll hit a person but rather that car accidents will increase.

Also, selfishly, how impossible it will be to enter or exit with the hordes of students!

OP posts:
HunterHearstHelmsley · 30/01/2022 19:53

@HunterHearstHelmsley

I've just read this is in one of the newspapers

^Give way to pedestrians at junctions
When people are crossing or waiting to cross at a junction, traffic should give way. If someone has begun crossing and a driver wants to turn into the road, they must wait for the pedestrian.^

To me, that reads that only cars turning out of the junction have to give way to those waiting to cross and those turning in only have to give way to those already crossing.

That makes more sense but not sure if that's correct..

Just double checked and the highway code says

if people have started crossing and traffic wants to turn into the road, the people crossing have priority and the traffic should give way

FreedomFaith · 30/01/2022 19:54

Basically, pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders all have priority over you now. If they are turning or crossing, you as a driver must wait.

Tough luck if you don't like it or think it will cause accidents. It's now law.

Babdoc · 30/01/2022 19:54

This will be hilarious in Edinburgh at festival time. Traffic will be gridlocked at every junction for hours at a time, as the ceaseless streams of tourists flow across every junction …Grin

HunterHearstHelmsley · 30/01/2022 19:55

The important thing here..... We never have to let a bus out GrinWink

Original poster
SparkleTwinkle101 · 30/01/2022 19:55

@Babdoc

This will be hilarious in Edinburgh at festival time. Traffic will be gridlocked at every junction for hours at a time, as the ceaseless streams of tourists flow across every junction …Grin
Good reason to be late to work. I'm so sorry I'm late the tourists were everywhere!
OP posts:
LizzieSiddal · 30/01/2022 19:56

It doesn’t apply to roundabouts, only junctions.

Original poster
SparkleTwinkle101 · 30/01/2022 20:03

@HunterHearstHelmsley

The important thing here..... We never have to let a bus out GrinWink
GrinGrin
OP posts:
Lolalime · 30/01/2022 20:03

This very thing happened to me today, I took the 3rd exit off a roundabout and as I was about to join the road, a pedestrian started to cross looking in the opposite direction! I beeped to alert him of my presence and slowed to a stop. He looked at me incredulous, held his arms up and shouted something about the “rules” .
So it’s started…

Lolalime · 30/01/2022 20:04

Just to be clear I had to stop in a roundabout because of this pedestrians interpretation

OneTC · 30/01/2022 20:05

Honestly not having a go it's just kinda worrying how often you see the "but if someone stops I'll hit them" logic

Imagine this scenario, you're driving along when it becomes clear there's an unexpected obstacle, maybe someone fell into the road or maybe there's an obstruction of some sort. You, being an alert and rule following driver stop safely... Then someone runs into the back of you. It's clearly their fault right?,

The highway code even before being updated was fairly clear that any accident from behind is the fault of the following driver, it's always down to buy owning enough space or not paying enough attention

Lockheart · 30/01/2022 20:06

@Lolalime

This very thing happened to me today, I took the 3rd exit off a roundabout and as I was about to join the road, a pedestrian started to cross looking in the opposite direction! I beeped to alert him of my presence and slowed to a stop. He looked at me incredulous, held his arms up and shouted something about the “rules” . So it’s started…
As he was on the road already, he had priority. This would have been true even before the clarification in the highway code.
Original poster
SparkleTwinkle101 · 30/01/2022 20:08

@OneTC

Honestly not having a go it's just kinda worrying how often you see the "but if someone stops I'll hit them" logic

Imagine this scenario, you're driving along when it becomes clear there's an unexpected obstacle, maybe someone fell into the road or maybe there's an obstruction of some sort. You, being an alert and rule following driver stop safely... Then someone runs into the back of you. It's clearly their fault right?,

The highway code even before being updated was fairly clear that any accident from behind is the fault of the following driver, it's always down to buy owning enough space or not paying enough attention

Yep and normally I'd agree but that is not the case with all hazards. The way the road and public footpath to that road is laid out you wouldn't see a pedestrian till the last min therefore would have to stop quickly. If you are looking right (as you do at a roundabout) to pull out and the car to your left has slammed it's breaks on then you have no chance. Accidents are not uncommon on this roundabout so maybe that is why I'm so concerned. The bigger roundabout at the very end of the main road no problems at all
OP posts:
Lockheart · 30/01/2022 20:09

@OneTC

Honestly not having a go it's just kinda worrying how often you see the "but if someone stops I'll hit them" logic

Imagine this scenario, you're driving along when it becomes clear there's an unexpected obstacle, maybe someone fell into the road or maybe there's an obstruction of some sort. You, being an alert and rule following driver stop safely... Then someone runs into the back of you. It's clearly their fault right?,

The highway code even before being updated was fairly clear that any accident from behind is the fault of the following driver, it's always down to buy owning enough space or not paying enough attention

It's because people believe their wish to drive unsafely and to not have to make the effort to uphold decent standards of care is a higher priority than others safety.

As a driver, albeit one who doesn't own a car at the moment, I'd be so so in favour of mandatory re-testing every few years. Driving standards in this country are appalling, as a rule.

RedWingBoots · 30/01/2022 20:11

@SparkleTwinkle101

Just to clarify I'm not worried I'll hit a person but rather that car accidents will increase.

Also, selfishly, how impossible it will be to enter or exit with the hordes of students!

This happens at every school where I live.

It has resulted in the council putting in crosses in seemingly weird places unless you know that school children of any age cross.

Some of the crossings were initially painted in due to guerilla action by concerned locals.

You either just end up waiting for 5-15 minutes each morning a crossing or leave home earlier/later to avoid the peak time.

OneTC · 30/01/2022 20:13

Yep and normally I'd agree but that is not the case with all hazards

See how that goes in court

Original poster
SparkleTwinkle101 · 30/01/2022 20:13

@RedWingBoots note to self next time don't get a house near a school!

OP posts:
OneTC · 30/01/2022 20:15

You drive onto a roundabout looking where you're going btw

You look right until you need to move, you look ahead before you do move to check that nothing has changed while you're looking away

I am having a go now Grin

Original poster
SparkleTwinkle101 · 30/01/2022 20:16

@OneTC

Yep and normally I'd agree but that is not the case with all hazards

See how that goes in court

Same way as the dash cam footage shown in courts where people have slammed their breaks on goes I suspect. The party slamming their breaks on has to pay in lots of the situations
OP posts:
RedWingBoots · 30/01/2022 20:18

[quote SparkleTwinkle101]@RedWingBoots note to self next time don't get a house near a school! [/quote]
Only if you don't have DC who you would want to go to the school.