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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:
RedWingBoots · 31/01/2022 09:20

@riotlady

Does this apply only if you’re turning into a road at a junction or do you still stop if someone wants to cross the main road and you’re carrying on straight ahead?
If the person looks vulnerable e.g. someone with a small child, OAP and you don't have another vehicle right up your bum, why wouldn't you stop?

The reason these changes were brought in is because a lot of drivers in some areas have no consideration for other more vulnerable road users.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 31/01/2022 09:28

A pedestrian stepped out in front of me yesterday on the A308 (Runnymede, 40mph speed limit) and held his hand up to allow his family to cross. I hooted him while being forced to stop and he shouted that I should
'read the fucking highway code, the rules have changed..."
The lack of understanding about this change is dire both in drivers and pedestrians.

3scape · 31/01/2022 09:38

We have a main road with a secondary school at one end, a crossroads there. At the far end a double mini roundabout near a secondary school. The change to giving way to pedestrians isn't going to add a great deal?

You say it's continuous but they do cluster in groups, it's also for short windows of time. Easy enough to plan around.

Recognising pedestrians as part of the rush hour will hopefully improve road safety. Unfortunately so many drivers think these entirely predictable delays are everyone else's fault and get angry at being "delayed". It's a busy time of day. Slowing down traffic in residential areas at school times will reduce significant accidents hopefully. Maybe more shunts from inattentive drivers. But they won't result in serious injury as often as drivers taking turns and roundabouts too fast to stop.

megletthesecond · 31/01/2022 09:39

I don't want cars stopping for me.

I've drummed it into my children to never cross when a driver stops and "helpfully" waves them across. That's how accidents happen.

StormzyinaTCup · 31/01/2022 09:47

Had an experience of this end of last week. Turning into a side road off a busy A road (no viewing obstructions for driver or pedestrian) and about a half a car’s length from the junction a postman, who I had seen walking along the pavement, decided to just cross, obviously I stopped but the back end of my car was still on the A road, cue hooting from behind as I was nearly rear ended.

The postman could clearly see that I was in the process of turning in and should of either not crossed or crossed further up to a least give me the chance to fully turn in before I needed to stop.

I can see car insurance hikes next year with all the rear end claims.

StarsAreWishes · 31/01/2022 19:23

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats

A pedestrian stepped out in front of me yesterday on the A308 (Runnymede, 40mph speed limit) and held his hand up to allow his family to cross. I hooted him while being forced to stop and he shouted that I should 'read the fucking highway code, the rules have changed..." The lack of understanding about this change is dire both in drivers and pedestrians.
That’s bloody awful. There’s nothing at all in the changes to indicate that.
StarsAreWishes · 31/01/2022 19:27

@StormzyinaTCup

Had an experience of this end of last week. Turning into a side road off a busy A road (no viewing obstructions for driver or pedestrian) and about a half a car’s length from the junction a postman, who I had seen walking along the pavement, decided to just cross, obviously I stopped but the back end of my car was still on the A road, cue hooting from behind as I was nearly rear ended.

The postman could clearly see that I was in the process of turning in and should of either not crossed or crossed further up to a least give me the chance to fully turn in before I needed to stop.

I can see car insurance hikes next year with all the rear end claims.

You were fully in the wrong by the new rules (and on shaky ground even with the old ones). You should have been going slowly enough to stop, particularly having already seen the pedestrian. If you were nearly rear-ended then you either hadn’t slowed enough, or had left it too late and slowed too suddenly.
HunterHearstHelmsley · 31/01/2022 20:00

@StarsAreWishes

I don't agree she was fully in the wrong with the new rules. They say that cars turning in have to give way to pedestrians already crossing, not those waiting to cross.

Perhaps not paying enough attention, but not fully in the wrong.

StormzyinaTCup · 31/01/2022 21:54

You were fully in the wrong by the new rules (and on shaky ground even with the old ones). You should have been going slowly enough to stop, particularly having already seen the pedestrian. If you were nearly rear-ended then you either hadn’t slowed enough, or had left it too late and slowed too suddenly.

I was expecting, obviously incorrectly, for the adult pedestrian to have a bit of awareness of his surroundings (and having showed no indication he was going to cross) to not just step out in front of an oncoming car just because the rules say he can, it’s what I would expect from a small child. I stopped because I wasn’t going fast and was paying attention, not sure I can say the same for the driver behind me who can’t see what I can and had no idea I wasn’t going to be able to complete the manoeuvre in one go.

JudgeJ · 01/02/2022 22:04

@Lockheart

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.

Not at all the same as under the previous regime, if you don't know the changes maybe you're the one who should get rid of their car!
Momicrone · 01/02/2022 22:06

How do you know they have a car? Plenty of people don't

Goitalone2022 · 01/02/2022 22:20

@megletthesecond

I don't want cars stopping for me.

I've drummed it into my children to never cross when a driver stops and "helpfully" waves them across. That's how accidents happen.

I hate it when cars stop for me and I feel like I have to hurry across because they are waiting 😬
PoshPyjamas · 01/02/2022 22:28

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

Umm... can you see how silly this sounds?

cakeorwine · 01/02/2022 22:30

I can see an issue when a car stops to let someone across and a car behind doesn't realise the car is going to stop, hits the back of the stopped car and potentially the stopped car goes forward into the people crossing the road.

Namelessnancy · 01/02/2022 22:45

I'm another one who hates it when a driver waves me across. In the new setup if I'm ready to cross a side street and the driver turning in stops for me I'll feel under pressure to cross. At this point my safety is dependent on drivers in the other lanes I need to cross also stopping. Scary!

HunterHearstHelmsley · 01/02/2022 22:55

@PoshPyjamas

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

Umm... can you see how silly this sounds?

Umm... The point is over there! 🤣🤣🤣
cakeorwine · 01/02/2022 23:00

@Namelessnancy

I'm another one who hates it when a driver waves me across. In the new setup if I'm ready to cross a side street and the driver turning in stops for me I'll feel under pressure to cross. At this point my safety is dependent on drivers in the other lanes I need to cross also stopping. Scary!
This.

You still need to look for other cars who may be approaching from any direction and that could take a while. So how long does the waiting driver wait?

HunterHearstHelmsley · 01/02/2022 23:01

@Namelessnancy

I'm another one who hates it when a driver waves me across. In the new setup if I'm ready to cross a side street and the driver turning in stops for me I'll feel under pressure to cross. At this point my safety is dependent on drivers in the other lanes I need to cross also stopping. Scary!
Under the new rules, a driver turning in doesn't have to stop unless you're already crossing. Same as before.

Obviously they're gonna stop if there is a pedestrian in the road! I'm worried if someone isn't paying attention to their surroundings and just crosses.

I'll continue crossing away from junctions. It seems pretty foolhardy to cross where someone may not be able to see me.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 01/02/2022 23:03

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

Cars turning out must give way to those waiting. Cars turning in must give way to those crossing.

cakeorwine · 01/02/2022 23:04

Under the new rules, a driver turning in doesn't have to stop unless you're already crossing. Same as before

They SHOULD stop if someone is waiting to cross.

Rule H2: Rule for drivers, motorcyclists, horse riders and cyclists

At a junction you should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which you are turning.

You MUST give way to pedestrians on a zebra crossing, and pedestrians and cyclists on a parallel crossing.

You should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross a zebra crossing, and pedestrians and cyclists waiting to cross a parallel crossing.

cakeorwine · 01/02/2022 23:08

I'll continue crossing away from junctions. It seems pretty foolhardy to cross where someone may not be able to see me

True - a pedestrian who crosses when someone can't see them - or if they can't see what's coming is risking life and limb.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 01/02/2022 23:14

@cakeorwine

Under the new rules, a driver turning in doesn't have to stop unless you're already crossing. Same as before

They SHOULD stop if someone is waiting to cross.

Rule H2: Rule for drivers, motorcyclists, horse riders and cyclists

At a junction you should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which you are turning.

You MUST give way to pedestrians on a zebra crossing, and pedestrians and cyclists on a parallel crossing.

You should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross a zebra crossing, and pedestrians and cyclists waiting to cross a parallel crossing.

If someone has begun crossing and a driver wants to turn into the road, they must wait for the pedestrian.

They would obviously stop so they don't run someone over.

The updated 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

www.gov.uk/government/news/the-highway-code-8-changes-you-need-to-know-from-29-january-2022

HunterHearstHelmsley · 01/02/2022 23:21

@cakeorwine

I'll continue crossing away from junctions. It seems pretty foolhardy to cross where someone may not be able to see me

True - a pedestrian who crosses when someone can't see them - or if they can't see what's coming is risking life and limb.

I don't wanna get hit by a car. I'm crossing somewhere I can clearly see no one is going to suddenly appear and mow me down.

I'm a touch concerned different government sites are showing different information and by the must not/should not nature of it all.

I know the highway code has always had musts and shoulds but the consequences here could be dire.

MafaldaHopkirk · 01/02/2022 23:59
  • If someone has begun crossing and a driver wants to turn into the road, they must wait for the pedestrian.

They would obviously stop so they don't run someone over.

The updated 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

www.gov.uk/government/news/the-highway-code-8-changes-you-need-to-know-from-29-january-2022*

Oh dear, it looks like the news article and actual rule don't agree.

Anystarinthesky · 02/02/2022 02:21

This video shows a driving instructor implementing the new rules. He is just turning left in the video. Says in the comments the rules apply to turning right too.