Tell school? New Highway Code rule problem

[Dottychickens]

So I’m completely prepared to be told AIBU.

I live near a primary school and the last 3 days I’ve seen a couple of families crossing the road, in front of cars with their pushchairs/young children and the cars having to slam brakes on (as the family have stepped on the road last minute as the car was heading towards them).

Today I saw it again and the dad told the children ‘They have to stop for you now so just cross the road.’ He’s clearly referring to the Highway Code rule about cars letting pedestrians cross at junctions, but he’s just stepping out in front of cars on normal straight roads!

So, my AIBU, I’m thinking of nipping into the school and letting them know, so maybe the teachers could do a lesson on road safety? Just remind children that even at crossings you still wait and check the cars are stopping before crossing, Or should I just leave it and mind my own business.

I’m worried because these children are so young so will just believe that now people can step in the road without checking for cars.

@helpfulperson

I always live by what my motorbike instructor taught which was 'there is no point being right if you are also dead' just because you have right of way doesn't mean its always a good idea to claim it.

That’s definitely a good rule!

I live near a primary school and the last 3 days I’ve seen a couple of families crossing the road, in front of cars with their pushchairs/young children and the cars having to slam brakes on (as the family have stepped on the road last minute as the car was heading towards them).

Nothing has changed here. Drivers have always been required to stop if pedestrians step into the road in front of them at the last minute.

@Santahasjoinedww

More entitled fuckers on the pavements now. Oh great. Has to be the most bizarre new rule. Cars piled up at junctions but the pedestrians get across whenever they like. What the hell are traffic lights with green men for then??

Like cars pile up giving way to other cars before making turns? You're not up in arms about that. You're angry because you think being in cars makes people special and superior to pedestrians. It doesn't. Hope that helps.

@Santahasjoinedww

More entitled fuckers on the pavements now. Oh great. Has to be the most bizarre new rule. Cars piled up at junctions but the pedestrians get across whenever they like. What the hell are traffic lights with green men for then??

The new rules don’t apply when there are traffic lights for pedestrians. The idea is to avoid pedestrians having to wait for ages when there is no traffic light and no gaps in traffic. Basically make up for the fact that before cars weren’t stopping for 2secs to let them cross.

@CloudPop

Is it me or has this new rule been incredibly badly communicated?

It has been wilfully misconstrued by drivers

Its all well and good being in the right but when you are spread across the road like a smashed jar of strawberry jam it doesn't really do you much good does it.

@CloudPop

Is it me or has this new rule been incredibly badly communicated?

Wilfully misinterpreted by many! My friend watched a young lad stand at a pedestrian crossing with a green man and when it went red and the traffic light went green he stepped out to cross the road holding his hand up to the car at the front of the queue...

@Santahasjoinedww

More entitled fuckers on the pavements now. Oh great. Has to be the most bizarre new rule. Cars piled up at junctions but the pedestrians get across whenever they like. What the hell are traffic lights with green men for then??

I agree.

But round here we've got a lot of junctions with traffic lights but no pedestrian crossings, a lot of industrial buildings and lots of HGV drivers.

The roads are quiet sometimes and crossing is not an issue but it once took me half an hour to cross at a junction because nobody would stop for me, in the pouring rain, just to get to the shop at the other side for some essentials.

To me. The solution is more pedestrian crossings. But I imagine that'll cost more than it's worth and failures to meet the new highway code rules could end in fines and sanctions which, if you look at it from a business perspective rather than safety perspective, makes more sense.

I navigate 3 schools twice a day where dc apply their entitlement as it is to cross. I have been driving incident free for nearly 20 years. Wonder how many pedestrians will be clipped in the making of the rule?