Recent-ish new highway rules that favour the pedestrian - I fear accidents

[DistingusedSocialCommentator]

The stop and give way to a pedestrian crossing a road at a junction. That is what the majority of sensible road users have done anyway

Along with the above comes a new bit "Give way to pedestrians waiting to cross the road at a junction." This IMO will result in more accidents, EG, those that drive to close to the driver in front. The driver in front indicates to turn left like a good driver but at the junction off a main road is a pedestrian waiting to cross. The good driver stops to let the pedestrian cross and bang into the rear of the car goes the driver that was driving up their arse.

We often turn left into our close of a busy, main road and I always fear some seriously ignorant driver going into the rear of one of our cars if we had to suddenly pull up as there was another car shooting towards the main road as turning often has cars parked on one side.

If you are a good driver you should know this but here it goes: You are coming off a main, or road for that matter and hoping to turn left into another road. A pedestrian waiting to cross. You stop and there is a chance on the main/bigger roads the driver behind you is a moron and driving to close to you as you indicate and slow down before that. The rule applies to turning right as well but that is not as risky

AIBU to believe this new law will result in more harm than good, EG more car-to-car accidents when a car driver gives way to a waiting pedestrain/s to cross?
(I always slow down in advance to turn but have noted many times idiots right up th backside of our car and I think, what if I had to stop to allow someone across the road or there is something in the road and this new rule will just cause more accidents as many that have a licence have no idea how to drive safely and within the law)

I always try to keep a good distance as people turn into another road or their drive for that matter etc but I feel this new rule has not been well thought out

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

I got bipped for trying to cross a road at a junction.

Isn't the point that the aim is to reduce the number of car into pedestrian accidents, which are far more dangerous than car into car accidents? Also, this was brought in two years ago - not particularly new. Has it caused loads of accidents so far? Maybe you've heard that it has?

We can't make laws and highway rules based around inadequate drivers. Drivers should be able to brake safely without hitting the car in front; otherwise they haven't left enough distance. We can't base other highway rules on drivers not following other highway rules.

Yanbu. I'm a pedestrian and I hate it. I won't move just because one car has stopped for me. I wait for all the cars to go. I've had drivers get arsey with me for not crossing because they think I should.

A minor rear end bump is pretty inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.

It has always been the case that the pedestrian trying to cross the minor road has priority over a driver that is turning from a major to that minor road. I learnt to drive in the 90s and it was the case then.

The rules you have referenced have not introduced this change, it states that it is clarifying it. Presumably because some people such as your good self, didn’t seem to be aware of it.

Have you heard of stopping distances? They were also a thing in the 90s when I learnt to drive, you have to always keep sufficient distance so that you can stop in time, even if the car ahead of you stops unexpectedly, because this can happen.

Before the new rules, turning left from a main road, I see person/s walking fast to the junction and fearing they may step onto the road not look as chatting on mobile etc, and the idiot behind me may crash into the back of my car, I often did a slight pap of the horn just to make them aware - this is before the new rules.

This has already been the law for nearly two years now. Have there been more accidents?

Read my post again
I never said it had not been the rules if someone was crossing the road

And yes, the new rules are in place, IE a pedestrian waiting to cross at a junction has priority over a vehicle, and that is a fact - read the Gov link I posted

I believe so as I've note more prangs but I am a lot less on the roads as I retired in my early 50's.

There won't be more accidents if people drive correctly.

And why on earth would you NOT give way to a pedestrian at a junction? You are driving across their path, not the other way round!

Even more so at a driveway or entry into a car park or similar.

True and I agree hence me quoting the drivers as ignorant of the rules/safety.
However, we managed and most of us good drivers always give way to people at junctions that have stepped into the road

It hasn't caused any extra accidents that I am aware of.

Are you aware that the new rules covers a hierarchy of risk? Cyclists and horse riders have priority over vans and lorries etc. The idea is that those who are more vulnerable are afforded consideration and a wide berth by those who are less vulnerable.

It's common sense really.

I saw a taxi driver bipping a pedestrian who was crossing the road well before the taxi tried to turn in. That's the first time in 2 years I've not seen drivers respect this rule. The taxi was in London BTW but I've also seen ultra courteous driving from taxis in London too.

What hasn't changed is that it is the responsibility of every driver to keep enough stopping distance between them and the vehicle in front.

You might stop suddenly for any reason.

I'd say 9/10 drivers still don't obay the law and so I won't cross until it's completely clear. I'd also add that a good 7/10 drivers don't indicate in good time either.

Many car drivers presume that indicators are only for the benefit of other drivers. They're not. As a pedestrian I watch for indicators. If it's not clear what the driver intends to do, I stay put.

And please don't get me started about those ultra bright headlights. You actually can't see whether someone is indicating as they blind pedestrians and make us hesitate more before crossing.

For every 'good' driver, and that sounds like you OP, there are a dozen selfish drivers, whether that's blue/white headlights, no indicators, SUVs or those bloody 'animated' indicators.

Bottom line is that car drivers need to understand that we pedestrians don't trust you. And it's car drivers that kill pedestrians, not the other way around.

At times we have considered dash cams front and rear to report these idiots that drive to close to you

I've seen many YouTube vids of car drivers driving up the car in front bum reported to cops and the video owner states cops took action

Those changes are 2 years old, I’m pretty appalled if you only just realised? Priority is given to move vulnerable road users, including cyclists and horse riders. Drivers are on the road with a revocable licence, they don’t have any right to be there.

Which part of the title "New-ish" and the link that clearly shows the rules came into play Jan 2022 did you not comprehend?

Up until 2022 the Highways code had harldy been touched years before so they are NEW-ISH riules

On radios and certain media these rules are still advertised as many are not aware and many could not care less.

I agree OP the pedestrian should wait and ideally walk 10m or so down the minor road to a safe crossing point, not cross at the mouth of a junction. We've recently stated letting DS out on his own and have taught him this skill, to always walk to a crossing or if none is available within a couple of minutes walk to always cross away from junctions. It might make the walk slightly longer but it all counts to your steps.

I turn into our estate off a main road and I'm constantly checking my rear view, incase I have to floor of away from the junction if someone doesn't stop behind me. Rear end collisions are asking for life changing neck injuries vs the inconvenience of walking down the road to cross.

Thank you. The danger I speak about is the newish law where you have to stop even if the perdestrin not entered the road

Thr other point and one of our close turning left into it, cars parked on the left a few few from the corner as on the other side houses with drives, so strangers or those that live there park on one side as that bit of road is narrow - therefore, as we turn in left, at times a car comes speeding down from the close and you have to stop with some of the rear of the big/lond car sticking out into the main road. A few stupid bastards that have nearly went into the back of our cars are thick enough to genuinley feel we are in the wrong and pap their horn. We could not contie to drive towards the close and there about 20 parked cars and the othere car is halfway or more down the road - the road is narow there

Thank you

I live in London by a fairly busy junction, major road into a minor one, which I have to cross on a regular basis. It’s more common for drivers not to stop than to do so. I do step into the road and force some to stop for me but one of these days I reckon I’ll get hit. We’ve asked the council umpteen times for a crossing there but they won’t put one in. I’ve also seen numerous accidents, not with pedestrians but between vans, cars and motorbikes. There is some seriously bad driving out there.

Since the law was clarified only one driver has given way to me as they turn into a side road. I walk the school run every day to give some perspective. Just today I saw a pedestrian being beeped at for not giving way to a car that he had priority over.

These rules have changed nothing.

The changes have achieved nothing, you could even say that they have made the roads more dangerous for pedestrians given the rise in fatalities in 2022.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-13018105/amp/Highway-Code-changes-fail-improve-pedestrian-safety.html

The onus is on pooer drivers, not pedestrians. Bumping another car won't kill, but knocking a pedestrian down might. The car has been king for far too long. More rights for pedestrians can only be a good thing.