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

Yes I totally agree with you OP. As a driver, if I am turning into a side road, I would always stop for a pedestrian who is already crossing the road (as people have said this has always been the law anyway) and I am always very aware of pedestrians who aren't looking properly and may be about to step out.

However if there is a pedestrian waiting to cross who is clearly checking the oncoming traffic, it seems odd to stop for them, when they are clearly not about to step out otherwise. Yes I worry about being rear-ended by a car on the main road who isn't expecting me to stop, especially as they can probably see that the side road in front of me is clear. And if I do get rear-ended I'd also likely hit the pedestrian.

It also leads to a weird stalemate where the pedestrian wasn't expecting me to stop, and I don't want to wave them over or make eye contact as I can't be sure there's not a car somewhere else that would make it unsafe. So then we're all waiting for each other.

I think reinforcing the existing rules about pedestrians who are already crossing, as well as being more careful about pedestrians and cyclists in general, is a good idea. However I think the new rule of a pedestrian on the pavement having right of way is dangerous and confusing, for the driver and the pedestrian.

So we are traveling at 40 mph loads of people walking past the crossing, and the possibility of a clown just stepping on the crossing with a sharp turn onto the crossing just as I approach the cross, EG, 5 fee from the crossing - what speeds should drivers pass crossings when there are people walking past it and potneital for a clown to suddenly start crossing without looking just before the crossing as many do.

Thnak you for a great post - you remind me of myself/family driving - there should be more good drivers like us and more education for pedestrians to make our raods safer for all of us

The design standards for zebra crossings discourage the placement of zebra crossings where the 85th percentile speed approach is more than 30mph, so they shouldn't exist in 40mph zones, unless there is other street furniture that reduces speed before the crossing, so you could suggest to your council that the speed limit here is inappropriate.

It's not really difficult to slow down a bit in anticipation of a pedestrian crossing. It's troubling that you think it is.

Someone I know died recently in an accident fuelled by this rule change. In my view it's dangerous for all road users for pedestrians to become emboldened to step out into the road at junctions despite the traffic.

Yes me too, and on another occasion a white van sped up towards me as I started crossing at the junction he was heading towards.

If I hadn't leapt back I'd be dead or badly injured.

I did see one lady who got bipped at walk round to the driver door and start yelling at the driver about the new rules. I don't know if people don't know or don't care, but they seem to get ignored a lot

If you are approaching zebra crossings at 40mph when there are pedestrians near you are a dangerous driver.
I drive across zebra crossings in my local town on an almost daily basis - if there are pedestrians on the pavement adjacent I slow to 10mph or less, as I am anticipating the potential hazard.

This.

I walk far more than I drive and I very much welcome the pedestrian related changes because car drivers have for too long shown complete lack of consideration to pedestrians.

My walk into town includes three zebra crossings and it’s shocking the number of people who don’t stop but simply put there hand up thinking that’s acceptable…

I also have one junction to cross where I am on the main road and have right of way and I always make sure the cars stop to let me go.

Car driver attitudes need to change and I completely agree with your statement that cars have been “king” far too long.

DistingusedSocialCommentator · Today 09:47

Define "anywhere near"??

Isn't it within the zigzag line area? I always slow down if people are near, if it takes a few seconds to realise that they aren't going to cross, it's no big deal. Us drivers need to drive to the conditions and if that means at least than the speed limit, so be it.

I don't care if White Van Man is blaring the horn behind me, I'm not going to run someone over.

Oh, I can see we have got some cases of car brain, it is such an awful disease.

Pedestrians did not passed the test to gain a privilege, they do not have to prove they are sane. Is killing a child, a drunk, a person having psychotic episode a just price for 'being right'?
With privilege comes responsibility. Driving a car is a privilege.

Half of Europe has laws that absolutely favour pedestrians. Even when it is a pedestrian that changes directions. And it is forbidden by law to park on pavements....och, how it is possible :O.

Seriously, some compassion for more vulnerable in the society won't kill you. We all should want live among caring people, with strong social cohesion instead of a darwinian jungle it is now

Easier according to who? Drivers?

It's very easy to stop a car. Open your eyes, see pedestrians crossing, apply break.

As a pedestrian I hated it when this new rule came in. Not knowing if the car driver would stop or not I paused to check, some would shoot by as they always had done, others would stop then look irritated at me because I wasn't moving quick enough for them. I found myself marooned in the middle of a side road squeezed between two moving vehicles on more than one occasion.
Thankfully most people seem to have reverted back to the original behaviour of pedestrians looking and waiting until the road is clear before stepping out. I think this is much safer, its the pedestrian who is the vulnerable one and I would rather be the one making the decision as to when its safe to cross than be reliant on a driver being observant or not. Knowing I was the one who was in the right is not going to be much comfort for my grieving loved ones when I've been knocked down.

I think as a pedestrian I would definitely still stop and wait or wait till car had gone

I deliberately step out on the minor road - cars do wait. The idiots are the ones who flash to let cars turning right across their lane into the minor road as they don’t look for pedestrians.

I cross cautiously, I try to make eye contact with the driver and will wait, if they aren't going to stop. Many do so now, perhaps because we don't live in a very overcrowded city.

I was out cycling yesterday and it was gridlocked with people going to the coast and I had couple of comments from evidently frustrated drivers and some who moved left, to stop me progressing on the inside.

That's pretty unusual.

@DistingusedSocialCommentator

So we are traveling at 40 mph loads of people walking past the crossing, and the possibility of a clown just stepping on the crossing with a sharp turn onto the crossing just as I approach the cross, EG, 5 fee from the crossing - what speeds should drivers pass crossings when there are people walking past it and potneital for a clown to suddenly start crossing without looking just before the crossing as many do.

Well duh. Yeah. Of course you are on constant vigilance at crossings. Whatever the law was and is say you aren't telling us you just plough through them with no care or awareness of potential pedestrians crossing

@DistingusedSocialCommentator

Thnak you for a great post - you remind me of myself/family driving - there should be more good drivers like us and more education for pedestrians to make our raods safer for all of us

I'm not sure you should be self labelling yourself as a good driver when you have already admitted to struggling with the concept of

"If a pedestrian is anywhere near a zebra crossing, as a driver you should be prepared to stop. It is your responsibility to drive according to your surroundings"

And you have stated you only stop when someone is already walking on the road when it has been the case for as long as I can remember that drivers should stop when they see someone waiting at a zebra crossing and now at any road crossing.

It's not really difficult for a pedestrian to approach a crossing and only cross at the crossing (where there is a crossing) and take responsibility as well by looking - it is really as easy as that. It's also in the rules for people not to loiter at crossing like the ones I mentioned and they have a responsibility as well and that is not just my judgement but the rules as well - look them up.

No one is entitled and drivers working together following the rules makes the roads safer.

Many thanks

Hello

I dod label myself as a good driver and many have said that as well as to my OH. They often comment if sat in the car. Any good driver can find it challenging just like I have posted and I drive defensively, IE considers all other drivers and pedestrians as ill-informed and unaware of the rules and so far, that has helped us.

Many years ago I took an advanced driver course and passed it with flying colours - I did this to be even safer on the roads for all that use them and potentially lower our car insurance premiums

Your attitude is terrible. At the end of the day, whether driver or pedestrian, we can only control our own actions. You are responsible for how you drive, if a pedestrian does something you consider stupid, like cross at a pedestrian crossing, it is your responsibility to ensure you don't run them over. It's really that simple.

We do that bue even when a driver gives way, we continue to look and listen as far as possible for those that overtake, undertake or those on push bikes and illegal e-scooters etc.

I think the new rules can be a little risky for pedestrians. But I notice a lot of pedestrians just step out without looking anyway, so regardless of the rules it's safest always to slow down and check for pedestrians that are about to cross.

Are you saying there are no rules for pedestrians and its ok for them to step into the road without looking and walk into the road before a crossing and not pay attention along with loitering at a crossing - these are my points and they are written in law that a pedestrian also have a responsibility.

I've responded many times to your posts but your "attitude" knowledge is severely lacking about pedestrians and the responsibility they need to take when crossing the road.

I'll let you have the last word as I've more than covered the good aspects of driving and the responsibilities of both the drivers and pedestrians but it seems to shoot past over your head.

from Gov site - yes, really there are rules for pedestrians

Rule 18At all crossings. When using any type of crossing you should

• always check that the traffic has stopped before you start to cross or push a pram onto a crossing
• always cross between the studs or over the zebra markings. Do not cross at the side of the crossing or on the zig-zag lines, as it can be dangerous.

You MUST NOT loiter on any type of crossing.

Rule 19Zebra crossings. Give traffic plenty of time to see you and to stop before you start to cross. Vehicles will need more time when the road is slippery. Wait until traffic has stopped from both directions or the road is clear before crossing. Remember that traffic does not have to stop until someone has moved onto the crossing. Drivers and riders should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross and MUST give way to pedestrians on a zebra crossing (see Rule H2). Keep looking both ways, and listening, in case a driver or rider has not seen you and attempts to overtake a vehicle that has stopped.

I'm not saying that at all. Your responsibility to drive safely is not dependent upon other people following the law. A pedestrian should not step into the road without looking, but you should be driving in such a way that you would not hit them if they did.