thoughts on road user priority

[silver fox]

Yesterday out in the car for the first time in a good few weeks, approaching a turning where I was going to make a left turn, ahead a couple marching resolutely along the pavement, obvious that we would arrive at the junction at the same time, I slowed and actually stopped, BUT this couple had not looked to rear or side before continuing their march across the junction.

Before the PNP and his ilk start babbling on about the new priorities, I know what they are, but the thought crossed my mind, at what point do "rights" and stupidity take precedence over self preservation, in this instance there was no drama or near miss because I was aware of the pedestrians and correctly assessed how they were going to act, but were they aware of my presence? judging by the reaction of the lady when she turned her head and realised she was looking at the bonnet of a car, I would say not.

They clearly had no idea who or how my car was being driven, could have been some numpty on a phone, someone momentarily distracted, or simply not aware, it's all very well saying they had priority, won't sound quite as good from a hospital bed or worse.

[local]

Yesterday out in the car for the first time in a good few weeks, approaching a turning where I was going to make a left turn, ahead a couple marching resolutely along the pavement, obvious that we would arrive at the junction at the same time, I slowed and actually stopped, BUT this couple had not looked to rear or side before continuing their march across the junction.

Before the PNP and his ilk start babbling on about the new priorities, I know what they are, but the thought crossed my mind, at what point do "rights" and stupidity take precedence over self preservation, in this instance there was no drama or near miss because I was aware of the pedestrians and correctly assessed how they were going to act, but were they aware of my presence? judging by the reaction of the lady when she turned her head and realised she was looking at the bonnet of a car, I would say not.

They clearly had no idea who or how my car was being driven, could have been some numpty on a phone, someone momentarily distracted, or simply not aware, it's all very well saying they had priority, won't sound quite as good from a hospital bed or worse.

You at least saved yourself from having to remove the entrails of the stupid or smug from your car's bonnet.

It is one of the Governments spectacular failings that don't get mentioned.

For me, far better to make me the cyclist or pedestrian liable to you and for your car it would certainly act as a deterrent to people who think the world owes them just for being here.

[MICK/GILLY]

Yep laws and customs aside you just came across a couple of unaware unthinking probable victims of natural selection that you see all the time.
I remember when I was a child on holiday in Germany I was told to cross the roads on a crossing as if a car hit you and you were not on a crossing you would be liable to pay them for any damage, that was 40 yrs ago maybe it’s changed since I don’t know but it seemed fair enough to me .

[libraryguy]

Shhhhhhhhh you'll wake the PNP Monster!

[gsgsgs]

In the US they have the rule of jaywalking, great idea we should have it here.

As for priorities, I am a car driver also a keen walker so can see this from both sides. When out walking I follow what I was taught far too many years ago than I care to remember, the green cross code I was also a member of the Tufty Club

https://youtu.be/CRUBMBi_lp4

https://youtu.be/w_Ry9tiz9_c

When driving I don't need to follow the new rules as far as I can see what's changed, I was taught that if turning left and someone is crossing the road or are about to they have right of way, drive along Lord Street on any day of the week and see how many "darwin award contenders" run across the road usually with a crossing a few feet away, cross at crossings when it's green for traffic!

[Stuartli]

In the US they have the rule of jaywalking, great idea we should have it here.

We have it already.

[Stuartli]

Yesterday out in the car for the first time in a good few weeks, approaching a turning where I was going to make a left turn...

I had a similar incident at the junction of Hesketh Drive and Cambridge Road a year or so back when about to turn left into Hesketh Drive.

A young woman clearly listening to music on earphones looked neither left nor right as she marched on regardless towards Hesketh Park (the traffic bollards are only a very short distance away from Cambridge Road).

I let her reach the bollards and then gave a gentle toot of the horn to let her know the situation, only for her to go absolutely ballistic.

It was clear she'd had a very rude awakening and although she did, in fact, have right of way, should have been very much more aware of what was happening around her.

I'm sure she probably still looks at the photographs she took of me and my car and the fact that I was laughing so much, but has perhaps yet to realise her carelessness.

[salus.populi]

All these new rules are doing are causing confusion and making it more dangerous as people try and second guess if and when people are going to adhere to them.
I've slowed down whilst driving and turning only for pedestrians waiting to cross to wave me on because they quite rightly don't feel comfortable walking into oncoming traffic even when it's prepared to stop.
Was also riding along the Prom on my bike a few weeks ago, car overtook me to turn into Fairway, it had plenty of time and space to make the turn without inconveniencing me or putting me at risk. But midway through their turn they decided to stop and block my path leaving me with a choice of having to ride round the front or back of their vehicle to continue on my way.

[The PNP]

When driving I don't need to follow the new rules as far as I can see what's changed, I was taught that if turning left and someone is crossing the road or are about to they have right of way, drive along Lord Street on any day of the week and see how many "Darwin award contenders" run across the road usually with a crossing a few feet away, cross at crossings when it's green for traffic!

That has been my argument for many years, i.e. that Lord St has a lot of footfall, which inevitably results in more people (unfamiliar pensioners, visitors excitable young children, etc) being knocked down, than on a street with only a few peds about. For safety's sake, it should at the very least have a 20mph limit. Or more preferably be closed to general traffic, between the Monument and the 'Brick lights.

[millsey]

That has been my argument for many years, i.e. that Lord St has a lot of footfall, which inevitably results in more people (unfamiliar pensioners, visitors excitable young children, etc) being knocked down, than on a street with only a few peds about. For safety's sake, it should at the very least have a 20mph limit. Or more preferably be closed to general traffic, between the Monument and the 'Brick lights.

Do you have any facts regarding Lord Street accidents versus "a street with only a few peds about" ?

[said]

Yesterday out in the car for the first time in a good few weeks, approaching a turning where I was going to make a left turn, ahead a couple marching resolutely along the pavement, obvious that we would arrive at the junction at the same time, I slowed and actually stopped, BUT this couple had not looked to rear or side before continuing their march across the junction.

Before the PNP and his ilk start babbling on about the new priorities, I know what they are, but the thought crossed my mind, at what point do "rights" and stupidity take precedence over self preservation, in this instance there was no drama or near miss because I was aware of the pedestrians and correctly assessed how they were going to act, but were they aware of my presence? judging by the reaction of the lady when she turned her head and realised she was looking at the bonnet of a car, I would say not.

They clearly had no idea who or how my car was being driven, could have been some numpty on a phone, someone momentarily distracted, or simply not aware, it's all very well saying they had priority, won't sound quite as good from a hospital bed or worse.

The greatest problem with the new rules is that certain people in our society will take those rules to mean that they can walk into the road at will and drivers MUST stop for them. They will take it as a rule not an exception.

[The PNP]

Do you have any facts regarding Lord Street accidents versus "a street with only a few peds about" ?

Yeah, there's an online map showing where these accidents occur. No surprise that the town-centre has the most dense concentration of 'blobs'. I'll see if I can put a link to it up later.

[libraryguy]

You see... now you've woken the PNP monster!

We're gonna have to suffer him for days now.

Let him go back to his cave and sleep.

[Stuartli]

That has been my argument for many years, i.e. that Lord St has a lot of footfall, which inevitably results in more people (unfamiliar pensioners, visitors excitable young children, etc) being knocked down, than on a street with only a few peds about. For safety's sake, it should at the very least have a 20mph limit. Or more preferably be closed to general traffic, between the Monument and the 'Brick lights.

Your utter stupidity escalates ever more so on a daily basis.

Clearly you never, ever bother to think in any logical form before hitting the Enter key.

[The PNP]

Your utter stupidity escalates ever more so on a daily basis.

Clearly you never, ever bother to think in any logical form before hitting the Enter key.

^As expected, nothing more than a couple of stock one-line putdowns from Stu - duh!