Let’s be honest, there’s not a single person who thinks the recent change which gave us the first one is anything but fucking stupid.
We all understand the intent, but we also know others around us are shit drivers not paying attention or anticipating that cars may stop for pedestrians anywhere other than a zebra crossing.
It does not make anyone safer lol
As a pedestrian I would rather wait for cars, rather than step into the road assuming the car will wait for me.
I say this as a pedestrian – the top one is a terrible idea, and should never have been implemented. No way am I stepping in to the road at a junction and assuming the car will stop, or if they are stopped, that they’re not just waiting for another car
Zebra I always stop for people, the first is a risk to other road users if you follow that rule
Problem with the 1st one is that it often means cars are blocking a busy road while a pedestrian sits there confused about whether to risk crossing or not.
There are also likely cars approaching the junction on the side road preventing the pedestrian from crossing so the turning car is waiting for no reason.
It worked fine before so I don’t really understand what this change achieved beyond giving pedestrians the expectation that they can blindly cross roads without looking.
The amount of times I’ve been jogging and the car sees me, speeds up to beat me to turn into the side road at speed
Or worse, speeds up, goes around me to the other side of the road to turn it – all to save literally 5 seconds, if that.
This is a stupid rule that will get people killed.
Pedestrians should never assume that a vehicle will give way for them.
They never wait, I always wait for them to pass, or one in a 100 times, they may stop.
The first one is to make it clearer if things go to court, it gives pedestrians better protection , no one is suggesting that pedestrians should walk blindly onto the road
The first one I think is a new chance to the Highway Code and we do nothing as a country to educate drivers that the Highway Code _changes_ yes that is there responsibility – but reality is, people don’t re-read it.
The second one is obvious and I always do this.
Also so annoying when cars don’t indicate, you just wait, think they are going ahead, so go to cross, but then they turn, I mostly just wait till they’ve figured out what they are doing, because its easier and safer.
As someone currently learning to drive, I have been taught to slow down for pedestrians waiting and stop only for pedestrians who step on the crossing for theory (or at least that’s how I interpreted it?). In practice I usually stop and wait for people who clearly want to cross anyway. This seems to say that you should stop and wait for pedestrians even if they don’t step out when you slow down?
I am not from UK originally but when i was studying my driving in my home country some over 20 years ago, i still remember this rule.
Always annoyed me when drivers didn’t abide by it in UK.
Is this infographics from DVLA?
The recent change to implement the top one is stupid and unsafe.
The cars approaching behind the turning car can’t see the pedestrian if the pedestrianis on the far side. They see a clear road to turn in to and expect the turning car to be gone before they get there and so they don’t slow down.
If you actually stop and let the pedestrian go first you’ll likely get rear ended.
The irony of the zebra crossing is it’s been a rule much longer. It’s simply people being bellends and not following what they were even taught!
I did not know the zebra crossing on was “should” – I assumed it was a “must”.
You mean drivers aren’t supposed to put their foot down and speed up when they see me crossing the road 100 foot away?
For thw top one, I was crossing the road, and a car comes barrelling past out of my blindspot, nearly hits me, swerves, and rolls down the window to shout at me. Lady. I could not see you, you were going far to fast for that turn, and you should give way to me since I was already crossing the road. You were literally behind me as well. Ofc, according to her, as a stupid chink, it was all my fault and I should go back to where I came from (literally the hospital 2 miles away).
In the first image, this will only work if there are zebra crossings painted at every junction. They do this in Europe.
Nine out of ten times, drivers do not stop even though they have clearly seen you.
im 6 foot 5 theres no way they can say they didnt see me
Number of times I’ve nearly been run over on zebra crossings in car parks…
Lol so many motorists seem to operate on the assumption that you should have eyes in the back of your head, “how did the pedestrian not see me indicating for the turn behind them!”. There is a tun in to a car park near my flat and the amount of people who do a sharp break and then gesture at me like I am in the wrong is staggering.
It’s normally faster for everyone to let the car just turn then it is to wait and see if he’s going to stop and then wall across
When I moved to the UK I thought that those rules just didn’t apply here lol
The top one is a stupid rule, the car turning left into the junction has to stop but traffic coming from the left on the far lane has no obligation to. Indeed the car stopping to allow the pedestrian to cross invites the traffic coming from the left to keep moving by allowing it out of the t junction.
Maybe not as ignored, but the number of drivers who think that signalling to turn is optional amazes me.
The grave yard is full of people who had the right of way. Better to let cars go than cross and end up as a statistic.
Problem with this is that it causes more delays fo rteh pedestrian in many circumstances
Where I live I have to turn left (UK) off the busy main road into the area where I live
The main road is not taht wide – so no room to pass a car without going over to the other side – which is often not possible due to oncoming traffic
So if I slow down a lot more than usual to let someone walk across then I am blocking all the cars behind me while the pedestrain crosses
AND andy sensible pedestrian will not cross until they are CERTAIN that the car is stopping
by the time I have slowed down – and they have realised and made sure – I would have turned, passed them and they could cross anyway
and there is always the possibility that the car behind me might not be paying perfect attention and when I slow right down and almost stop he will drive into me
or have to do a very fast stop and the person behind him will hit him
so in some circumstances it make thing more dangerous and helps no-one
Wtf I never knew this was a thing, I always let the car go.
Lived in Canada for ten years and this rule is adhered to pretty unanimously. Took a long time for me to trust it though.
I assume every car is out to run me over, as the amount of times cars have gone through a red light and stopped short of hitting me and my son in a pram is ridiculous. I don’t trust any car unless I’ve made clear eye contact and they know I’m crossing.
I’ll wait until it’s clear thanks.
My body doesn’t far too well against 2 tons of steels.
Especially ignored at schools. 😃
I gotta disagree with the zebra crossing thing. People do stop when they see someone waiting at a zebra crossing.
But the other one. Its probably ignored because pedestrians and drivers all think its a stupid, unnecessary, dangerous rule. Its so much quicker and safer to let the car pass. Pedestrians are more agile and aware, have better viewpoints, better reactions than drivers. Driving inherently causes blind spots, cars are slower to stop. Why would you put faith in “but thats the rule”.
So do cars have priority on the road anymore or is it all for buses, bikes and pedestrians now?
The number of times I’ve been waiting to cross the road for over 10 minutes is insane
I didn’t realise they had to give way if I’m waiting to cross. I have had a few people try to keep going when I’m half way across the road though! Not sure I’d be brave enough to step out and trust they’d stop.
Honestly, these rules are pretty easy to follow if you actually drive with due and attention alongside with sensible control of your speed and distance. When approaching any junction you should always be looking at where you are about to put your car anyway, if there was an obstruction in the road (such as traffuc build up) you wouldn’t plow your car into it blindly and the cars behind would have to wait for you to complete the turn. Why some people think that’s unacceptable to do for pedestrian safety is beyond me.
The only times I have had a problem following the first rule is when approaching a roundabout with multiple lanes and I can’t guarantee the car in the other lane will also stop. But then again the wording for roundabouts is slightly different so it isn’t a must.
I always give way, much to the annoyance of drivers behind me.
How long until they start pointing cameras at crossings and snap people not pausing to allow pedestrians to cross so they can fine them.
We get hit with the 20mph fines, box junction fines. This can presumably be another revenue raiser?
I stopped following the junction rule as it was causing more dangerous situations with near misses for both me and pedestrians.
Scenario 1
I’m turning in to a side road on my left. I stop to let pedestrian cross. The car coming the other way thinks I’m letting them in and they whip over in front of me nearly hitting the pedestrian.
Scenario 2
Im exiting a side road and stop to let the pedestrian cross. A car turning in nearly hits them after the pedestrian feels pressurised to cross due to my stopping.
Scenario 3
I stop and the pedestrian refuses to move. Looking at me like I’m a fool and waving me on.
Scenario 4
Had a road rage incident where I stopped and the car behind nearly hit me. They exited the car and started threatening me through the window.
Now I turn with the expectation that the pedestrian may cross…if they do I can stop…if they don’t I carry on.
All the near miss issues went away after I made this change
As a pedestrian I wait until it’s clear and most people don’t stop. This is not a problem and is the safest way.
Don’t even get me started on the poor cyclist that have to also stop on a busy road. Increasing the risk to them.
The new rules are ill conceived and poorly executed. They increase confusion and risk of collisions.
Such major changes needed to be deployed with much more than a simple ad campaign for a few months. If they wanted to do this properly it should have included proper re-education. As they were not prepared to do that for reasons like money and effort then they should have left it alone.
I always give way, I would say the most ignored rule is use of indicators
The top one is a bullshit rule to be fair. As a pedestrian I would never trust it safe to walk across a road if I could see a car indicating to turn in.
There are far too many stupid or ignorant drivers for me to be stepping out into the road like the law wants.
Hell, I dont even cross the road on a red light until I’m sure everyone’s slowed down enough – too many close calls.
The problem with giving way to pedestrians crossing a road is YOU might be stopping to let them cross but who’s to say that every other driver on the road knows why you are just randomly stopping ?
A zebra crossing though yes, always stop for them and if you stop there it’s pretty obvious to other drivers why your stopping there
Because rule 1 is fucking dumb and without some national tv and social media campaign to ensure every single person knows about it, can only serve to put pedestrians in more danger.
Rule 2- I don’t see anyone ignoring zebra crossings personally
The top one is a great way to get rear-ended.
The bottom one is only ignored by twat drivers.
Never heard of the first one before and I don’t like it from both a driver and pedestrian perspective.
Good, the top rule is stupid and dangerous.
How anyone ever through the top one was a sensible idea is beyond me .
As a pedestrian I never assume the car is going to stop – they usually don’t anyway . But I wouldn’t expect them to because it’s bloody stupid . It’s quicker for everyone if the car completes its turn and carries on its way , rather than stopping on a main road , impeding the flow of traffic and risking someone running up their arse .
50 comments
Let’s be honest, there’s not a single person who thinks the recent change which gave us the first one is anything but fucking stupid.
We all understand the intent, but we also know others around us are shit drivers not paying attention or anticipating that cars may stop for pedestrians anywhere other than a zebra crossing.
It does not make anyone safer lol
As a pedestrian I would rather wait for cars, rather than step into the road assuming the car will wait for me.
I say this as a pedestrian – the top one is a terrible idea, and should never have been implemented. No way am I stepping in to the road at a junction and assuming the car will stop, or if they are stopped, that they’re not just waiting for another car
Zebra I always stop for people, the first is a risk to other road users if you follow that rule
Problem with the 1st one is that it often means cars are blocking a busy road while a pedestrian sits there confused about whether to risk crossing or not.
There are also likely cars approaching the junction on the side road preventing the pedestrian from crossing so the turning car is waiting for no reason.
It worked fine before so I don’t really understand what this change achieved beyond giving pedestrians the expectation that they can blindly cross roads without looking.
The amount of times I’ve been jogging and the car sees me, speeds up to beat me to turn into the side road at speed
Or worse, speeds up, goes around me to the other side of the road to turn it – all to save literally 5 seconds, if that.
This is a stupid rule that will get people killed.
Pedestrians should never assume that a vehicle will give way for them.
They never wait, I always wait for them to pass, or one in a 100 times, they may stop.
The first one is to make it clearer if things go to court, it gives pedestrians better protection , no one is suggesting that pedestrians should walk blindly onto the road
The first one I think is a new chance to the Highway Code and we do nothing as a country to educate drivers that the Highway Code _changes_ yes that is there responsibility – but reality is, people don’t re-read it.
The second one is obvious and I always do this.
Also so annoying when cars don’t indicate, you just wait, think they are going ahead, so go to cross, but then they turn, I mostly just wait till they’ve figured out what they are doing, because its easier and safer.
As someone currently learning to drive, I have been taught to slow down for pedestrians waiting and stop only for pedestrians who step on the crossing for theory (or at least that’s how I interpreted it?). In practice I usually stop and wait for people who clearly want to cross anyway. This seems to say that you should stop and wait for pedestrians even if they don’t step out when you slow down?
I am not from UK originally but when i was studying my driving in my home country some over 20 years ago, i still remember this rule.
Always annoyed me when drivers didn’t abide by it in UK.
Is this infographics from DVLA?
The recent change to implement the top one is stupid and unsafe.
The cars approaching behind the turning car can’t see the pedestrian if the pedestrianis on the far side. They see a clear road to turn in to and expect the turning car to be gone before they get there and so they don’t slow down.
If you actually stop and let the pedestrian go first you’ll likely get rear ended.
The irony of the zebra crossing is it’s been a rule much longer. It’s simply people being bellends and not following what they were even taught!
I did not know the zebra crossing on was “should” – I assumed it was a “must”.
You mean drivers aren’t supposed to put their foot down and speed up when they see me crossing the road 100 foot away?
For thw top one, I was crossing the road, and a car comes barrelling past out of my blindspot, nearly hits me, swerves, and rolls down the window to shout at me. Lady. I could not see you, you were going far to fast for that turn, and you should give way to me since I was already crossing the road. You were literally behind me as well. Ofc, according to her, as a stupid chink, it was all my fault and I should go back to where I came from (literally the hospital 2 miles away).
In the first image, this will only work if there are zebra crossings painted at every junction. They do this in Europe.
Nine out of ten times, drivers do not stop even though they have clearly seen you.
im 6 foot 5 theres no way they can say they didnt see me
Number of times I’ve nearly been run over on zebra crossings in car parks…
Lol so many motorists seem to operate on the assumption that you should have eyes in the back of your head, “how did the pedestrian not see me indicating for the turn behind them!”. There is a tun in to a car park near my flat and the amount of people who do a sharp break and then gesture at me like I am in the wrong is staggering.
It’s normally faster for everyone to let the car just turn then it is to wait and see if he’s going to stop and then wall across
When I moved to the UK I thought that those rules just didn’t apply here lol
The top one is a stupid rule, the car turning left into the junction has to stop but traffic coming from the left on the far lane has no obligation to. Indeed the car stopping to allow the pedestrian to cross invites the traffic coming from the left to keep moving by allowing it out of the t junction.
Maybe not as ignored, but the number of drivers who think that signalling to turn is optional amazes me.
The grave yard is full of people who had the right of way. Better to let cars go than cross and end up as a statistic.
Problem with this is that it causes more delays fo rteh pedestrian in many circumstances
Where I live I have to turn left (UK) off the busy main road into the area where I live
The main road is not taht wide – so no room to pass a car without going over to the other side – which is often not possible due to oncoming traffic
So if I slow down a lot more than usual to let someone walk across then I am blocking all the cars behind me while the pedestrain crosses
AND andy sensible pedestrian will not cross until they are CERTAIN that the car is stopping
by the time I have slowed down – and they have realised and made sure – I would have turned, passed them and they could cross anyway
and there is always the possibility that the car behind me might not be paying perfect attention and when I slow right down and almost stop he will drive into me
or have to do a very fast stop and the person behind him will hit him
so in some circumstances it make thing more dangerous and helps no-one
Wtf I never knew this was a thing, I always let the car go.
Lived in Canada for ten years and this rule is adhered to pretty unanimously. Took a long time for me to trust it though.
I assume every car is out to run me over, as the amount of times cars have gone through a red light and stopped short of hitting me and my son in a pram is ridiculous. I don’t trust any car unless I’ve made clear eye contact and they know I’m crossing.
I’ll wait until it’s clear thanks.
My body doesn’t far too well against 2 tons of steels.
Especially ignored at schools. 😃
I gotta disagree with the zebra crossing thing. People do stop when they see someone waiting at a zebra crossing.
But the other one. Its probably ignored because pedestrians and drivers all think its a stupid, unnecessary, dangerous rule. Its so much quicker and safer to let the car pass. Pedestrians are more agile and aware, have better viewpoints, better reactions than drivers. Driving inherently causes blind spots, cars are slower to stop. Why would you put faith in “but thats the rule”.
So do cars have priority on the road anymore or is it all for buses, bikes and pedestrians now?
The number of times I’ve been waiting to cross the road for over 10 minutes is insane
I didn’t realise they had to give way if I’m waiting to cross. I have had a few people try to keep going when I’m half way across the road though! Not sure I’d be brave enough to step out and trust they’d stop.
Honestly, these rules are pretty easy to follow if you actually drive with due and attention alongside with sensible control of your speed and distance. When approaching any junction you should always be looking at where you are about to put your car anyway, if there was an obstruction in the road (such as traffuc build up) you wouldn’t plow your car into it blindly and the cars behind would have to wait for you to complete the turn. Why some people think that’s unacceptable to do for pedestrian safety is beyond me.
The only times I have had a problem following the first rule is when approaching a roundabout with multiple lanes and I can’t guarantee the car in the other lane will also stop. But then again the wording for roundabouts is slightly different so it isn’t a must.
I always give way, much to the annoyance of drivers behind me.
How long until they start pointing cameras at crossings and snap people not pausing to allow pedestrians to cross so they can fine them.
We get hit with the 20mph fines, box junction fines. This can presumably be another revenue raiser?
I stopped following the junction rule as it was causing more dangerous situations with near misses for both me and pedestrians.
Scenario 1
I’m turning in to a side road on my left. I stop to let pedestrian cross. The car coming the other way thinks I’m letting them in and they whip over in front of me nearly hitting the pedestrian.
Scenario 2
Im exiting a side road and stop to let the pedestrian cross. A car turning in nearly hits them after the pedestrian feels pressurised to cross due to my stopping.
Scenario 3
I stop and the pedestrian refuses to move. Looking at me like I’m a fool and waving me on.
Scenario 4
Had a road rage incident where I stopped and the car behind nearly hit me. They exited the car and started threatening me through the window.
Now I turn with the expectation that the pedestrian may cross…if they do I can stop…if they don’t I carry on.
All the near miss issues went away after I made this change
As a pedestrian I wait until it’s clear and most people don’t stop. This is not a problem and is the safest way.
Don’t even get me started on the poor cyclist that have to also stop on a busy road. Increasing the risk to them.
The new rules are ill conceived and poorly executed. They increase confusion and risk of collisions.
Such major changes needed to be deployed with much more than a simple ad campaign for a few months. If they wanted to do this properly it should have included proper re-education. As they were not prepared to do that for reasons like money and effort then they should have left it alone.
I always give way, I would say the most ignored rule is use of indicators
The top one is a bullshit rule to be fair. As a pedestrian I would never trust it safe to walk across a road if I could see a car indicating to turn in.
There are far too many stupid or ignorant drivers for me to be stepping out into the road like the law wants.
Hell, I dont even cross the road on a red light until I’m sure everyone’s slowed down enough – too many close calls.
The problem with giving way to pedestrians crossing a road is YOU might be stopping to let them cross but who’s to say that every other driver on the road knows why you are just randomly stopping ?
A zebra crossing though yes, always stop for them and if you stop there it’s pretty obvious to other drivers why your stopping there
Because rule 1 is fucking dumb and without some national tv and social media campaign to ensure every single person knows about it, can only serve to put pedestrians in more danger.
Rule 2- I don’t see anyone ignoring zebra crossings personally
The top one is a great way to get rear-ended.
The bottom one is only ignored by twat drivers.
Never heard of the first one before and I don’t like it from both a driver and pedestrian perspective.
Good, the top rule is stupid and dangerous.
How anyone ever through the top one was a sensible idea is beyond me .
As a pedestrian I never assume the car is going to stop – they usually don’t anyway . But I wouldn’t expect them to because it’s bloody stupid . It’s quicker for everyone if the car completes its turn and carries on its way , rather than stopping on a main road , impeding the flow of traffic and risking someone running up their arse .
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