New highway code rules and consultation

[Avulon]

Originally Posted by AndyN01

I'm more than a little concerned about this one:

"....Rule H2: Rule for drivers, motorcyclists, horse riders and cyclists.....At a junction you should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which (my highlighting) or from which you are turning...."

Erm...I'm happily driving along a road and want to turn off it. So now I have to be a mind reader and worry about having the vehicle behind colliding in to me when I leave my car out in the main road 'cus I'm giving way to a pedestrian.

Or am I missing something somewhere .


I'm more for "Choices lead to consequences." If I chose to walk across a road when there's a vehicle turning into it then the consequences are down to me, not someone else trying to second guess what I'm going to do.


Andy.

OK,, So pedestrians have always had a right of way here, although more recently (past 2 decades) it seems that drivers haven't been taught that in an effective manner. It can be pretty clear that a pedestrian that's walking along a pavement on the major road will cross the minor road junction, and already has right of way. A vehicle leaving or entering the minor road will be turning to cross their path. The addition is a 'Should give way' to someone 'waiting'. I'd say that it can be very difficult to determine what someone intends when they are standing still. The same 'Should' has been added to the uncontrolled crossing scenario as well repeated in several places to say 'should' give way at a crossing for a pedestrian waiting to cross. This in addition to 'Must' give way to pedestrian actually on a crossing. This is the clairvoyant bit. Is someone standing still waiting to cross or just standing still? You may have a fair guess if they are looking left and right observing the traffic. But You'll never know for sure, especially where there are a lot of pedestrians in a town centre. It is often very clear if someone walking the path of a major road is going to cross a minor road opening though.


As an extra comment, you shouldn't need to worry about the idiot behind you provided your indicators and brake lights work. I know that would be little consolation if the following vehicle does hit you though.


@macafee2 is correct here and good advice, if people are crossing (and I'd say obviously about to cross, i.e. will be crossing as you arrive at the turning) the entrance to the minor road you should adjust your speed accordingly on approach if turning into it, there's no need for sudden braking: or you wait and give way if turning out of it.


REF existing Highway code rule 170 'Take extra care at junctions' point 3

watch out for pedestrians crossing a road into which you are turning. If they have started to cross they have priority, so give way

Originally Posted by Les4048

I do, and I slow down and give people a smile and a wave as I pass them

V. Polite.

[Avulon]

I have already been all through the consultation providing responses.



The items that have me more worried are the green lighting for cyclists to cycle in groups in the middle of the road.



And then, then... There's a terrible bit of wording that recommends to cyclists that they cycle 0.5 metres from the kerb. I can see other motorised road users reading that as a maximum limit and deciding to be upset when a cyclist is further than that from the kerb. (not that they aren't already - even though they are perfectly happy to encroach on cycle lanes.



The opening spiel additions are supposed to establish a heirarchy of road users, as a general framework for responsibilities etc. However it's poorly written and far from explicit. the way it is written is as two lists. A reader might misconstrue this as here's one group, and here's another, instead of a single list from top to bottom.


Further on there's a section on passing distances and speeds for overtaken different types of slower traffic. here it get's far too prescriptive and will be impossible to comply with in many circumstances.



It looks like a rushed hotchpotch of an idea to promote non powered transport ahead of other transport adding a lot of woolly 'should' rules. I'd say that the changes appear to have been written in a separate style: almost like some politician had tried writing them in, and seem very loosely worded and in places lacking the clarity and explicitness of the rest of the code.

[AndyN01]

Originally Posted by Avulon

.....V. Polite.

All accepted in the manner they were written .

I have no issues with something I can observe or reasonably expect might happen (such as youngsters near a park with a ball might run out into the road to fetch it; bin lorry operative may "appear" around the side of the lorry; folks may cross the road in front of a bus that's just stopped etc. etc.) and put into plan but I'm struggling with the onus being put onto the clairvoyant bit.

And yes, all the hallmarks of someone being bombarded by a pressure group (or groups) and producing something in the hope that they'll be quiet and go away.

I still think we're moving too far away from personal responsibility and choices and their consequences. All part of the "It's ALWAYS someone else's fault" culture.

Andy.

[bl52krz]

I know that it tells you that you must not ride on the pavement, and also, I think, ‘you must dismount from your cycle at traffic lights when on red’. That is unless the ‘enlightened’ have had a go at re-writing it. I think we should all go back having someone in front of anything that can exceed walking pace, must have a person with a red flag walking in front of it

[KWIL]

On a narrow road cyclists will ride two abreast to stop any overtaking, if that narrow road is long, heaven help any other road user.

What ever happened to shall and allowed should as if many people will take any notice of should?

Better so say cyclists SHALL not ride on then pavement and also perhaps vehicles for the disabled Shall have a sounder fitted so pedestrians can hear their approach from behind (afterall trucks and vans have reversing sounders).

Similarly they shall also be required to engage slow and not 8mph when on the pavement. (Yes I do have a badge)

[Lovel]

Originally Posted by Les4048

I do, and I slow down and give people a smile and a wave as I pass them

Different part of the world Les. People are just that bit more laid back up here the further north you get away from the big smokes.