When I learned to drive many moons ago I was taught that you wait at a pedestrian crossing until the person crossing the road has reached the other side. It appears that the teaching has changed so that once you're fairly confident that you're not going to clip them with your wing mirror you can put your foot down and go (or not even stop in the first place).
And another thing - I was also taught to stop if there was someone waiting at the side of the road about to cross. This has now changed too so there's little point in using the bleeding things in the first place.
I can't even use my usual target of crap driving (the minicab driver) since it seems everyone is doing this.
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Can't remember if I posted this before, but if I did, tough.
This is what you do when pedestrians are really annoying. If you follow the rules you won't be home for bed.
Live feed.
www.abbeyroad.com/crossing
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Thanks - I am now obsessed with that. Drivers are quite tolerant of toruist antics...
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>> Thanks - I am now obsessed with that. Drivers are quite tolerant of toruist antics...
It should be painted over and removed. Its a safety hazard.
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>> until the person crossing the road has reached the other side
If I wait that long, there will be more pedestrians starting to cross and I'll be standing there for several minutes. So as long as pedestrians crosses dividing line to opposite lane, I drive off.
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For some years now I've thought the damn things were outdated. I've not come across a huge amoiunt in the City Council area here but next door, Trafford, has loads of the things.
I have to pass through 7 or 8 on the way to me mate's house......about 2 miles.
At night, they're positively dangerous, imo. You just can't pick out anyone waiting due to the brightness of approaching headlights. People don't think about what they're wearing, why should they ? Dark clothing just merges into the shadows...even worse in the rain. To add to the danger, a lot of street lights now seem to be in the tree canopy. No money for pruning, I guess.
Peds, especially groups of teens, are liable to be pre-occupied with each other and just step off without looking thinking the crossing will protect them. Well, it will from a legal point of view but not from a medical one.
I take great care approaching one nowadays.
Ted
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All true, Ted, and everywhere has the same problems.
If it's not with you yet, it will be soon - we have a blanket 20mph speed limit for the whole city coming into play in the next few months. Not just a few roads and rat runs - the whole city. The Ring Road was excluded, but now that's in the sights as well.
This is apparently costing half a million, so I guess they use the de Beers paint depot for supplies, with plastic 20mph signs from Fortnum's Traffic Department. But I guess it's cheaper than any other solution to folk spilling into roads and being squished.
(The Police have already said "unenforceable" and the Police Commissioner has already said "jolly well enforce it boys", so interesting times ahead.)
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Existing urban speed limits are generally too low except here and there where it's obvious one has to pussyfoot a bit. Normally I wouldn't dream of observing them unless being followed closely by old bill.
As for crossings, some pedestrians are intelligent, cooperative and communicative while others might as well be cattle. You have to thread your way through them carefully when driving. It's absurd just to wait at a very busy crossing in case someone might want to cross. You could be there for ever. Just slip or nip or sidle through the gaps when they appear. It's dead easy.
That said, the Abbey Road live feed was a bit weird when I looked at it. Peds standing in the way apparently on purpose, just asking for a long yobbish blast on a really rude old Mercedes horn or a nudge up the backside. Annoying faffing pedestrians are deliberately damaging the economy if you ask me, just like wittering local authority 20mph merchants, and need a short sharp shock.
Last edited by: Armel Coussine on Tue 6 Aug 13 at 16:34
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I was in a hurry this morning and fumed while bicycle after bicycle came down the pavement and ignorant car drivers waited while they rode across a zebra crossing (it was a zebra and a footpath).
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That's going to be one of those "Voted in on a very Low turnout" type Police Commissioners with no experience of policing then!
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>> (The Police have already said "unenforceable" and the Police Commissioner has already said "jolly well
>> enforce it boys", so interesting times ahead.)
>>
.**********
Edit: oh, for crying out loud. I didn't even use dodgy language.
Last edited by: Fursty Ferret on Tue 6 Aug 13 at 20:04
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Well if was elected on a mandate of bringing in a 20 mph limit, then surely the local wont need to be enforced, after all its what they voted for.
Didn't they?
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>> Didn't they?
>>
This is what happens when people can't be bothered to think and use their hard won right to vote sensibly.
I wonder if this new Commissar will come up with other measures designed to rid the town of traffic menace, interesting times ahead.
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>> And another thing - I was also taught to stop if there was someone waiting
>> at the side of the road about to cross. This has now changed too so
>> there's little point in using the bleeding things in the first place.
Highway Code:
195
Zebra crossings. As you approach a zebra crossing
- look out for pedestrians waiting to cross and be ready to slow down or stop to let them cross
- you MUST give way when a pedestrian has moved onto a crossing
- allow more time for stopping on wet or icy roads
- do not wave or use your horn to invite pedestrians across; this could be dangerous if another vehicle is approaching
- be aware of pedestrians approaching from the side of the crossing.
A zebra crossing with a central island is two separate crossings
I like as they don't interrupt traffic flow much unless they are in a busy street; and as a pedestrian I don't have to wait for a green man light or whatever. Unlike the vile pelicans where the ped pushes the button, looks up to see the road is clear, and has already crossed when you arrive at the red light.
If zebras are dangerous it's because they are so rare in some areas and we are not tuned in to looking for the Belisha beacon.
Last edited by: Manatee on Tue 6 Aug 13 at 17:59
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>> - you MUST give way when a pedestrian has moved onto a crossing
>
Yup, until a dainty toe has stepped onto the crossing, no right of way. Anything else is purely curtesy.
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>> Anything
>> else is purely curtesy.
>>
There's no need to curtsey now. All that old formality has been dropped.
Just be courteous.
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Pedestrian crossings - Crankcase
