+1

Seriously. There is nothing serious to add to this simple statement of truth!

Am I the only one who got the green cross code man confused with the jolly green giant? Sweetcorn. Don't cross the road without it!

Surely that would mean everyone would travel at about 5mph on any road where pedestrians are present!?

Pedestrians shouldn't be present on most roads, but in areas such as pedestrianised town centres with limited vehicle access then walking speed is the sensible speed.

I agree the argument view is stupid.

5mph for anywhere where pedestrians are, or parked cars, or traffic lights, or chances of wildlife then?

I have seen students run across a roundabout exit (not entrance) on a blind corner a lot of the time when I have been going to see my girlfriend. There is no reason a driver should anticipate a pedestrian crossing the road there where 20m either side is a set of traffic lights. Same for people walking out from behind parked cars and not appreciating that if you can't see oncoming traffic from behind the transit.... the traffic can't see you

Wouldn't disagree in that particular example. But lets face it that is not a normal road.

In America they call it "Jay walking". In England, I think the offence is "trespassing upon the Queen's highway"..??



Absolutely, it's the exception.

I don't think expecting drivers to slow down to 20MPH in residential areas/areas with a lot of pedestrian activity is much to ask. Instead what you get is a mentality of "oooh, 30MPH limit, I can do 35MPH and not get done so I will".

There are only certain roads in England and Wales where being present as a pedestrian is an offence - notably motorways and certain dual carriageways.

Unfortunately a lot of pedestrians are arseholes who think that their welfare is someone elses problem. Fortunately Darwinism still works, it's just a shame that motorists end up saddled with the guilt when the inevitable happens. If a car doesn't look like it is going to stop, don't get in the way! I'm not saying the driver isn't at fault, but why take the risk?

It's not illegal to step on a rattlesnake, but it is a really bad idea.

The same works the other way, what idiot thinks cruising along a residential/village/town street where there are houses/shops etc on both sides of the road (and thus by extension pedestrians) either at or above the speed limit is a good idea?

My favourite example is the A469 from Cardiff to Caerphilly. At the Cardiff end there are houses and shops almost all the way along this "main road" and yet idiots persist in breaking the speed limit and running the lights - despite the fact that pedestrians frequently cross at any point in the road. I've only been here 2 years and I've already seen several horrific accidents, with the deaths of both a motorcyclist and a pedestrian.

Many drivers seem to have little appreciation for what is an appropriate speed for the road they are travelling on and instead aim for the speed limit. My classic example is tourists flying round country roads in Cornwall at 60mph, and then cry foul when their Avensis ends up under a tractor.

I know that road well and yes, people do speed down it, but at the end of the day I recall the highway code, not to mention common sense, suggesting that pedestrians at crossings WAIT FOR THE CAR TO STOP before stepping out in front of it. Even traffic lights with cameras on give you a few seconds grace after the red light because it is dangerous to brake suddenly - you'll either end up skidding into something or the car behind will skid into the back of you. The highway code also says you should wait to the for a car turning left to start turning before entering the stream of traffic, don't just rely on his signal - it's all about protecting yourself.

Very True


Now if an Avensis driver was in a fit state to "cry foul" after being under a tractor I'd be really impressed with the safety cell in an Avensis.

Yep - that pisses me off. Along with the driver behind me (usually a Mondeo or an Audi) who insists that because he wants to do that speed I have to.

Here's a little physics lesson:

Car 1 brakes from 30 mph at A to 0 at B

A_________________________________________B

Car 2 brakes from 35 mph at A to 0 at C

A_________________________________________B_________C


Q: What speed is car 2 travelling at when it reaches point B, (the point where car 1 stopped)?

A: 22 mph.

Moral of the story: Slow the fcuk down

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm8yyl9ROEM

I’m of the opinion that people are rightly responsible for their owns safety. If you step out in front of a car on a busy road, you can expect to end up in hospital. That is true regardless of what d=you were doing.

As a pedestrian, I try to be as careful as I can when crossing the road. I have at times had abuse hurled at me for using a zebra crossing by motorists.

As a car driver, I have also noticed some truly shocking behaviour by pedestrians. To whit:

1 - Stepping out without looking. The thought process is “if I can’t see you then it’s not my fault”.

2 - Staring at me - the pedestrian fixes the driver with a stern stare. They are either willing me to stop by using The Force or they are playing some kind of game of chicken

3 - Stepping out with a push chair in front of them. “I have children - get out of my way” kind of moment. People actually using their new born infants as a kind of traffic pacifier.

4 - Crossing the road randomly within sight of a proper crossing - namely a pelican crossing or a zebra crossing. Sorry, if you are too lazy not to walk the extra few metres to cross safely, then do you really deserve to continue living?

5 - Ignoring the pelican crossing signs and crossing anyway, in front of any oncoming traffic.

Note that all the above examples have been experienced in more heavy duty situations. I am not talking about residential roads, but the kind of trunk roads that feed into town. The kind of road which, as a child, my parents would accompany me across.

This is all the consequence of the blame culture we have imported from the USA. It is no longer your fault if, when crossing the road, you get hit. It matters not what precautions you took prior to embarking on that ill-fated mission to reach the other side. What matters is that the driver of the large lump of metal, rubber and polycarbonates that just hit you is ultimately to blame, despite you not giving reasonable time to stop.

Personally, at times I think that the only time a pedestrian has any recourse to action is when they are hit on a pedestrian crossing when conditions allow (ie the green man is showing, etc).. At all other times, it’s live with the consequences of your actions.