Safe Speed Forums

Was out driving today and I was going over some inverted pot holes (road humps) when I saw an attractive young lady on the other side of the road waiting to cross, there was also a Transit van coming the other way and all 3 of us were going to line up about the same time at current speeds (of say 15mph or so due to the humps) Despite the road being clear behind me and behind the van for 50 yards or more, he decided to stop in the middle of the road, no signal, not at a crossing, nothing to let the lady cross. I was absolutely staggered about the "niceness" yet blatant dangerous act, what would happen if someone saw someone stop like this, not see the pedestrian and overtake? An act of kindness would kill off this mother and child!

I'm not being unrealistic, I drive a van for the post office and regularly make stops at the side of the road and people often overtake without seeing what is infront of me, how would they know what is there? Another thing, this culture of stopping between road humps or at them to let a pedestrian crossing which is happening more and more only trains pedestrians that they can cross when they like, which for their own safety, they can't, they should cross at crossings or check the road is clear themselves otherwise we'll have people wandering into the road and getting knocked down far more regularly than now, so guess what, even lower speed limits will be the answer from the pricks in charge!!!!!!

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It does beggar belief. I have trained our kids to wait at the kerb and only cross if it is safe to do so. I am very patient about teaching them to judge speed of appraoch without the aid of any machine. They have to know and be able to judge speed of approach and cross if they are certain they can cross the road in safety. I would not teach them to cross if one party stips because we cannot know what another party may do!


Have now seen that new "Think!" advert -aimed at young pedestrians. I have to say I think it is a good one and I think they may even have taken my wife's cousin 's suggestion seriously - she did suggest something like this at one point.

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DB - i drive a Transit at work and in a case like this would make sure that no one could overtake me - stop in the middle of the road - do it when i see a HGV trying to manouvre - if you're going to be courtous - make sure the pilock can't upset your'e plans - stop him.

Good tip, although I already do this when its appropritate, like when I have to reverse into someone's drive. The difference is, I make sure I slow down, switch on my hazzards and positively make the manouvre without giving someone the opportunity to overtake.

What I meant by when it happens to me, I work for Royal Mail and I'm on the rural deliveries which means I'm virtually stopping and starting at every house in a van rather than on foot, I indicate left, then switch on hazzards, then pull in as far to the left to keep the traffic flowing and most of the time, people have started overtaking before I've physically stopped, so imagine I wasn't stopping to deliver the mail, but actually stopping to let a pedestrian cross? Doesn't bare thinking about does it?

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www.clubrwd.com - For all things rear wheel drive

It's just a question of re-education. Of the drivers, I mean!
It's a cultural thing.
Drivers here think they have an absolute right to be on the road.
For example, when turning at a junction, it's a rare driver who gives way to pedestrians who might already be crossing the road.
How many times do you see pedestrians being forced to stop in the middle of a junction to allow an inconsiderate driver to pass?
Being a pedestrian in California, by contrast, is sheer pleasure.
You just stand at the side of the road, not necessarily anywhere near a crossing, and cars in both lanes will stop to let you cross. It's accepted practice there.
And why not?

I think it's fairer to say that many people think they have a God given right to be on the road, and that includes pedestrians who believe it's the responsibility of other road users to stop for them when they choose to enter the road unwisely. Yes, some people don't seem aware that pedestrians who have already started to cross a side road have priority over drivers wanting to turn into it, but it's equally common, perhaps even more so, to find people who have no idea (or forget) that the first 33 rules in the Highway Code are aimed specifically at pedestrians. I suspect Mini-me and her classmates probably didn't even find that out until they got copies of the HC for their driving lessons.

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