Guy drives through red light next to police car and they ignore it....

If you could be bothered reading posts instead of trying to be clever you would actually get a grasp of what is being said, I was referring to pedestrians who simply walk out without stopping, so they are walking down the road and then turn 90 degrees and onto a crossing expecting everything will actually come to a stop.
That is covered in the Highway Code. You should already be slowing down and ready for the pedestrian if they walk out. Read it.
 
I am saying that you cannot maintain constant speed within a couple of miles per hour.
So, drive a couple of mph below the limit, if you are incapable of managing your speed. It’s not hard.

Honestly, you say you cannot manage your car’s speed at 30, but seem to suggest you can manage it at 33ish. Do you see the fallacy there?
 
So, drive a couple of mph below the limit, if you are incapable of managing your speed. It’s not hard.

Honestly, you say you cannot manage your car’s speed at 30, but seem to suggest you can manage it at 33ish. Do you see the fallacy there?

You can maintain a constant speed but only by keep looking at the speedo and focussing on that, probably to the detriment of awareness and what’s going on further ahead. Something has to give. We cannot give 100% for everything 100% of the time. I would argue that it’s probably better to be a varying speed including being slightly above but looking ahead and being focused on what’s going on around you, than by spending all your efforts staying at 30.
 
You can maintain a constant speed but only by keep looking at the speedo and focussing on that, probably to the detriment of awareness and what’s going on further ahead. Something has to give. We cannot give 100% for everything 100% of the time. I would argue that it’s probably better to be a varying speed including being slightly above but looking ahead and being focused on what’s going on around you, than by spending all your efforts staying at 30.

That's just not true though, the emboldened bit is just exaggeration to justify speeding.

Why not 'be a varying speed being slightly below'? Instead of spending all your efforts staying at thirty, drive a few mph below that and be confident that, even though your driving standard isn't very good, you won't break the law.
 
That's just not true though, the emboldened bit is just exaggeration to justify speeding.

Why not 'be a varying speed being slightly below'? Instead of spending all your efforts staying at thirty, drive a few mph below that and be confident that, even though your driving standard isn't very good, you won't break the law.

2 reasons - keeping your speed constant would be no easier if that was 30 or 40 mph, or maybe 30 and 26. Also, driving below the limit is just as dangerous (conditions permitting). We have a 60mph road near us that a number of people drive at 45 or 50 on. The result is that it causes frustration and ultimately overtaking.
 
2 reasons - keeping your speed constant would be no easier if that was 30 or 40 mph, or maybe 30 and 26. Also, driving below the limit is just as dangerous (conditions permitting). We have a 60mph road near us that a number of people drive at 45 or 50 on. The result is that it causes frustration and ultimately overtaking.
What bout if they drive at 56/57? Like I suggested and not like the exaggerated example you gave.
 
I was referring to pedestrians who simply walk out without stopping, so they are walking down the road and then turn 90 degrees and onto a crossing
And don't forget the "Phone Zombies" who are totally oblivious as to whether they are on a pavement or about to cross a road, they continue to walk head down, regardless.
 
We have a 60mph road near us that a number of people drive at 45 or 50 on
And of course those that pull out of a side road forcing their way into a line traffic that is doing around 55-60.
And proceed to drive at 40-45. Having made several cars break hard!
I see it time and again, on a daily basis ..
 
Speedo? I only look at my rev counter :naughty:
 
That is covered in the Highway Code. You should already be slowing down and ready for the pedestrian if they walk out. Read it.
What speed should you slow to? Pedestrians should be held accountable for stepping onto a crossing if a vehicle is too close even if the vehicle has slowed in anticipation. But no, many figure it is safe to cross because it is a crossing and step out in front of cars regardless.
 
What speed should you slow to? Pedestrians should be held accountable for stepping onto a crossing if a vehicle is too close even if the vehicle has slowed in anticipation. But no, many figure it is safe to cross because it is a crossing and step out in front of cars regardless.
Coming up to a Zebra Crossing and there is a pedestrian very close by? I'd be at a speed that would allow me to stop if they stepped out onto the crossing. So quite slow. There may have been eye contact, or some other 'negotiation', but I should be ready to stop regardless. Carrying on and making the pedestrian step back or wait for me is bullying and wrong.

Light controlled crossings are different, and random crossing places, more so, but Zebras, I have to stop if a pedestrian steps onto one, so I should be ready to stop.
 
That is covered in the Highway Code. You should already be slowing down and ready for the pedestrian if they walk out. Read it.

Total nonsense, so you slow down at every zebra crossing if someone is say within 5m of it just in case they simply walk out into the road? The Highway Code as you keep pointing to states you should be looking out for pedestrians WAITING to cross, it does not mention pedestrians who in your opinion may want to cross sometime in the future, it also states that pedestrians are to wait until the cars have stopped before crossing, This is sort of like a car wheel as it’s going round in circles, I bid you goodnight and hope that one day everyone is as good a driver as you, they may all be late for everything they are going too, and there is no guarantees that an accident will not happen but hey that’s life.
 
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Total nonsense, so you slow down at every zebra crossing if someone is say within 5m of it just in case they simply walk out into the road? The Highway Code as you keep pointing to states you should be looking out for pedestrians WAITING to cross, it does not mention pedestrians who in your opinion may want to cross sometime in the future, it also states that pedestrians are to wait until the cars have stopped before crossing, This is sort of like a car wheel as it’s going round in circles, I bid you goodnight and hope that one day everyone is as good a driver as you, they may all be late for everything they are going too, and there is no guarantees that an accident will not happen but hey that’s life.

Define ‘waiting’.

Why make up the distance of 5m? Another exaggeration made to try and make out that you are right.

Regarding the second bold bit - have a think about what happens if the cars don’t stop (like yours).

The beauty of a Zebra Crossing is that the control is with the pedestrian. On all other types of crossing the power is not. It’s about pressing a button and waiting.

Zebra Crossings occur in places where there are loads of pedestrians and you should be driving slower anyway.

And as for the last bit, if you are going to be late because of a Zebra crossing, then you seriously need to think about how you manage your life. You are a danger.
 
The beauty of a Zebra Crossing is that the control is with the pedestrian. On all other types of crossing the power is not. It’s about pressing a button and waiting.

Zebra Crossings occur in places where there are loads of pedestrians and you should be driving slower anyway.

And as for the last bit, if you are going to be late because of a Zebra crossing, then you seriously need to think about how you manage your life. You are a danger.


:LOL::LOL::LOL: Please don't get a job in road safety! Your advice is in all honesty - Bonkers!
 
:LOL::LOL::LOL: Please don't get a job in road safety! Your advice is in all honesty - Bonkers!
Please don’t drive a car. There are other people out there besides yourself.
 
Please don’t drive a car. There are other people out there besides yourself.

Well,

lets look at the completely ridiculous post you posted that I quoted:

You said ' The beauty of a Zebra Crossing is that the control is with the pedestrian. '

??????

The highway code is not law but a book of advice on using the highway and they give the following advice in respect to zebra crossings:

Zebra crossings. Give traffic plenty of time to see you and to stop before you start to cross. Vehicles will need more time when the road is slippery. Wait until traffic has stopped from both directions or the road is clear before crossing. Remember that traffic does not have to stop until someone has moved onto the crossing.

So, on the advice from the Highway Code to pedestrians it clearly does not put pedestrians in control as you suggest, it clearly states DO NOT move on to the crossing until the traffic has stopped.

.............and do you understand why it gives this advice?

Well, quite simply the only person who understands the stopping distance of an approaching vehicle is the driver of that vehicle - not the pedestrian trying to cross the road!

How can a pedestrian at the side of the road know or asses this? How do you know the whether the HGV approaching the crossing is fully laden or unladen?

How do you know that the vehicle approaching the crossing hasn't just suffered brake failure, do you know the road isn't icy?

All this is directed at you - an adult that possibly has some driving experience.

What about a child that has no experience of driving; how do they judge this?

To suggest/even think that pedestrians have control at Zebra Crossings is just damned right dangerous and for someone who has debated about any death on a road is unnecessary is, like I said - bonkers.

You shouldn't be allowed to walk let alone drive with this type of attitude TBH
 
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Remember that traffic does not have to stop until someone has moved onto the crossing.

Think about that. Harder.
 
Remember that traffic does not have to stop until someone has moved onto the crossing.

Think about that. Harder.
You cannot help yourself, despite being wrong, you still try to manipulate things to fit your logic. You are assuming that the crossing is the bit on the road, it’s not, someone stood on the pavement waiting to cross is deemed to be on or moved onto the crossing, you can hardly stand on the road and wait for traffic to stop. Honestly we will be here all month so I am done.
 
Remember that traffic does not have to stop until someone has moved onto the crossing.

So, on the advice from the Highway Code to pedestrians it clearly does not put pedestrians in control as you suggest, it clearly states DO NOT move on to the crossing until the traffic has stopped.


So, the pedestrian shouldn't move onto the crossing until the traffic has stopped but the traffic does not have to stop until someone has moved onto the crossing... Always seemed odd that such conflicting advice/rules seem to exist!

Personally, I approach a zebra crossing at my normal speed, keeping an eye open for people heading towards it. I'd rather stop for someone who doesn't cross than not stop for someone who does.
 
In the UK we have a realy bad culture of speeding is OK but other traffic offences are not?

Wed do. It seems that the people who think we should have zero tolerance for all crimes are outraged when the get stopped for speeding 'only' 8 mph over the limit!


Steve.
 
Always seemed odd that such conflicting advice/rules seem to exist!
They don't.

3. Crossings (18 to 30)
18
At all crossings. When using any type of crossing you should

  • always check that the traffic has stopped before you start to cross or push a pram onto a crossing
  • always cross between the studs or over the zebra markings. Do not cross at the side of the crossing or on the zig-zag lines, as it can be dangerous.
You MUST NOT loiter on any type of crossing.
Laws ZPPPCRGD reg 19 & RTRA sect 25(5)

19
Zebra crossings. Give traffic plenty of time to see you and to stop before you start to cross. Vehicles will need more time when the road is slippery. Wait until traffic has stopped from both directions or the road is clear before crossing. Remember that traffic does not have to stop until someone has moved onto the crossing. Keep looking both ways, and listening, in case a driver or rider has not seen you and attempts to overtake a vehicle that has stopped.
 
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19
Zebra crossings. Give traffic plenty of time to see you and to stop before you start to cross. Vehicles will need more time when the road is slippery. Wait until traffic has stopped from both directions or the road is clear before crossing. Remember that traffic does not have to stop until someone has moved onto the crossing. Keep looking both ways, and listening, in case a driver or rider has not seen you and attempts to overtake a vehicle that has stopped.

If someone has moved onto the crossing, they've started to cross.
 
If someone has moved onto the crossing, they've started to cross.
No, the start of the crossing is on the pavement where the different colour/texture is. If someone stops there and faces the crossing, they are on the crossing and cars should stop.
rule-196-allow-pedestrians-to-cross-when-the-amber-light-is-flashing_orig.jpg
 
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So if someone walks onto the studded red part of the pavement (which sometimes extends the full width of the pavement), cars should stop?
 
So if someone walks onto the studded red part of the pavement (which sometimes extends the full width of the pavement), cars should stop?
No.
If the pedestrian turns to face the crossing and stops then yes.
If they then don't cross, and continue walking on the pavement, you then toot your horn and gesticulate to them whilst mouthing insults.....:-)
 
If they then don't cross, and continue walking on the pavement, you then toot your horn and gesticulate to them whilst mouthing insults.....:)

Unfortunately the barriers preventing mounting and gaining ten points. No fun these days.
 
Not on a motorbike, they don't!
 
The illustration above isn’t a Zebra crossing.
 
And the pedestrian must have started crossing when the light was against him/her since the vehicle light is showing amber (or he/she was crossing too slow.)
 
j
No, the start of the crossing is on the pavement where the different colour/texture is. If someone stops there and faces the crossing, they are on the crossing and cars should stop.
View attachment 238607
The coloured textured section just signifies to visually impaired people the presence of a crossing, you are not actually on the crossing. You should only stop to let people cross if it is indeed safe to do so, just as pedestrians should not cross until it is safe to do so.
 
You should only stop to let people cross if it is indeed safe to do so

Some people I see on the road don't seem to get this and like to hit the brakes a little sharper than necessary. You can see them watching you in their mirror the whole time, God knows what they are trying to prove.
 
That you are too close? :oops: :$
 
That you are too close? :oops: :$

No, just a twisted mentality which I would associate with people who have a serious inferiority complex of some kind. Brake checking someone and then having to stop your car isn't a good way to stay safe.
 
TBH if you are having to adjust your speed significantly because of the car in front, you are probably too close. Or not paying attention. :)
 
TBH if you are having to adjust your speed significantly because of the car in front, you are probably too close. Or not paying attention. :)
Not always. I have found on several occasions when slowing at a safe distance behind another car, the driver in front will unnecessarily brake heavily and too early stopping way too short of where they actually need to be.
 
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