Forum Topic

Crossing change

From the Guardian: "Pedestrians will be given priority over cars at dozens of crossings in London after successful trials of a radical plan to keep the “green man” signal – and a red light for traffic - displayed as a default.Transport for London said the move, a first for the UK, would help encourage more journeys by foot as travel grows after the pandemic, while improving safety.The red man signal at pedestrian crossings will only be shown if vehicles are in the vicinity, using technology which has been trialled in eight-month long tests at locations near the Millennium Bridge and the Shard"That'll go down well

Mark Gormley ● 2235d7 Comments

I believe the Highway Code is being altered to give pedestrians priority. However, if you are in very slow moving traffic and are now to indicate that you are letting someone cross the road in front of you, how are you to know if there is not a motorbike or cyclist suddenly zooming up on the near side?

Vivienne Cox ● 2235d

That's one of the reasons I'm always very cautious about flashing my car lights to 'indicate' to another road user that I'm stopping for them (and yes, I know that flashing your lights doesn't have a defined meaning!)

Andrew Jones ● 2235d

Flashing lights was for the other driver to go.

Janice Evans ● 2234d

Think that's what you said, sorry this sunshine gives me dreadful headache.

Janice Evans ● 2234d

I remember talking about headlight flashing with the late, lamented Andy Pease (Andy was an advanced Met Police driver). The Highway Code is clear and states: ‘Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message......’

N V Brooks ● 2234d

That's interesting, always used to flash lights to let another driver through and it seem to be usual thing to do, don't do much driving during the dark now but will stop doing that in future.

Janice Evans ● 2234d

I flash my lights to let the other driver go ... and lots of people do, but it's just a custom.The potential problem is that if you flash your lights (to try and indicate you are letting the other car/cycle/pedestrian etc. go in front of you) the person who sees you flashing your lights thinks it's safe to go (and 99.9% of the time it is) but if there is someone else around that you and they aren't aware of, you could end up having an accident.These days, I'll only flash my lights if I'm convinced there is no one else around apart from me and the person I'm flashing my lights at. If I'm not sure, I will stop, leave a gap, so it will be obvious as much as is possible that I'm not just about to move off again, but I'll leave it to the other person to make that decision to progress.As I said, flashing lights is a custom, and it does help the flow of traffic, but it comes with a small element of risk. In the highlands in Scotland, where there are plenty of single track roads with passing places, there is a custom of signalling your indicator when someone has stopped to let you pass, as a way of acknowledgment. Feels quite strange initially, until you get used to it!

Andrew Jones ● 2234d