Forum Topic

Using Zebra Crossings

Has anything changed from this:www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-5275147/amp/80-Brits-dont-know-use-ZEBRA-CROSSING.htmlI always understood that you should not overtake a vehicle stopped at a zebra crossing. Also that if you were on a zebra crosding that vehicles should stop.  Also that you should show your intention to cross - so for instance running along the pavement approaching the traffic from behind snd launching yourself onto the zebra was not a good idea.The URL above shows some suggestions for modernising and improving the visibility of  zebras which it has to be admitted are often not really bright enough especially when it is raining and the road is wet.

Philippa Bond ● 1729d11 Comments

When driving but stopped at a crossing I have always waited until anyone using the crossing has reached the pavement but now many drivers seem to drive off as soon as the space in front of their car is cleared. Also now many drivers seem reluctant to stop for pedestrians approaching a crossing.

Michael David Rowe ● 1729d

''Also now many drivers seem reluctant to stop for pedestrians approaching a crossing''. There are a lot of pedestrians that walk out in front of vehicles whether they are near a crossing or not without looking or giving any indication that they are going to do that. No wonder a road that could take a 30mph limit is reduced to 20mph to give the cretins a better chance of avoiding a self-inflicted injury. Unfortunately they are not all so engrossed holding a mobile phone.

peter king ● 1729d

"... but now many drivers seem to drive off as soon as the space in front of their car is cleared."The legal requirement* is for the driver to accord precedence to the pedestrian.  If pedestrians using the crossing have already passed in front of the vehicle, the driver is free to drive off, provided this doesn't involve overtaking another motor vehicle nearer to the crossing.* https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/2400/contents/made  See Regulations 24, 25.

Richard Jennings ● 1729d

As a driver, I am perfectly happy to stop for pedestrians on zebra crossings, and when travelling along a thoroughfare like CHR, I try to keep an eye particularly on the nearside end of the crossing in case someone is approaching it with the intention of crossing. However, there are some who seem to think that a zebra crossing nullifies the laws of physics, so that a car travelling at, say, 18mph can stop in an instant if they suddenly, without warning, decide to step onto it (especially if engrossed in one of those vital phone conversations).

Colin Jordan ● 1729d

There are the joggers who run up from behind and start to run across in front of you on the passenger side without checking that you have noticed them.Also the parents and carers who push their pushchairs with precious cargo out onto the roads and crossings without waiting for traffic to slow or stop.

Philippa Bond ● 1728d

Makes you wonder how his little twerpship the mayor is going to get road deaths down to nil by 2041 doesn't it?

peter king ● 1728d

And the parents and carers pushing prams are usually yakking on their phones.

Steve Taylor ● 1728d

A friend was knocked over on a zebra with belisha beacons before Christmas.  I don't know the circumstances but I still remember a bus accelerating towards me at a zebra many years ago.  More recently I've had near misses more often when on pedestrian crossings at lights when cyclists have overtaken the cars that have stopped at the lights.

Philippa Bond ● 1727d

Does anyone else remember this? I'm sure the belisha beacons used to have a spotlight shining on to the crossing. They seem pretty badly lit without.

stephen gould ● 1727d

And also a light on any central reservation.  They often need repainting.  I also think they are better when they are raised.

Philippa Bond ● 1725d

Straying onto dangerous ground there sven suggesting that a cyclist could/would have broken the law. Cue the usual suspects.

N V Brooks ● 1725d