Pedestrians and road "manners"

This morning I witnessed the car in front nearly ploughing into a young girl walking along the road (lane - no path) because the sun was so low and blinding us - the idiot girl was walking back to the traffic along the road, is it me or weren't we taught to walk facing traffic so we could avoid if necessary? half these kids have earphones in or are reading texts while walking, i'm surprised not more are killed. I see joggers and suchlike doing the same and I think they must be mad.

 

Earphones are the problem, they can't hear anything coming.

 

agree to a point but even so, walking back to traffic? insane in my opinion.

deffo agree on the Darwin theory - however you can bet your arse that had this girl been hit the driver would be blamed/sued/traumatised etc....

 

Don't get me started on pedestrians!!!!!

Have you noticed how many don't look over their shoulder when walking across the road when you're turning left into the street??

I almost ran into a woman who was so engrossed in her phone. I pulled in and stopped. She carried in walking and didn't notice me until she was about a foot away from the bumper of the bus. It's not like the yellow isn't bright enough AND I WAS DRIVING TOWARDS HER!! I shouted "I'll smash your ******* legs next time love"

And yes we were taught road safety but it seems to be of little importance these days. I say let these fools play in the freeways in a British Bulldog style kind of game. Natural selection and all that. That said they banned Bulldog from my primary school. No wonder we are all turning out soft. I need a hero. Fat chance of me finding that now

Rant over.

 

Good memories of playing Bulldog at school / youth club in the 70s!

 

i'm more shocked gok wan isn't classed as a hero, didn't you see him on surprise surprise last night? oh what that boy can do to an a line.....

 

https://www.gov.uk/rules-pedestrians-1-to-35

 

Walking Safety Rules
How to Stay Safe Walking
By Wendy Bumgardner
Updated September 26, 2013

Notice the author of this???

 

could be worse I suppose..... could be tampon.

(100 points if you know the film)

 

that weird i just nearly saw a girl get mowed down whilst amber light was flashing at lights in town, how girl driving missed her i dont really know . made me go cold.

Its quite difficult up our lane, no pavements n hundreds of school kids at round um up time n kick um out time , but they seem to have it sussed they walk in a line across the road up the road , n play chicken with the cars , till now they have won but one of these days one of the be on val der gards is gona av um for sure, ive tried telling um but they no best

 

Don't forget rule 170 though.

https://www.gov.uk/using-the-road-159-to-203/road-junctions-170-to-183

Not a lot of people know that.

 

how do you stand if your backing a van up no windows n someone walks off the curb on your side and your looking in your passengers wing mirror at the time to check nothings coming around a corner? n you hit them ?

 

I did think that pedestrians had right of way if already on the road when a vehicle turns onto it!! Although a lot of drivers give you the evils!

 

I did know about that one. I often find pedestrians are surprised when I slow down to let them cross before turning into the side road. Mind you, in birmingham it seems that most people go by the rule of the bigger you are, the more likely you are to have priority, particularly the double decker buses!

 

I have employed the 'Tonto' method of traffic anticipation when walking down country lanes - often I shall place an ear to the ground and be found to say 'heap biggum VW passing, many rust'.

Don't do it when it's training though.

 

Don't forget rule 171:

 

Re the original post...if the sun was at a low angle, it wouldn't have made much difference to the driver's view, whether the girl was facing the traffic or otherwise.
The big issue for me is driver psychology: the rule of perceived seniority is as follows:
Cars
Vans/HGVs
Buses
Motorcycles
Mopeds
Cyclists
Pedestrians
Ironically, road users in the last five categories should be given the highest priority as they are most at risk. There is also a presumption that roads are for vehicles and pavements are for pedestrians...roads are actually for both (unless otherwise stated), while pavements are solely for foot traffic.
On the continent, there's been an increasing interest in 'naked streets', where pavements, kerbs, railings etc. have been removed...with a wholesale reduction in accidents involving vehicle to vehicle and vehicle/pedestrian. The same thing happens when Traffic light controlled junctions are turned off....everyone is inherently more wary, take greater care and are demonstrably more vigilant. I'm not suggesting that this approach is applicable in every case, but there is a cogent argument to suggest that it should be incorporated where accidents are more common. Can't beat a bit of reverse psychology
http://thecityfix.com/blog/naked-streets-without-traffic-lights-improve-flow-and-safety/