Settle a Highway Code related domestic dispute.

[theclaud]

I am a little surprised that the above was used by @theclaud to snub PK99's reference to 7D of the Code, given it was the OP who not only made a crystal clear request for clarification of the Highway Code in the original post, she also mistook (by general consent I think) and referred para 107 from the Code to justify her view at the time, when although stranded the pedestrians were stationary and had not started crossing her side of the road.

What I don't understand, is why can't everybody agree that: a) the OP's understanding of the HC at the time was wrong, and b) her action if it caused no risk to any other road user was courteous and admirable?

Or am I wrong in my understanding of either the Code or what is decent?

You're not wrong. My point is that the situation doesn't warrant the pedantry. She only felt it necessary to invoke the Highway Code after an onslaught of entirely unwarranted criticism from her family. The Highway Code is a means to an end, not some kind of original text from which everything else springs.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

You're not wrong. My point is that the situation doesn't warrant the pedantry. She only felt it necessary to invoke the Highway Code after an onslaught of entirely unwarranted criticism from her family. The Highway Code is a means to an end, not some kind of original text from which everything else springs.

Thanks for clarifying, although the highlighted sentiment remains not obvious to me, given the OP specifically said she was "very sure of her facts" in relation to priority. But what was disconcerting about reading this thread, until PK99's post, was that I was starting to question my own understanding of the rule which I thought clear and obvious. With "righteousness" rather than "correctness" on their side, so many were telling the OP she was right, and pounded on the few who pointed out, no matter how unappealing it may be, the fact was that the OP's OH and stepsons were correct in their debate.

 

[dellzeqq]

Yesterday I was driving along with OH in passenger seat. Tis a 30mph road (but traffic tends to move at about 40mph tbh).
It was very busy traffic in both directions. Up ahead I spotted a family of pedestrians who had crossed halfway and were stranded in the middle of the road, so I stopped to let them cross.
OH was very cross and said I'd put us at risk of a rear ending. I was very sure of my facts and told him that pedestrians who'd already started crossing had priority. OH claimed this was nonsense.
Stepson, who is 17 and has recently bought a moped assured me that he has a copy of the highway code that he's considering reading, and could confirm that I was nothing but a very stupid woman, and his father (who he usually never agrees with on anything) was indeed correct.
14 year old step son who had never even heard of the highway code, confirmed that his dad and brother were both right and I was indeed very stupid and wrong.
Quite a family argument broke out, which ended with me shouting quite loudly that I'm a modern, independant woman and how dare they all question my superior knowledge etc. I have this evening looked up the highway code to show them all how very wrong they are and found this:

170
Take extra care at junctions. You should

• watch out for pedestrians crossing a road into which you are turning. If they have started to cross they have priority, so give way

Pedestrians have priority at junctions. But it says nothing about pedestrians stranded in the middle road.

Am I completely wrong?

you are absolutely, completely, utterly, 100% indisputably right. And you don't need the Highway Code to prove it, because you have this handy Tablet of Stone

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

[QUOTE 2846712, member: 45"]I'm afraid that's a very bitter pill to swallow for some.[/quote]

Never mind bitter, it looks big and heavy to me...

 

[benb]

No I said I MAY have done the same, not would have. I'd have assessed the situation; the OP seems to have carried out her actions as she thought she was "right" rather than based on the hazards presented - if there was traffic in both directions travelling, possibly at 40mph, then I am not sure I would have done as it seems potentially more safe for them to remain "stranded" than to wave them into on-coming traffic over which she has no control.

We are presuming there were children present, which potentially makes it even worse depending on their age and their ability to have awareness of what is happening around them.

Might I suggest you read Sarah's OP again, as you seem to have misunderstood the situation.
The pedestrians were in the middle of a 2 lane road; that is, one lane in each direction. So they had traffic passing on either side of them in opposite directions, but only one lane left to cross.

So by no means did she "wave them into on-coming traffic over which she has no control" as you assert.

By stopping she protected them from traffic going the same direction as her, and allowed them to cross to safety.

The HC does not say that her behaviour was wrong. The specific situation doesn't seem to be covered, but it does say you should take extra care of vulnerable road users, which she did.

I don't really know why you have chosen to be so abrasive and confrontational about it: it does you no credit.

 

[Alien8]

If that were me I would have slowed and then as they started to cross accelerated rapidly tyres a squealing in a cloud of smoke and stench of burning rubber whilst making obscene hand gestures as I passed. That’s on the pedal bike - bloody lycra louts. In a car I’d just let them cross if I thought they would be stuck there all day. Job’s a good’un.

 

[asterix]

It isn't the polices job to make the laws, only to enforce them...when in Rome and all that stuff Asterix

When in Rome you sort the bloody Romans out, obviously..

But WRT to road crossing and all that.

One of the problems pedestrians (and other drivers) face is that motorists are very often travelling over the speed limit, dangerously fast. People might start to cross the road when it seems clear but then a vehicle appears far more quickly than might be expected and they have to stop, possibly mid-crossing where unless the likes of the OP act considerately, they could be stuck in a dangerous position for some time. As has been mentioned, some pedestrians are far less nimble than others and take longer to cross.

There is a lot to be said for lowering speed limits on many roads, including rural ones as a way of making areas people-friendly.

 

[psmiffy]

I don't really know why you have chosen to be so abrasive and confrontational about it: it does you no credit.

Its because he/she is a Troll

 

[psmiffy]

Its because he/she is a Troll

@Marmion that is - not the OP

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Stepson, who is 17 and has recently bought a moped assured me that he has a copy of the highway code that he's considering reading,

I'm sorry to say this actually says it all, there are no doubt many other people who have never read it since they took their test & many more from foreign shores who have never read it in the first place. I know I drive in France, Spain, Cyprus, Greece & the USA & never read their HWC.

Alan...

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

I don't really know why you have chosen to be so abrasive and confrontational about it: it does you no credit.

Nothing abrasive or confrontational from me, I am smiling when I post.

Is that better?

 

[PK99]

So by no means did she "wave them into on-coming traffic over which she has no control" as you assert.

By stopping she protected them from traffic going the same direction as her, and allowed them to cross to safety.
.

Umm, are you sure?

At commuting time in London, you would very likely find a cyclist "filtering" (ie Undertaking at speed) on the inside

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

@Marmion that is - not the OP

are you sure?

 

[asterix]

I'm sorry to say this actually says it all, there are no doubt many other people who have never read it since they took their test & many more from foreign shores who have never read it in the first place. I know I drive in France, Spain, Cyprus, Greece & the USA & never read their HWC.

Alan...

Yes, it's all down to common sense really. The first thing to do is note which side of the road the majority favour and then just go with the flow. I find that blowing the horn a lot can help.

 

[subaqua]

Never mind bitter, it looks big and heavy to me...

I don't think you are meant to swallow it. it looks like it goes "elsewhere"