Changes to the Highway Code

[whole diary]

[Marlburian]

Almost four years later, I still have my doubts about motorists deferring to pedestrians WAITING  to cross a road at a junction. Yesterday I was driving behind another motorist who suddenly stopped on a mini-roundabout to allow someone to cross the road. I ws driving slowly and had left a good gap between my car and his, so was able to stop in time, but ...

(A few miles later, I stopped in a village to buy a newspaper, parking  beyond the shop and walking back, then, some hours later, driving back past the shop. On all three occasions there were pedestrians crossing the road obliquely, to the extent they couldn't see traffic approaching them. Reminded me of decades ago when I used to cycle along Marlborough High Street, a very wide road with cars parked either side and in the middle; I could count on someone walking across at an angle.)

[infoman]

When I made a trip to Australia,I recall how motorists gave way to the pedestrians on all road junctions.

[CyclingSid]

Changing the Highway Code, regrettably, is unlikely to change behaviour on its own.

For most people the Highway Code is something people "mug up on" for the driving test, and never look at again. How many people have a copy of the new Highway Code? When did people last look at the Highway Code? A possible Graham poll?

[Chris from Nailsea]

In France, where I have driven a car, "... when pedestrians express the wish to cross at a pedestrian crossing, they have priority, any vehicle must let them pass."

See https://www.onisr.securite-routiere.gouv.fr/en/node/497

In the UK^▸ (United Kingdom), the full updated Highway Code is available online, at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code