Open Car Door With Wrong Hand - £1,000 Fine !
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Glorious Devon
Posts: 689
In Kuwait drivers turned their hazard lights on in fog rather than slow down. It brought a whole new level of terror to motorway driving, especially when it came to changing lanes or the odd vehicle 3 lanes to your left suddenly realising they were passing their exit.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Reading, UK
Posts: 13,926
Originally Posted by golfbananajam
Originally Posted by Hydromet
And as a cyclist, I carried a length of water pipe so I could thump any cars that came too close when I was riding on the road.
Goose, gander?
Goose, gander?
Anyway, the post to which you are responding was clearly a reference (albeit tongue-in-cheek) to vehicles passing too close, not to parked ones.
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Dorset UK
Age: 68
Posts: 1,458
Originally Posted by off watch
I don't & they're not in the list of changes. However, this new rule is emphatic =
Rule H2 Rule for drivers, motorcyclists, horse drawn vehicles, horse riders and cyclists : At a junction you should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which you are turning.
Assuming it gets the publicity it deserves, without confirmation that 20/21 still apply, I can see trouble ahead, especially if zebra crossings & /or traffic lights don't exist at the junction.
Rule H2 Rule for drivers, motorcyclists, horse drawn vehicles, horse riders and cyclists : At a junction you should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which you are turning.
Assuming it gets the publicity it deserves, without confirmation that 20/21 still apply, I can see trouble ahead, especially if zebra crossings & /or traffic lights don't exist at the junction.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: South Oxfordshire
Posts: 621
I noticed this afternoon, as I walked to the bank at lunchtime, that some drivers have already started to abide by the new rules even though they haven't started yet.
I was allowed across by a tipper truck driver and a car driver at two different junctions.
Something which concerns me now though, is that I wasn't entirely sure whether the drivers were going to let me cross or not. They slowed down quite a bit - but then they would anyway to make the turn. I couldn't really tell until they actually stopped.
So are we going to see an increase in pedestrian injuries, at least initially, as walkers see cars slowing and then incorrectly assume they are abiding by the new rules? Some drivers will stop, some probably won't know about the rule despite the publicity, and some just won't give a toss about stopping.
At least previously you knew absolutely that as a pedestrian it was your responsibility to wait for a gap. This new setup seems like divided responsibility, where you are expected to work out someone else's intentions and has a potentially hazardous level of ambiguity.
I was allowed across by a tipper truck driver and a car driver at two different junctions.
Something which concerns me now though, is that I wasn't entirely sure whether the drivers were going to let me cross or not. They slowed down quite a bit - but then they would anyway to make the turn. I couldn't really tell until they actually stopped.
So are we going to see an increase in pedestrian injuries, at least initially, as walkers see cars slowing and then incorrectly assume they are abiding by the new rules? Some drivers will stop, some probably won't know about the rule despite the publicity, and some just won't give a toss about stopping.
At least previously you knew absolutely that as a pedestrian it was your responsibility to wait for a gap. This new setup seems like divided responsibility, where you are expected to work out someone else's intentions and has a potentially hazardous level of ambiguity.
Last edited by Blues&twos; 24th Jan 2022 at 17:40.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Reading, UK
Posts: 13,926
Originally Posted by dixi188
I thought this was always in the highway code. I remember a question about it in my test donkeys years ago 'cos I wasn't sure what the answer was and just said "give way".
The new HC says you should (must?) also give way to a pedestrian waiting to cross.
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Blighty
Posts: 413
Originally Posted by golfbananajam
But if your that close you can hit an open, or opening, car door then YOU ARE TOO CLOSE to the parked vehicle. It always saddens me when UK cyclists want all the protection of the law but spectacularly fail to obey it.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 13,728
Originally Posted by sycamore
I always put on the `hazards` when parking,or un-parking,as `reversing lights` are not always noticed....
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Southport
Posts: 1,260
I don't think these changes will make any difference to the sizable minority of indifferent, ignorant road users of all types of vehicle, the minority is growing year on year.
Case in point, I was taught to check, before opening a car door, from the inside or the outside, whether there was any other vehicle approaching. This seems to have gone completely out of fashion, everyone just walks into the middle of the road and opens the door regardless of oncoming traffic, it's "me first screw you". No age barrier, young and old do the same. Won't wait 5 or 10 seconds for traffic to pass, it must be done now. Yes I pass at the requisite distance to avoid any collision, but why increasse the possibility just because you;re an impatient git?
Case in point, I was taught to check, before opening a car door, from the inside or the outside, whether there was any other vehicle approaching. This seems to have gone completely out of fashion, everyone just walks into the middle of the road and opens the door regardless of oncoming traffic, it's "me first screw you". No age barrier, young and old do the same. Won't wait 5 or 10 seconds for traffic to pass, it must be done now. Yes I pass at the requisite distance to avoid any collision, but why increasse the possibility just because you;re an impatient git?
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Looking for the signals square at LHR
Posts: 236
Originally Posted by HOVIS
Some drivers are dicks. Some cyclists are dicks.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Glorious Devon
Posts: 689
The new rules remind me of those that pertained in Germany when I was stationed there. We coped.
However, as far as I know, Highway Code not withstanding, it is never legal for a motorist to run down a pedestrian or cyclist and you should drive accordingly. Similarly, it is never legal for cyclist to run down pedestrian, especially when I am just emerging from a shop onto the pavement!
However, as far as I know, Highway Code not withstanding, it is never legal for a motorist to run down a pedestrian or cyclist and you should drive accordingly. Similarly, it is never legal for cyclist to run down pedestrian, especially when I am just emerging from a shop onto the pavement!
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 423
The new road user hierarchy places increasing levels of responsibility to those drivers of increasingly larger vehicles, with greater blindspots, worst manoeuvabiity and poorest stopping ability. Quite how a 44t hgv is going to stop in an instant when a pedestrian steps off a kerb without even looking is going to be interesting.
As for protecting cyclists, some of them should take a course in defensive cycling (or a common sense injection) rather than the "coming through" attitude some have.
As for protecting cyclists, some of them should take a course in defensive cycling (or a common sense injection) rather than the "coming through" attitude some have.
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 783
Originally Posted by golfbananajam
But if your that close you can hit an open, or opening, car door then YOU ARE TOO CLOSE to the parked vehicle. It always saddens me when UK cyclists want all the protection of the law but spectacularly fail to obey it.
But you knew that, didn't you. Just had to make an anti-cyclist point.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Reading, UK
Posts: 13,926
Originally Posted by paulc
Quite how a 44t hgv is going to stop in an instant when a pedestrian steps off a kerb without even looking is going to be interesting.
Although of course if the pedestrian is on his/her phone at the time, then they are immune.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Glorious Devon
Posts: 689
Originally Posted by DaveReidUK
I think the theory is similar to a supertanker having to give way to a sailing dinghy.
Although of course if the pedestrian is on his/her phone at the time, then they are immune.
Although of course if the pedestrian is on his/her phone at the time, then they are immune.
If the larger vessel is unable to manoeuvre because it is in a restricted channel, the sailing vessel has to give way. For a super tanker, the idea of restricted channel is pretty broad.
If the sailing vessel gets itself into a position where the larger vessel cannot see it, then it would be well advised to give way.
Even if a sailing vessel has right of way, it must make its intentions clear in sufficient time for the larger vessel to be able to manoeuvre.
Same with bikes, pedestrians and trucks. Get yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time and insist on priority and you could end up dead right.
Again, a bit like the anti collision rules at sea. Notwithstanding all the other rules, vessels must not hit each other, I.e. the rules are a list of who is to do what in various given sets of circumstances but even of you are in the right, you cannot ram the other vessel.
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 783
Originally Posted by Ninthace
Again, a bit like the anti collision rules at sea. Notwithstanding all the other rules, vessels must not hit each other, I.e. the rules are a list of who is to do what in various given sets of circumstances but even of you are in the right, you cannot ram the other vessel.
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: England
Posts: 75
I always give way to pedestrians when turning left or in any situation where I think they may step out.
So when a pedestrian is walking towards a kerb my mental process is "they will step out, prepare to give way". SO the new rule I assume is for those motorists who's
mental process is "They will not step out, I am not giving way" ?
As to using hazard lights. The answer is in the description. You use them when your vehicle has become a hazard i.e. when broken down.
Using them when parked I find amusing because what you are admitting to is that you are illegally parked.
Using them as a thank you is also wrong. I would prefer you put your boot down and get out of my way rather than fumble with the hazard switch.
So when a pedestrian is walking towards a kerb my mental process is "they will step out, prepare to give way". SO the new rule I assume is for those motorists who's
mental process is "They will not step out, I am not giving way" ?
As to using hazard lights. The answer is in the description. You use them when your vehicle has become a hazard i.e. when broken down.
Using them when parked I find amusing because what you are admitting to is that you are illegally parked.
Using them as a thank you is also wrong. I would prefer you put your boot down and get out of my way rather than fumble with the hazard switch.
Join Date: May 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 58
Originally Posted by BigEndBob
One assumes cyclists also give way at that junction when peds want to cross.
I'm a bit confused by the diagram showing cycle on the right of car.
If car was signalling to turn right why would cyclist try and overtake.
I think cycle is wrong way round.
I'm a bit confused by the diagram showing cycle on the right of car.
If car was signalling to turn right why would cyclist try and overtake.
I think cycle is wrong way round.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 13,728
Originally Posted by DType
Jings! I've used hazard lights multiple times when moving on single carriageways, both to warn drivers approaching fast from the rear when I have notuiced a bog up in front, AND after I have passed a restriction/accident so as to warn those approaching that they have a hazard ahead.
Go to jail, do not pass Go, do not collect £200?
Go to jail, do not pass Go, do not collect £200?
In my experience, holding brake lights on, or flashing them, is the best way to trigger a braking response in following drivers. Obviously, once it’s obvious that a following driver has got the message, brake lights need to be taken off and the handbrake used as required.
Amber doesn’t necessarily mean stop, whereas red does. Many vehicles have indicators low down on the rear end which can be hidden by the next vehicle in line (goodness knows what design logic there is in that) but a high level brake light is mandatory on all vehicles and is more likely to be seen through the windscreens of vehicles some way back in a line of traffic.
To most drivers, hazard lights on a vehicle on the opposite side of the road mean that particular vehicle has a problem, or is causing an obstruction, not that there is an incident some way beyond it.
Last edited by ShyTorque; 25th Jan 2022 at 09:10.
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Iondon
Posts: 30
Originally Posted by Cyberhacker
I believe it is to cover the case where a vehicle overtakes a cyclist (or other slow moving vehicle) then turns across them.
In Greenwich and Walthamstow they have now located both cycle lanes beside the north footway. So if you are going west cycles are going in both directions on your right.
