Jaywalking

[Resident]

Since the change in the Highway code, as a driver who's on the roads 9-10hrs a day for most of the week I've seen an dramatic increase in the number of pedestrians who just walk striaght out into the road without looking or any thought to their own safety. This is especially prelevant in town and city centres. Worst of it is at light controlled pedestrian crossings where they will blatantly ignore the red pedestrian light or walk straight across the road within yards of an actual crossing.

Personally I saw it coming when I read the new rules ahead of impletmentation. I knew full well that the majority of the population would completely and utterly misintepret, through stupidity or intentionally, the responsibilty heirarchy to mean that being at the top of the tree meant they had NO responsibilty for their own safety.

Is it time, at least in urban areas such as towns and cities that some form of 'jaywalking' law be introduced?

 

[Resident]

I don't think what you're describing is "jaywalking" - my understanding is that jaywalking is crossing other than in accordance with the law/regs, and the recent regulation change was to allow this sort of behaviour, so I don't think there will be much appetite to put in a law that stops pedestrians doing what they have just been allowed to do...

As @Freakbro put. They aren't entitled to just walk out anywhere and at light controlled pedestrian crossings they are still obliged to adhere to the signals

As for defining "jaywalking", obviously in the UK we don't yet have a definition so I will take from the state of New York - "Crossing or walking in the road with no regard for approaching vehicles or crossing a crosswalk when signals prohibit"

 

[Resident]

This guy proves your point nicely OP. Totally didn't understand the new rules.

It would, if he lived in the UK and needed to pay attention to the new rules.

I don't think this is for the most part related to the changes to the highway code - the majority of people whether driver or pedestrian seem oblivious to them.

As someone on the road a fair bit I've seen a huge rise in this kind of behaviour ever since things started to get back to normal from the pandemic, before the highway code changes, and I have no idea why. For instance see loads of people walking in the road 2 abreast approaching the inside of a blind bend, or walking in the road with their head down, earphones in, looking at their phone with their back to oncoming traffic, etc. as well as all the people just stepping out without a glance at traffic to cross the road.



Personally seen a distinct change over the last 1-2 years, there was always some but now it is far too common.

My my experience is a little skewed given that as a bus driver I'm mostly driving around town/city centres so see it more often. I concede that there was an increase of it post-pandemic but from my perspective it's become worse since the new rules.

 

[Resident]

As someone on the road a fair bit I've seen a huge rise in this kind of behaviour ever since things started to get back to normal from the pandemic, before the highway code changes, and I have no idea why. For instance see loads of people walking in the road 2 abreast approaching the inside of a blind bend, or walking in the road with their head down, earphones in, looking at their phone with their back to oncoming traffic, etc. as well as all the people just stepping out without a glance at traffic to cross the road.

Literally just had a post on our driver's FB page. One of our drivers has been involved in a bus vs pedestrian early this morning. Driver is ok and no on-board injuries. The pedestrian, a young woman, however took the full force of a 9ton bus at ~20mph as she walked straight into the road from behind a parked van as the bus was passing. Luckily there was an ambulance passing in the other direction so medical care was immediate. She's alive and stable as this particular model bus has a windscreen that starts about thigh-high on most adults so it cushioned the impact.

The ped, on her phone, earphones in and not paying any attention to her surroundings.

 

[Resident]

"Jaywalking" is an American term only - they're not allowed to cross the road wherever they want (can only cross at actual pedestrian crossings/crosswalks etc), and the term for crossing where they shouldn't is "jaywalking".There's no such thing in the UK, as we can cross anywhere within reason (and to the restriction of a couple of rules).

The amount of plantpots walking in front of cars, however, is certainly a growing concern...

Hence the point of the thread, the initial question being should the UK adopt such laws

 

[Resident]

Ah. Then absolutely not. We shouldn’t be eroding ourselves down the level of air-headedness of the American population.

I’m quite capable of looking whether a car is coming down the road.

Unfortunately I must assume you live under a rock, that erosion happened already.

"Crossing or walking in the road with no regard for approaching vehicles or crossing a crosswalk when signals prohibit"

I've not noticed any change in behaviour, and haven't adjusted my own. I've always jaywalked (in the UK) in cases where my crossing the road wouldn't result in a vehicle needing to slow down, it's just much more efficient than walking to a crossing (if there even is one) and then potentially having to wait for traffic to stop. By jaywalking I ensure that I get to my destination quicker and avoid delaying cars unnecessarily by delaying my crossing until such time as they are in close proximity and hence have to yield to me.

Under the definition I provided that wouldn't be jaywalking.