On LBC radio, the presenter is discussing how so many pedestrians cross the road wearing headphones and earphones and are completely oblivious to traffic. People phoning in saying the same thing. This reminded me of a few weeks ago when some moron crossed the road in front of me (not at a pedestrian crossing or lights) without even so much as a glance in my direction and waiting at the pavement corner as I approached. I've no doubt I would have stopped to let him cross anyway, but somehow he thought it was his right to cross and forget that cars use roads. I can't remember if he was wearing headphones or looking at his phone, but I lightly honked him. Instead of him acknowledging me, he just looked arrogantly with a couldn't care less face and carried on walking. This is not the first time I've come across this. What is it with these ***** that they're so ignorant? I don't know how anything could be enforced (perhaps jaywalking fines in high streets or something) but I really hope someone wearing headphones or looking at their phone when crossing the road (when cars haven't been signalled to stop at an official crossing) gets knocked over. Maybe it will send a message via the media that they should be more careful. It's not just down to drivers to be responsible for everything.
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Should pedestrians take more responsibility?
- Thread starter Merlin5
- Start date
In London I've seen lots of people who step out in front of traffic and expect the vehicles to just slow or stop for them. These aren't people wearing headphones either who are oblivious, they are just ignorant people who know that they aren't likely to get run over as vehicles will have to stop for them, they just don't care.
I've seen exactly the same kind of practise with vehicles though.
If somebody is in a side road trying to turn right across traffic, they will often just pull out to block the entire road, regardless of whether they are going to cause all the other traffic to have to come to a stop, rather than waiting for a gap. I see this happen all the time in London, but not so much outside of it where people have the decency to wait until there is a gap.
I've seen exactly the same kind of practise with vehicles though.
If somebody is in a side road trying to turn right across traffic, they will often just pull out to block the entire road, regardless of whether they are going to cause all the other traffic to have to come to a stop, rather than waiting for a gap. I see this happen all the time in London, but not so much outside of it where people have the decency to wait until there is a gap.
I do this, because if I didn't then despite leaving my house at 7.30 in the morning I still wouldn't have made it out on to the main road by 8.00.
If people had a modicum of courtesy and actually let people out every once in a while then it wouldn't be necessary
I do this, because if I didn't then despite leaving my house at 7.30 in the morning I still wouldn't have made it out on to the main road by 8.00.
If people had a modicum of courtesy and actually let people out every once in a while then it wouldn't be necessary
The majority of people doing it in London though don't even wait for somebody to offer to let them through, they just pull straight out of a side road like it's their god given right and inshrined in the highway code for them to do so.
They're usually people who don't drive - if they had a better understanding of the roads then they would engage their brain.
But I am really, really, looking forward to local streets being closed so children can play on the roads - what an awesome idea.
But I am really, really, looking forward to local streets being closed so children can play on the roads - what an awesome idea.
I agree, drivers like that are morons. Also, the ones that come to a stop in traffic and don't have the forethought to leave a gap for a turning on their left, blocking drivers from exiting that turning (or even their own driveway).
Btw, this radio programme conversation started because councils have been given more freedom to reduce speed limits to 20mph in local areas. Here's the radio stream if anyone's interested.
http://ukrp.musicradio.com/lbc973/live
Ha, easier to carry than a shovel, bin bags and black wrap
For every moron on foot there is a moron on wheels, everyone should take responsibility for their own and others safety. But this is the human race, and this is the age of someone else's problem
Yes, that's what I have to do as well - people never ever let you out so as soon as the slightest gap appears I pull into it and then wait for someone to let me into the lane I want.
It's either that or turn left and drive half a mile up to a roundabout just to turn back round again.
I encounter this a lot, hopefully they will come across someone who decides against braking.
And this kind of thing is just one tiny example of why London is the crappiest city in the UK.
Could moan about all sorts
The pedestrians who just walk along (often don't even have headphones on) and just walk out when crossing roads without a glance at traffic amaze me... amazes me even more so that more aren't hit.
Also on the traffic note when walking to work really annoying how many drivers won't give the slightest way when you have a constant flow of slow moving traffic to let you cross the road so you have to just walk out and force them to stop or stand there like a lemon for ages til theres a gap/someone slows down to let you cross.
The pedestrians who just walk along (often don't even have headphones on) and just walk out when crossing roads without a glance at traffic amaze me... amazes me even more so that more aren't hit.
Also on the traffic note when walking to work really annoying how many drivers won't give the slightest way when you have a constant flow of slow moving traffic to let you cross the road so you have to just walk out and force them to stop or stand there like a lemon for ages til theres a gap/someone slows down to let you cross.
Could moan about all sorts
The pedestrians who just walk along (often don't even have headphones on) and just walk out when crossing roads without a glance at traffic amaze me... amazes me even more so that more aren't hit.
Also on the traffic note when walking to work really annoying how many drivers won't give the slightest way when you have a constant flow of slow moving traffic to let you cross the road so you have to just walk out and force them to stop or stand there like a lemon for ages til theres a gap/someone slows down to let you cross.
I misread the bold parts as a weird contradiction until my brain engaged itself. Luckily there seem to be very few moronic pedestrians around my area, but they are made up for by the absolute imbeciles that drive 45 mph regardless of the speed limit, not to mention the kids that take the racing line round corners, yesterday I only managed to dodge one as the racket from his exhaust warned me he wasn't planning on slowing for the 90 degree corner we were approaching from opposite sides.
In all fairness pedestrians do have right of way. I had to brake hard the other day because a load of kids were running across a wide 40mph single carriageway with a junction in the middle, they were only about 10 and just ran across. I thought the hedgehog thing was burned in to kids brains with a hot poker at school. Could have been a different story if I was in rush mode and coming from the other direction where you don't see down the hill straight away.