Pedestrian's/Driver's right of way in car parks?
Discussion
As i understand it, the Driver has the default right of way on the highway (a pedestrian has to give way to a driver before crossing the road, unless it's a marked crossing etc). Is this the same in car parks? Or can a pedestrian step into the route way and expect a car to stop to allow him to cross?
Can anyone link here to the relevant highway code rule please?
Someone stepped out infront of me today while i was driving slowly up a routeway, knew i was coming, ignored me and obviously expected me to stop.
Can anyone link here to the relevant highway code rule please?
Someone stepped out infront of me today while i was driving slowly up a routeway, knew i was coming, ignored me and obviously expected me to stop.
The highway code says
watch out for pedestrians crossing a road into which you are turning. If they have started to cross they have priority, so give way
not the qustion you asked but relevant to one comment you made.
And yes in a car park you should expect to meet people walking err to or from cars they have a parked. Are some people so inconsiderate that it it just plain rude, IMHO yes.
watch out for pedestrians crossing a road into which you are turning. If they have started to cross they have priority, so give way
not the qustion you asked but relevant to one comment you made.
And yes in a car park you should expect to meet people walking err to or from cars they have a parked. Are some people so inconsiderate that it it just plain rude, IMHO yes.
SMGB said:
The highway code says
watch out for pedestrians crossing a road into which you are turning. If they have started to cross they have priority, so give way
Ahh right. If that's the rule, then ok. Thanks SMwatch out for pedestrians crossing a road into which you are turning. If they have started to cross they have priority, so give way
SMGB said:
not the qustion you asked but relevant to one comment you made.
And yes in a car park you should expect to meet people walking err to or from cars they have a parked. Are some people so inconsiderate that it it just plain rude, IMHO yes.
This comment- yes of course, slow etc for people- kids, mothers. But to give way to everyone that walks out without acknowledging chances of imminent impact....?! And yes in a car park you should expect to meet people walking err to or from cars they have a parked. Are some people so inconsiderate that it it just plain rude, IMHO yes.
Thanks SM
zs1 said:
This comment- yes of course, slow etc for people- kids, mothers. But to give way to everyone that walks out without acknowledging chances of imminent impact....?!
Well if they walk out like that, your choices are to give way or to drive into them aren't they?I don't know the answer to your question - whether there is a rule as to who has priority between drivers and pedestrians in a car park. Even if there was a rule, and I knew what it was, and it said that drivers have priority over pedestrians, I can't imagine that would have much effect on the way I drive in car parks.
I think that the common sense rule should apply here.
The offence of careless and or inconsiderate driving can still be committed in a car park.
If a pedestrian suddenly emerges from a line of cars and steps out in front of you, then ultimately they should look where they're going. However in car parks the pedestrian is at a far greater risk than a driver in a car. As a driver you should account for the risks on the road or car park you are driving on. Pedestrians and their movements should form part of your driving plan and you should account for what can be seen, what cannot be seen, which hazards represent the greatest risks, what you may reasonably expect to happen and ultimately what contingencies you have in place for such events.
That said people do often remove their brains when walking around car parks. It's up to us motorists to knock over as few as possible!
The offence of careless and or inconsiderate driving can still be committed in a car park.
If a pedestrian suddenly emerges from a line of cars and steps out in front of you, then ultimately they should look where they're going. However in car parks the pedestrian is at a far greater risk than a driver in a car. As a driver you should account for the risks on the road or car park you are driving on. Pedestrians and their movements should form part of your driving plan and you should account for what can be seen, what cannot be seen, which hazards represent the greatest risks, what you may reasonably expect to happen and ultimately what contingencies you have in place for such events.
That said people do often remove their brains when walking around car parks. It's up to us motorists to knock over as few as possible!
To return to the OP - I tend to think that in car parks the only rule is that the people in the big metal things always have to give way to the fragile fleshy things, no matter how unpredictable or reckless their wandering are. What's the alternative?
It's usually easy to establish eye contact too, with all but the most brain-dead pedestrians, and allows for the kind of smiles and waves and 'after you' gestures from both parties that briefly give you a warm glow ( or is the heater just turned up too high?).
It's usually such a low speed environment, especially in maybe a busy supermarket car park, that you're probably doing something like a brisk walking-speed anyway, so you just become another pedestrian (albeit one in a car-sized overcoat). React accordingly.
It's usually easy to establish eye contact too, with all but the most brain-dead pedestrians, and allows for the kind of smiles and waves and 'after you' gestures from both parties that briefly give you a warm glow ( or is the heater just turned up too high?).
It's usually such a low speed environment, especially in maybe a busy supermarket car park, that you're probably doing something like a brisk walking-speed anyway, so you just become another pedestrian (albeit one in a car-sized overcoat). React accordingly.
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