[Oldfatgit]

https://youtu.be/tPXXPkUNuDw

Tonight, while commuting home I’ve stopped to let a pedestrian cross the road, and had a bit of an angry blast on the horn from the guy behind me.

Traffic light controlled roundabout; I’m taking second exit.
I’ve waited  until my lights have changed to green and rolled on … as I’m rolling the next set of lights have turned green; this set is immediatley before my exit.
I’m rolling through the green, and there is a pedestrian waiting to cross my exit.

I roll to a stop to let the pedestrian cross.
Van behind me is not very impressed and gives a long blast on the horn.
I’m not impressed or intimidated by the van, and shout back “What?” followed by “Read the Highway Code”.

There is no further communication between myself and the van driver, other than the driver raising both is hands in the exasperation gesture, and shaking his magic beans at me.
Driver then turns right at next roundabout (approx 67m) and goes and sits at a fuel pump.

My interpretation of H2 and Rule 170 is that I was correct to stop … I was turning and the pedestrian was waiting to cross, ergo, I was correct to give way.

However … all the illustrations relate to a side road off, and not an exit from a roundabout .. which makes me wonder if I was correct or not.
The junction has no traffic control for pedestrians, however there is drop down kerbage and tactile paving, and is also a shared pathway.

Now .. the question is … was I right to stop?

Topic

[Oldfatgit]

Having been hit before and
Having been hit before and left with life changing injuries, I think your last paragraph sums it up for me.

It’s all very well being *right* … but I really don’t want to go through or put my family through, the pain and suffering following getting hit … allowing a pedestrian to cross the road is not a hill I want to die on.

I suppose roundabouts are different in the way that people drive them; acceleration is earlier as sightlines tend to be better – if only we’d move to a road layout that puts a zebra crossing at each roundabout exit/ entrance…

[wycombewheeler]

1) that’s a shame, to be

1) that’s a shame, to be clear the reason oncoming traffic has t wait is because the driver did not make correct observations before starting

2) yes, drivers need to adjust their thinking

3) this is the crux – I would not apply rule 170 to a roundabout, since all exits are equal and none is therefore the side road. While I agree that in general a car continuing round will be looking at other things that an exit they are not taking, in this case the cylcist is in a lane for that exit, so a driver following would be in the same lane.

4) Infrastructure is at fault, traffic light roundabouts should have pedestrian lights for the crossings 

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.6309769,-0.7549117,3a,75y,50.84h,71.8t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sBKE4M7Ehr6-n10q3IUmdwg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

or a safe pedestrian crossing (zebra) sufficiently back from the exit to not block the roundabout

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.6309595,-0.7542669,3a,75y,70.77h,83.91t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1ssEEeT7_3rjfLnVghFSP9ww!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

 

pedestrians should not need to wait for the roundabout to be empty to cross or have to guess which exit all the drivers will be taking, assuming 100% acurate signalling.

[IanMSpencer]

When trying to adopt this I
When trying to adopt this I’ve come across a couple of gotchas which mean that you do have to be circumspect:

1) right turn into a junction, if someone only becomes apparent as you start your turn, you risk blocking the oncoming lane.

2) Turning left, you need to adjust your thinking, because in the new world, you are more likely to need to stop, before a car appearing was normally enough to make pedestrians wait – not that you should ever have been driving in such a way as to risk running over a pedestrian, but I’m sure many a pedestrian has been forced to step back in the past.

3. On a roundabout you have to be mindful of traffic behind which will be anticipating you moving off the roundabout. A car continuing round a roundabout may not consider that you will potentially stop on the roundabout to allow pedestrians to cross, and will not be watching your exit, also with roundabouts having multiple decision points keeping clear observation behind is not so easy – the key mirror check on leaving is normally the nearside mirror to make sure nobody is trying to undercut you, but if you might stop, you’ve got a complete mirror check to fit in.

I suspect a driver hindered on the roundabout might be aggrieved that their passage is impeded by events not on their route.

[HoarseMann]

100% you were within your

100% you were within your rights to stop for the pedestrian. A roundabout is considered to be its own circular carriageway, distinct from the adjoining roads and each entry/exit is a junction.

However, this has been poorly communicated in the recent highway code updates and people have different opinions on this. Whenever something can be debated, it usually means the rules are not clear enough.

So, with this in mind, I would say next time make the pedestrian wait. You are a vulnerable road user too, plus you do not have the mass nor the width to offer any protection to a pedestrian should a motorist fail to stop.

[andystow]

Exactly. Otherwise

Exactly. Otherwise pedestrians would have to treat marked crossing points differently depending on if it’s reasonably close to a roundabout exit or not. Imagine teaching children how to cross and having to explain this distinction.

Of course, as a pedestrian I’m still not going to trust my life to drivists stopping, nor teach children (mine are grown now, fortunately) to do so.

[Mungecrundle]

I’m sure that some will jump
I’m sure that some will jump on this as an example of the revised HC causing confusion, but really it is very simple based on the hierarchy of road users. Peds are top of the pile, if in any doubt give them priority. As soon as some of the a-holes with driving licences start to understand this the roads will be far safer.

[NOtotheEU]

In my opinion you were 100%

In my opinion you were 100% correct in what you did. A few people who know a lot more than me have said roundabout exits are included in the HC advice in their opinion in various Youtube videos I’ve watched on the subject.

I’ve been stopping for peds since the changes as I turn into side roads and once at a roundabout exit and as of yet have had vehicles wait patiently behind me but I was nearly rear ended by a van when I stopped at a red light on the way home tonight.

[Simon E]

Rule 170 says: “give way to

Rule 170 says: “give way to for pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which you are turning.”

It could be argued that it was a road you were turning into, though I’m not sure it qualifies as such. I’d suggest that it was just a simple gesture – you chose to stop, you were not required to do so.

Rroundabouts, rule 185: “In all cases watch out for and give plenty of room to pedestrians who may be crossing the approach and exit roads”

The impatient bell-end behind you can shove his aggressive use of the horn up his arse.

[Author]

Replies