Why didn't Ireland and the UK implement these pedestrian crossing sign

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

Rest of the EU


In Ireland, pedestrians seem to be treated with lower priority. Even at zebra crossings with flashing beacons some (most) drivers expect pedestrians to wait instead of drivers coming to a full stop and waiting.

cml387

Really?
Try using a pedestrian crossing in Italy.

CiniO

cml387 wrote: »

Really?
Try using a pedestrian crossing in Italy.

or Poland... Good luck....

Meirleach

I tend to find most cars do stop at pedestrian crossings here. I walk a fair bit and while you get the occasional person that puts the foot down and motors on I've never found it a huge problem.

Having said that, I tend to walk up to the crossing stop and look towards the oncoming drivers indicating I want to cross which seems to work far better then blundering onto the road with little or no warning and expecting a multi-ton vehicle to stop in a split second....

Eleven Benevolent Elephants

Meirleach wrote: »

which seems to work far better then blundering onto the road with little or no warning and expecting a multi-ton vehicle to stop in a split second....

The multi ton vehicle should be driven at a speed that allows the driver to stop safely in the distance they can see is clear.

If you approach a pedestrian crossing, drive with caution. There could be a deaf/blind person crossing.

Meirleach

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

The multi ton vehicle should be driven at a speed that allows the driver to stop safely in the distance they can see is clear.

If you approach a pedestrian crossing, drive with caution. There could be a deaf/blind person crossing.

Per the rules of the road -

Always watch carefully for approaching traffic. Place one foot on the crossing to indicate that you wish to cross. Wait until traffic has stopped before you start crossing.

Taken from here - https://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Learner%20Drivers/Rules_of_the_road.pdf

I'm not arguing that drivers don't need to drive with due care and attention, and at speeds that match the conditions.

But I would find that a lot of pedestrians are very poor for indicating they want to use the crossing, via indicating in the above manner. It's a simple thing and makes it easier for everyone.

redcup342

You can tell who is German on pedestrian crossings in Germany.

Their the ones that cross the road with total trust in the Traffic.

km991148

UK Standardised road signs a long time ago (before or around the same time as continetal european countries did).
Ireland seems to be a farcical hodge podge in general with no real consistency.

Usually Ireland mimics the UK in a lot of things, but for some reason never bothered with the road signs.

redcup342

Germany is no different, every area can have its local signs.

Good luck working out what they mean

:rolleyes:

bazz26

You should have a look at some of the Continental dashcam videos on youtube if you think pedestrians get a raw deal over here. Stopping at a designated pedestrian crossing seems to be optional for the most part even when a pedestrian is half way across. Casual jay walking also appears to be more tolerated over here also. You wouldn't dare do it on the Continent as you would be ticketed if you were lucky enough to reach the other side of the road in one piece.

Stihl waters

Only a fool would walk out onto a pedestrian crossing without looking

bazz26

The world is full of fools though.

Uncle Pierre

Eleven Benevolent Elephants wrote: »

The multi ton vehicle should be driven at a speed that allows the driver to stop safely in the distance they can see is clear.

If you approach a pedestrian crossing, drive with caution. There could be a deaf/blind person crossing.

What you say is all fine and well in theory, but suppose you're driving towards a pedestrian crossing at even just 30 km/h, which even you would hardly claim is an excessive speed.

Stopping distance at 30 km/h is in the region of 12 meters. So, as you're 12 metres away, the road is clear because there's nobody at the crossing, so you continue to proceed at 30 km/h. Or maybe even slow down to just 25 or 20 km/h, to allow for the speedbump that may be at the crossing.

Then, as you're just two metres from it, some loo-laa of a pedestrian decides to walk out in front of your car without looking, "because it's a pedestrian crossing". Who do you really think is at fault there?

Del2005

Stihl waters wrote: »

Only a fool would walk out onto a pedestrian crossing without looking

You want to see the amount of fools who walk into junctions without looking.

un5byh7sqpd2x0

bazz26 wrote: »

The world is full of fools though.

68,403,095 currently, and climbing, in great glorious nation of US+A.

phill106

I have taught my children what they are, but also to not trust in the fact that drivers will obey the rules.
Only step out when it is clear the driver has seen you and is stopped/stopping.

As a driver, i do think they should be request lights instead of constant flashing lights. Yes drivers should be aware they should approach with caution at all times, however....people are people..familiarity breeds contempt and we have all seen people sail through them.

ArrBee

I'm struggling to see the point of the OP.
Like, are you suggesting that having different signs would change what happens at the crossing?

There are a range of issues causing the behaviour that you see on the road. I would put most of them in before signs as having an impact on behaviour.
-as others have pointed out pedestrians have a responsibility that currently isn't being met.
-road markings (many crossings are nearly invisible due to wear)
-location of crossings are often poorly thought out (when you combine a crossing with an intersection drives will have split focus unless it is controlled by lights)

bear1

cml387 wrote: »

Really?
Try using a pedestrian crossing in Italy.

They have those?

3d4life

Considering that road fatalities per million inhabitants in the UK and Ireland are amongst the lowest in Europe OP might well ask why the rest of Europe dont do as The Brits and ourselves

Kaybaykwah

Quote: cml387
Really?
Try using a pedestrian crossing in Italy

bear1 wrote: »

They have those?

There used to be pedestrians crossing the used pedestrian crossing in Italy, but in order for youse to abuse a cross pedestrian who is crossing the pedestrian crossing, you need to cross yourself.

bladespin

Talon Old Write-off wrote: »

68,403,095 currently, and climbing, in great glorious nation of US+A.

Don't mind the Biden voters, they're pretty good at following the crosswalks in general.

BobMc

had a jogger just run out on me one day, nearly killed him

REXER

Allegedly smart users of smart phones just stepping out into the street/road whilst beavering away on the device oblivious of what is going on around them!

That is without mentioning drivers doing the same whilst being in charge on a moving vehicle!

My issue with pedestrian crossings is that (as a driver) you approach them and see someone standing at the crossing, staring at their phone.

You slow down and prepare to stop, as they still haven't made it clear if they're stopping for a break or actually crossing the road. So you play it safe, and begin to stop, and they still haven't made a decision, before they begin to turn away from the road, or slouch against a railing or wall, showing no sign of crossing the road whatsoever, all whilst having never taken their eyes off their phone.. :rolleyes:

bear1

Kaybaykwah wrote: »

Quote: cml387
Really?
Try using a pedestrian crossing in Italy






There used to be pedestrians crossing the used pedestrian crossing in Italy, but in order for youse to abuse a cross pedestrian who is crossing the pedestrian crossing, you need to cross yourself.

What?

Kaybaykwah

bear1 wrote: »

What?

Never mined.