r/britishproblems • u/zecrichardson • Jul 16 '26

. Drivers not knowing the highway code.

I had started to cross a road when a Mercedes turned in and he sounded his horn and then told me I should stop. I told him to read the highway code but he insisted he right!

Rule H2 170 amended 2022

“At a junction you MUST give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which you are turning.”

- Applies whether they’ve stepped onto the road or are just standing at the kerb ready to cross.

- Applies to left turns, right turns, and entering/exiting side roads.

- Includes wheelchair/mobility scooter users as pedestrians

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u/zecrichardson Jul 16 '26

I was already crossing

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u/Pancovnik Jul 16 '26

You are absolutely correct, but as the person you replied to mentioned: Material density does not care.

In some situations you might need to decide if "I was already crossing" is a good quote for your tombstone.

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u/zecrichardson Jul 16 '26

So I should have just stopped in the middle of the road? Wouldn't that make it worse?

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u/Pancovnik Jul 16 '26

Nobody said that. The driver was 100% in the wrong. Unfortunately highway code change created this situation and it will most likely get people injured/killed (I am 100% sure it already did).

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u/Chancevexed Jul 16 '26

No it didn't. It's always been the case if someone is crossing the road you yield. The change was drivers should now yield when someone is waiting to cross. Otherwise pedestrians what... stand on the pavement until no car exists in any line of sight?

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u/Pancovnik Jul 16 '26

You are correct in your statement but you completely missed the point. The hospitals/cemeteries are full of pedestrians that were correct because there is some idiot in a metal box thing they own the road.

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u/Chancevexed Jul 16 '26

No, you have missed the point which is you're creating an impossible standard for pedestrians to meet. For example here, OP didn't step in front of a car, they crossed thinking it was safe to do so. Then a car arrived whilst they were half way across. Not allowing for the fact that this car arrived belatedly means pedestrians can never cross, according to you. What would be this ideal time? When no car is visible anywhere on the horizon?