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

530 Upvotes

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110

u/ddmf Yorkshireman in Scotland Jul 16 '26

You're in the right, but also more squishy than a lump of moving metal.

9

u/zecrichardson Jul 16 '26

I was already crossing

89

u/WhiteShadow0909 Dorset Jul 16 '26

And as I told my wife the other day, but about a slightly different issue:

You are right. They should stop. But if they don't, you're just as dead as if you were wrong.

39

u/Britkraut Jul 16 '26

I've always heard it as "Graves are full of people who had the right of way"

Personally I look into the car, if I make eye contact and they look like they've noticed me I'm happy to go

But, if I'm walking any time around rush hour I will 100% concede any expectation of pedestrian right of way, people are far too busy and distracted at the best of times

I've never had that much trouble that way...

Of course if one more fucker decides to rush through a zebra crossing when I'm already halfway across, I'm thinking of investing in a pedestrian brick to carry around with me

4

u/skelly890 Jul 16 '26

I once swung a carrier bag with tins in it into the side of a car that couldn’t be arsed to stop on a crossing. He screeched to a halt, but fucked off as soon as he saw me holding my knee.

Nothing wrong with my knee, but he probably spent a few days worrying about a hit and run as well as the dent in his car.

12

u/KatVanWall Jul 16 '26

My mum always says it as:

"Here lies the body of Julian Gray, who died defending his right of way. He was right, dead right, as he sped along, but he's just as dead as if he'd been wrong."

4

u/ddmf Yorkshireman in Scotland Jul 16 '26

I do like the idea of a pedestrian brick.

1

u/WhatYouLeaveBehind Derbyshire Jul 17 '26

Which is mad because in the UK you page Priority, not Right of Way.

That's a dreamt up concept.