Right of way - cars or pedestrians?

obanpussyginger2

simple answer
when I'm driving, i have right of way
when I'm walking i have right of way

Twisted_Ace

In Great Britain, pedestrians ONLY have right of way if:

a) They are crossing the road on a designated, marked pedestrian crossing, or
b) They are crossing a side road at a junction and you are turning from a main road into that side road.

At all and any other locations, vehicles have priority.

Rowan

Technically, the pedestrian always has the right of way if in the road, which is why you can't just run over them(unfortunately sometimes,)but obviously you have to exercise common sense too. So if cars are whizzing past you don't just throw yourself into the road and cars have no obligation to stop before the pedestrian steps out onto the highway.

Fellside13

If it is only a lowered kerb (to be DDA compliant) it is not a crossing and therefore cars have the right of way.

A pedestrian crossing has to have the appropriate markings and signage and in the case of a zebra crossing (at least) the beacons have to be working too.

dork878

You always have the option to stop or hit the pedestrian. Hopefully you will stop and thus, avoid going to jail for involuntary vehicular manslaughter.

Cars I have the right of way.

Melissa

The pedestrian has the right of way.

This doesn't give him permission to do something stupid. If he does something stupid anyway, it does not give you permission to run him over.

UCANTCME

The law is that you must yield for any and all pedestrians........

Charley

Pedestrians. Roads may be reserved for driving on, but these area's have been speically reserved for partially sighted people. Pedestrians have right of way over cars.

rowdy

You have to remember that all roads in the UK (apart from newly engineered roads like motorways and by-passes, etc.) grew up from footpaths, which in turn grew up from ancient rights of way, given by whoever owned the land.

Those rights of way have never been removed, so, legally, we're in the same position as we were centuries ago - people on foot (and horseback) have a right to pass along the road. Motorists don't (that's why you need a licence - "licence" is a legal word meaning "permission").

So, on a road which is a right of way, the pedestrian has priority, even if he's walking in the middle of the road. That's simply because he's exercising his right of way, which, as a motorist, you don't have.

That's the legal position. So, what if a pedestrian suddenly walks out in front of you? Well, the law will say that pedestrians sometimes do stupid things, and as a driver you have to allow for it. Of course, courts are not daft, and if you ran over a pedestrian who really gave you no chance, you wouldn't be prosecuted. That's why pedestrians tend to stay on the pavements!

revolutionary4ever2002

A pedestrian should have the right of way however, sometimes ignorant people run or walk in front of your car knowing they are in the middle of the street and jay walking. If someone like that gets hit I will not feel sorry for them. Speacially some teenage kids and dumb adults that do it to be "cool"

desert camel

pedestrians ALLWAYS have the right of way...even if they knowingly walk out in front of u...dozzy people.

Sahara

The pedestrian has the right of way. If you can stop safely then you must. It's really quite simple. If you cannot stop safely but you hit the pedestrian then it is my understanding that the driver will not be held liable because there was no way the driver could have stopped to prevent an accident. There are limits. But cut pedestrians some slack and be on the lookout for them too, especially children and the elderly. (I would definitely add pets and all animals)

pedestrians have the right of way except on a motorway

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