Settle an argument re: no road markings

mikepoole

A road by us is currently without road markings as it is being resurfaced over a period of nights

My wife insists that even though there are no stripes across the road and there are signs everywhere saying 'No road markings', the pelican crossing is still 'live'. Is this correct? The yellow flashing round lights/beacons are still on the pavement by them - does this signify that the crossing still exists?

DUTR

What are you going to do? Run somebody over to find out?
I trust the beacons are still there and working, so procced with caution for pedestrians crossing.

HappyMJ

mikepoole wrote: »

A road by us is currently without road markings as it is being resurfaced over a period of nights

My wife insists that even though there are no stripes across the road and there are signs everywhere saying 'No road markings', the pelican crossing is still 'live'. Is this correct? The yellow flashing round lights/beacons are still on the pavement by them - does this signify that the crossing still exists?

The crossing doesn't exist in the correct format for a prosecution against you if you cruise through it at full speed whilst a pedestrian is crossing and you are lucky enough to miss the pedestrian. However, at any point of driving you can be prosecuted for careless driving whether there is a marked crossing or not and you either come very close to or hit a pedestrian.

mikepoole

Thanks both for your replies

It wasn't an incident where I nearly killed someone and of course, I always approach an area with caution

it was a simple argument with the wife as someone was waiting to cross and I did not stop to let them cross. My argument was that anyone from out of town would not know there is usually a crossing there

mikepoole

HappyMJ wrote: »

The crossing doesn't exist in the correct format for a prosecution against you if you cruise through it at full speed whilst a pedestrian is crossing and you are lucky enough to miss the pedestrian. However, at any point of driving you can be prosecuted for careless driving whether there is a marked crossing or not and you either come very close to or hit a pedestrian.

Maybe my question should have been phrased from the POV of the pedestrian

'Can I expect cars to stop at that point to let me cross?'

sheramber

A pelican crossing is light controlled so you would need to stop at a red light and the pedestrian would be given the signal to cross.

A belisha beacon crossing or zebra crossing has only flashing beacons and cross markings on the road.

A motorist has to stop when a pedestrian steps on to the road. I was taught to step onto the road and wait for the traffic to stop.

from the Highway Code

Zebra crossings. As you approach a zebra crossing

look out for pedestrians waiting to cross and be ready to slow down or stop to let them cross
you MUST give way when a pedestrian has moved onto a crossing
allow more time for stopping on wet or icy roads
do not wave or use your horn to invite pedestrians across; this could be dangerous if another vehicle is approaching
be aware of pedestrians approaching from the side of the crossing.

Car_54

mikepoole wrote: »

Maybe my question should have been phrased from the POV of the pedestrian

'Can I expect cars to stop at that point to let me cross?'

To which the answer is "No, you can't".

BTW from your original description it's a Zebra, not a Pelican

Norman_Castle

mikepoole wrote: »

it was a simple argument with the wife as someone was waiting to cross and I did not stop to let them cross. My argument was that anyone from out of town would not know there is usually a crossing there

You know there's a crossing there which is temporarily unmarked so should stop. Unless your stopping there could cause an accident involving the theoretical out of town driver what they may do is irrelevant.

Hintza

mikepoole wrote: »

it was a simple argument with the wife as someone was waiting to cross and I did not stop to let them cross.

So to clarify it is a road you know and because there are no markings you decided not to show the pedestrian any sort of courtesy?

Quality......

mikepoole

Hintza wrote: »

So to clarify it is a road you know and because there are no markings you decided not to show the pedestrian any sort of courtesy?

Quality......

No. I know the road. The pedestrian was walking down the pavement and then just started to turn and cross the road as I was almost level, so an emergency stop would have been required.

As I said, no incident, just wanting to settle an argument

Don't judge everyone by your own standards!

AdrianC

The presence or absence of the markings is irrelevant as far as the pedestrian is concerned. Highway Code rules 18 and 19 carry just as much importance as ever.

As far as this hypothetical non-local driver goes, were the lights marking the crossing invisible?