Opinions on this scenario

parking_question_chap

Interesting (and nearly messy) situation myself and a colleague witnessed on Friday evening and opinions have divided the office. Situation is a ground level carpark with an exit on to a busy oneway road where drivers need to exit turning left on to a fairly busy, yet fast road. Visibility is good.

A Pedestrian walking towards the carpark exit coming against the direction of car movement. Two cars are waiting to leave the carpark, first car driver is looking right (away from pedestrian) waiting for a gap.

As the pedestrian needing to walk across the exit what would you be thinking? The opinions were split between the following.

a) walk in front of the first car because the driver should make a final check for pedestrians before exiting.
b) walk in front of the first car only if eye contact has been made first
c) walk behind the first car, because I cannot be sure they have seen me.

RichardD1970

Certainly not A.

Years of driving, riding bikes (both cycle and motor) have taught me never to rely on the other party doing what they "should".

I'd probably go for C unless the driver had acknowledged me and indicated that I should proceed.

Silver-Surfer_2

Either wait or walk behind. The driver should let the pedestrian pass and would be at fault if they were to hit them.

facade

As you are asking, A) of course!

There is nothing like mumbling "I had right of way......" through an oxygen mask as they load you into the ambulance, and just think of all that lovely compo you can use to buy the electric wheelchair with.... :rotfl:

AdrianC

Anybody looking to cross a road on the expectation that a driver looking the other way should make a final check is somebody who is on borrowed time.

If t'were me, I'd be standing there and waiting until I was 100% sure that one of the drivers had seen me and was definitely expecting me to cross. And I'd be ready and waiting for them to suddenly change their mind...

But perhaps I'm unusually fond of my limbs.

Car_54

parking_question_chap wrote: »

Interesting (and nearly messy) situation myself and a colleague witnessed on Friday evening and opinions have divided the office.

A worrying proportion of your colleagues are idiots.

arcon5

A) is ridiculous

I had this happen once but it wasn't a pedestrian it was a couple with a pushchair and I did for a split second put my foot down to join a fast moving road and even quicker slammed the brakes on.

Ok you should take a second glance, but to put yourself in such a position of danger is shocking!

You walk between the two cars. The second car should see you anyway since they are watching for when the car in front goes

facade

Car_54 wrote: »

A worrying proportion of your colleagues are idiots.

Natural selection will take care of that

forgotmyname

A 100%. At least you get to think i had the right of way as your head smashes into the windscreen.

Although with cars getting more pedestrian friendly, natural selection is not working as well as it once did.

facade

Actually, if the pedestrian is walking across a road junction, and the car is emerging, the pedestrian doesn't have right of way.
Only if the car is driving over the pavement, or if it is turning into the junction.

However, I think we have the "Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer nailed nicely"

Car_54

facade wrote: »

Actually, if the pedestrian is walking across a road junction, and the car is emerging, the pedestrian doesn't have right of way.
Only if the car is driving over the pavement, or if it is turning into the junction.

However, I think we have the "Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer nailed nicely"

No one ever has right of way. Read the Highway Code.