Is jaywalking (dangerous pedestrian crossing) ever a crime in England?

Altarf

What irritates me is motorists and cyclists who ignore Highway Code rule 170.

Crabman

Mercdriver wrote: »

I was knocked down years ago by a motorist and it was my fault and I got a bill from the ambulance trust.

Did you pay? Is this still their policy? I have heard of invoicing towards motorists (who then redirect it to their insurer) but never a pedestrian.

Mercdriver

Crabman wrote: »

Did you pay? Is this still their policy? I have heard of invoicing towards motorists (who then redirect it to their insurer) but never a pedestrian.

At the time I was a minor so not liable.

I had a similar bill when I was run off my bicycle by someone pulling out of a fuel station without looking. That bill was sent to his insurance company.

boliston

Mercdriver wrote: »

At the time I was a minor so not liable.

I had a similar bill when I was run off my bicycle by someone pulling out of a fuel station without looking. That bill was sent to his insurance company.

What happens with a hit and run? Are you saying that if someone is mown down by a hit and run driver the person who is mown down would pay for the ambulance?

Mercdriver

boliston wrote: »

What happens with a hit and run? Are you saying that if someone is mown down by a hit and run driver the person who is mown down would pay for the ambulance?

No. I am not saying that. Having no experience of that, I will not speculate.

Crabman

Mercdriver wrote: »

At the time I was a minor so not liable.

I had a similar bill when I was run off my bicycle by someone pulling out of a fuel station without looking. That bill was sent to his insurance company.

Thanks, if you can recall, did your parent/guardian end up paying?

Nebulous2

It's a bit hit or miss whether you are billed and I don't know how good the NHS is at debt recovery if you are billed.

A long time ago as a student nurse one of my friends / colleagues ended up between two cars on his bike without noticing one was towing the other. He hit the towrope and fell off. He came to A and E where I was working and was billed £30 for his ambulance and £70 for his x-ray. A month's pay was under £200 net at the time. He was advised it would be to his advantage to pay or it could impact his employment. So he did.

almillar

What, you've never seen one of these? You should get out more .

Ah yes, I've seen those, I always make sure to beep when passing so they know I'm there, since they don't have mirrors. Sometimes they give a 'wheelie' to say thanks.

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

A public highway is always available for a pedestrian unless they are explicitly prohibited. Where there is a pavement, you should use it.

I think the issue of crossing a pelican crossing on red when cars are waiting to go combines a few different aspects - the cars are obliged not to run the pedestrian over, but the pedestrians are committing an act of obstruction. I think if you didn't have a good reason for being in the road and you were hindering the free flow of traffic you'd be committing an offence of wilful obstruction.

I've never had an issue with a driver when being in the road (I'm reasonably sensible), I've had a couple of stand up arguments with drivers who have been incensed that I objected to them trying to drive onto the pavement in a place I happened to be enjoying at the time.

The worst example of police inaction I've seen recently was when a car used the ramp of a pedestrian crossing to drive onto the pavement and park across the pavement, blocking it, to save himself a walk to the cash point (it looked like he'd crashed on the pavement). The policeman breathalysed the driver, and as he passed, sent him on his way with a cheery goodbye. Perhaps the policeman couldn't find the law for driving under the influence of stupidity. He could have done him for obstruction (pedestrians couldn't get round the car) and breaking the law for parking on a zebra crossing (amazing how many drivers think that parking on the pavement behind the zig-zags is ok).

boliston

IanMSpencer wrote: »

....

I think the issue of crossing a pelican crossing on red when cars are waiting to go combines a few different aspects - the cars are obliged not to run the pedestrian over, but the pedestrians are committing an act of obstruction. I think if you didn't have a good reason for being in the road and you were hindering the free flow of traffic you'd be committing an offence of wilful obstruction......

I can't see cars being held up more than a few seconds at most - generally cars get much longer green phases than pedestrians so will have far less waiting overall even if they loose a couple of precious seconds occasionally.