Courtesy too far.
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From: Mortimer on 11 May 2010 13:25 "loopy livernose" <ifyouwanttoemailme(a)askfor.my.address> wrote in message news:6%fGn.2430$4Z4.1283(a)newsfe13.ams2... > > "Zimmy" <z(a)y.x> wrote in message > news:hsc0c3$nop$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... >> >> "ChelseaTractorMan" <mr.c.tractor(a)hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message >> news:fldiu51mu3qfaptsh2k6a546v0foijjnln(a)4ax.com... >> >>> **this morning I stopped for a woman with pushchair, there was no >>> other traffic except a bus at a stop in the opposite direction. There >>> was a pedestrian reservation. Excessive pointless courtesy? Some would >>> say yes. Some would say more dangerous than letting her sort it out >>> herself. She was talking on her mobile (yep, crossing road with a >>> child and on the phone!) She didn't notice I had stopped at first, the >>> bus did and flashed as it started to move. She then crossed, I reckon >>> that's an inattentive pedestrian in charge of a child got out of harms >>> way. Job done! >> >> I know of a case where a schoolgirl was flashed to cross the road at a >> busy junction outside a school. She trusted the driver and ran across but >> did not realise the traffic coming the other way weren't stopping. Two >> broken legs. >> >> Z >> > > there's a section in the highway code for pedestrians too.. so a car > warned her he was there, but stationary, and she didn't check the other > way on a two way road? I fail to see how its a drivers fault.. (apart > from driving past a school at chucking out time, the driver who hit her > was obviously driving too fast for the conditions... I tend to flash as an "I will wait for you" signal long before I've stopped - as soon as I make the decision that I will give way to the car/pedestrian. The aim is that if I give them enough warning they will be able to complete their manoeuvre before I get there and I won't even need to come to a complete halt. I usually do a quick sanity check that *as far as I am aware* there are no other hazards, but all I am signalling is "I will give way", not "it is safe". If I'm approaching a pedestrian and an oncoming car flashes, I will always try to stop, even if I wasn't planning to do so, because it requires *both* directions to give way in order for it to be safe for the pedestrian to get right across. It's one of the first thoughts on my mind when I see a pedestrian waiting to cross - what if an oncoming car, for reasons of courtesy, flashes to let the pedestrian across - what will I do?
From: Harry Bloomfield on 11 May 2010 14:06 John laid this down on his screen : > Personally - I don't like it when someone slows to 'wave me out' as it is my > responsibility to decide when it is safe and some of the people who try and > give way are not seeing the total picture. From a personal point of view, I find it works perfectly at a busy T junction not far from me and often it can be the only safe opportunity to get out. The T junction is busy with those trying to emerge from the minor road and busy with those making a right or left turn into it, plus lots of through traffic. If you are waiting to turn right out of the minor road, much of the time you will be blocked by those waiting to make a right from the major road into the minor one. Almost everyone has to wait until a right turner gives priority to those emerging. -- Regards, Harry (M1BYT) (L) http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk
From: John on 11 May 2010 14:15 "Mortimer" <me(a)privacy.net> wrote in message news:CdmdndyyCu6wDnTWnZ2dnUVZ7vidnZ2d(a)brightview.co.uk... > "loopy livernose" <ifyouwanttoemailme(a)askfor.my.address> wrote in message > news:6%fGn.2430$4Z4.1283(a)newsfe13.ams2... >> >> "Zimmy" <z(a)y.x> wrote in message >> news:hsc0c3$nop$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... >>> >>> "ChelseaTractorMan" <mr.c.tractor(a)hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message >>> news:fldiu51mu3qfaptsh2k6a546v0foijjnln(a)4ax.com... >>> >>>> **this morning I stopped for a woman with pushchair, there was no >>>> other traffic except a bus at a stop in the opposite direction. There >>>> was a pedestrian reservation. Excessive pointless courtesy? Some would >>>> say yes. Some would say more dangerous than letting her sort it out >>>> herself. She was talking on her mobile (yep, crossing road with a >>>> child and on the phone!) She didn't notice I had stopped at first, the >>>> bus did and flashed as it started to move. She then crossed, I reckon >>>> that's an inattentive pedestrian in charge of a child got out of harms >>>> way. Job done! >>> >>> I know of a case where a schoolgirl was flashed to cross the road at a >>> busy junction outside a school. She trusted the driver and ran across >>> but >>> did not realise the traffic coming the other way weren't stopping. Two >>> broken legs. >>> >>> Z >>> >> >> there's a section in the highway code for pedestrians too.. so a car >> warned her he was there, but stationary, and she didn't check the other >> way on a two way road? I fail to see how its a drivers fault.. (apart >> from driving past a school at chucking out time, the driver who hit her >> was obviously driving too fast for the conditions... > > I tend to flash as an "I will wait for you" signal long before I've > stopped - as soon as I make the decision that I will give way to the > car/pedestrian. The aim is that if I give them enough warning they will be > able to complete their manoeuvre before I get there and I won't even need > to > come to a complete halt. I usually do a quick sanity check that *as far as > I > am aware* there are no other hazards, but all I am signalling is "I will > give way", not "it is safe". > > If I'm approaching a pedestrian and an oncoming car flashes, I will always > try to stop, even if I wasn't planning to do so, because it requires > *both* > directions to give way in order for it to be safe for the pedestrian to > get > right across. It's one of the first thoughts on my mind when I see a > pedestrian waiting to cross - what if an oncoming car, for reasons of > courtesy, flashes to let the pedestrian across - what will I do? > Your 'Flashes' convey some very clear messages - I thought some flashes merely made people aware of the presence of the vehicle - do you mouth the message at the same time as you flash - or do the lights somehow convey your intent. Is it the same as the flashing headlights on a rushing police car or ambulance? I must walk out in front of one to check their intent. I am amazed that you assume people understand your flashes - are they in English?
From: John on 11 May 2010 14:18 > > I tend to flash as an "I will wait for you" signal long before I've > stopped - as soon as I make the decision that I will give way to the > car/pedestrian. The aim is that if I give them enough warning they will be > able to complete their manoeuvre before I get there and I won't even need > to > come to a complete halt. I usually do a quick sanity check that *as far as > I > am aware* there are no other hazards, but all I am signalling is "I will > give way", not "it is safe". > > If I'm approaching a pedestrian and an oncoming car flashes, I will always > try to stop, even if I wasn't planning to do so, because it requires > *both* > directions to give way in order for it to be safe for the pedestrian to > get > right across. It's one of the first thoughts on my mind when I see a > pedestrian waiting to cross - what if an oncoming car, for reasons of > courtesy, flashes to let the pedestrian across - what will I do? > See Highway Code: QUOTE: Signs and markings 110 Flashing headlights. Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users. unquote I fear that some 'good natured and wonderful' drivers are making up their own rules in order to 'collect' waves and an expectation of - a returned favour - or a place in driver's heaven.
From: Harry Bloomfield on 11 May 2010 14:21
John expressed precisely : > Such behaviour doesn't happen in the queue at the bank or the supermarket. > People go to the back of the queue. They don't position their shopping > trolley near the front and look pleadingly at the person behind. Nothing at all wrong with an occasional driver already in a queue, giving way to one on the side road. If it were not for those who do give way, some might be stuck there for hours and how do you tell those rat running, from those who just happen to live on the side road? -- Regards, Harry (M1BYT) (L) http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk |