Has anyone noticed the number of pedestrians and cyclists going around with those funny wires or white plugs sticking in their ears oblivious to what's going on around them!
They are earphones
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Has anyone noticed the number of pedestrians and cyclists going around with those funny wires or white plugs sticking in their ears oblivious to what's going on around them!
They are earphones
Yes headphones. The number of cyclists and pedestrians using these in potentially dangerous situations is growing. To shut off one of your 5 senses in traffic is asking for trouble.
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Yes headphones. The number of cyclists and pedestrians using these in potentially dangerous situations is growing. To shut off one of your 5 senses in traffic is asking for trouble.
I absolutely agree with the principle of not cutting off a sense; I lose track of how many times in London traffic hearing a siren or whatever was first warning of an issue.
There are however many different types of headphones/earpieces. Some are closed back or even noise isolating. Others are open and admit significant external noise.
Don't defend their use cycling, walking or for that matter driving but they don't necessarily remove all hearing.
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"Smartphone Zombies"
or “ smombies,
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Yes headphones. The number of cyclists and pedestrians using these in potentially dangerous situations is growing. To shut off one of your 5 senses in traffic is asking for trouble.
I absolutely agree with the principle of not cutting off a sense; I lose track of how many times in London traffic hearing a siren or whatever was first warning of an issue.
There are however many different types of headphones/earpieces. Some are closed back or even noise isolating. Others are open and admit significant external noise.
Don't defend their use cycling, walking or for that matter driving but they don't necessarily remove all hearing.
Most people use noise cancelling so they can hear the music/speech better, and most these days come with N/C as standard, closed back do not prevent outside sound interference to what you listen to unless the volume is high
another point is Blind dogs waiting to cross the road, they are taught afaia to wait until the road is clear before they cross with the owner, which would mean the dog and owner would be standing at the junction a long time if drivers stop to let them go as they are not trained to do that, and its not a good idea to train them to cross the road as it is because they might think its ok to cross in oncoming traffic not stopping.
imo these rules are not very well thought out and for most drivers need educating more about it which means taking more notice of whats occurring on the road which not many do, seen many talking to passengers rather than look at the road so I can understand why so many accidents and its not always caused by headphones earbuds
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another point is Blind dogs waiting to cross the road, they are taught afaia to wait until the road is clear before they cross with the owner, which would mean the dog and owner would be standing at the junction a long time if drivers stop to let them go as they are not trained to do that, and its not a good idea to train them to cross the road as it is because they might think its ok to cross in oncoming traffic not stopping.
Are you sure about that? How would they deal with zebra crossings? Cars have to stop for those.
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another point is Blind dogs waiting to cross the road, they are taught afaia to wait until the road is clear before they cross with the owner, which would mean the dog and owner would be standing at the junction a long time if drivers stop to let them go as they are not trained to do that, and its not a good idea to train them to cross the road as it is because they might think its ok to cross in oncoming traffic not stopping.
Are you sure about that? How would they deal with zebra crossings? Cars have to stop for those.
Would have to agree with Bolt. See the short video below.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=srnsBlQM6I0
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another point is Blind dogs waiting to cross the road, they are taught afaia to wait until the road is clear before they cross with the owner, which would mean the dog and owner would be standing at the junction a long time if drivers stop to let them go as they are not trained to do that, and its not a good idea to train them to cross the road as it is because they might think its ok to cross in oncoming traffic not stopping.
Are you sure about that? How would they deal with zebra crossings? Cars have to stop for those.
Would have to agree with Bolt. See the short video below.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=srnsBlQM6I0
Thanks, interesting video. I suppose when it's a Zebra crossing cars stop at both sides so the dog knows that it is then safe to cross and they will be taught on Zebra crossings when in training.
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another point is Blind dogs waiting to cross the road, they are taught afaia to wait until the road is clear before they cross with the owner, which would mean the dog and owner would be standing at the junction a long time if drivers stop to let them go as they are not trained to do that, and its not a good idea to train them to cross the road as it is because they might think its ok to cross in oncoming traffic not stopping.
Are you sure about that? How would they deal with zebra crossings? Cars have to stop for those.
Would have to agree with Bolt. See the short video below.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=srnsBlQM6I0
Thanks, interesting video. I suppose when it's a Zebra crossing cars stop at both sides so the dog knows that it is then safe to cross and they will be taught on Zebra crossings when in training.
I Think ... This Will Be Chaos! Highway Code Priority Updates for Pedestrians, Cyclists, Road Users - YouTube
interesting videos are made by the above some may be interested in?, or not, but he makes good points imo...
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<< I suppose when it's a Zebra crossing cars stop at both sides so the dog knows that it is then safe to cross and they will be taught on Zebra crossings when in training. >>
Don't forget to allow for crossings with a centre refuge - those are considered to be two separate crossings ....
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<< I suppose when it's a Zebra crossing cars stop at both sides so the dog knows that it is then safe to cross and they will be taught on Zebra crossings when in training. >>
Don't forget to allow for crossings with a centre refuge - those are considered to be two separate crossings ....
The assistance dog objection sounds like rubbish to me. Dogs must have to learn every variety of zebra, toucan, pelican etc. Cars stop at all of them.
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<< I suppose when it's a Zebra crossing cars stop at both sides so the dog knows that it is then safe to cross and they will be taught on Zebra crossings when in training. >>
Don't forget to allow for crossings with a centre refuge - those are considered to be two separate crossings ....
The assistance dog objection sounds like rubbish to me. Dogs must have to learn every variety of zebra, toucan, pelican etc. Cars stop at all of them.
I'll take the experience of someone that has an assistance dog over your thoughts on this one.
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<< I suppose when it's a Zebra crossing cars stop at both sides so the dog knows that it is then safe to cross and they will be taught on Zebra crossings when in training. >>
Don't forget to allow for crossings with a centre refuge - those are considered to be two separate crossings ....
The assistance dog objection sounds like rubbish to me. Dogs must have to learn every variety of zebra, toucan, pelican etc. Cars stop at all of them.
I'll take the experience of someone that has an assistance dog over your thoughts on this one.
A crossing is different from cars just stopping on the road.
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A crossing is different from cars just stopping on the road.
To a dog?
You're right, not my area of expertise. But I first saw this posted on our local FB group. I asked if the same problem didn't arise with crossings generally. Answer came there none.
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A crossing is different from cars just stopping on the road.
To a dog?
You're right, not my area of expertise. But I first saw this posted on our local FB group. I asked if the same problem didn't arise with crossings generally. Answer came there none.
Is there members of the FB group that have assistance dogs?
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A crossing is different from cars just stopping on the road.
To a dog?
You're right, not my area of expertise. But I first saw this posted on our local FB group. I asked if the same problem didn't arise with crossings generally. Answer came there none.
Is there members of the FB group that have assistance dogs?
Don't know. This just seems to be one of those viral things, shared by people with no clue. I've seen it several times now and each time there was a chorus of condemnation of the "i****s" who dreamed up the HC changes.
There was a well publicised consultation around the changes, I even commented myself on parts. It would be strange if those with knowledge of this hadn't contributed or in fact been invited to do so.
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A crossing is different from cars just stopping on the road.
To a dog?
You're right, not my area of expertise. But I first saw this posted on our local FB group. I asked if the same problem didn't arise with crossings generally. Answer came there none.
Is there members of the FB group that have assistance dogs?
Don't know. This just seems to be one of those viral things, shared by people with no clue. I've seen it several times now and each time there was a chorus of condemnation of the "i****s" who dreamed up the HC changes.
There was a well publicised consultation around the changes, I even commented myself on parts. It would be strange if those with knowledge of this hadn't contributed or in fact been invited to do so.
People with assistance dogs and RNIB may have been consulted but that does not mean that it may have an effect on the assistance dogs. Why do you think it's not a real thing? The person in the YouTube video showed and explained the issue.
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People with assistance dogs and RNIB may have been consulted but that does not mean that it may have an effect on the assistance dogs. Why do you think it's not a real thing? The person in the YouTube video showed and explained the issue.
I didn't say it's not a real thing - but perhaps it isn't. No doubt there's something there to understand, but the obvious questions weren't answered in the video and none of the people who share this stuff seem to be able to explain the unique problem with the proposals, which (in theory) turn every junction into a zebra crossing without the stripes. And what did the RNIB and Guide Dogs say in their responses to the consultation? The sharers and the ones vilifying the supposed fascist bureaucrats making the rules don't care.
A bit of digging discovered what appears to be the RNIB response, It makes no mention of this 'problem'.
www.rnib.org.uk/sites/default/files/RNIB%20Highway...x
This is what "Guide Dogs" say. There's no suggestion that they have a problem with the new rules either. It's the guidee who decides whether and when to cross.
www.guidedogs.org.uk/news/highway-code-changes/
So I think my scepticism and inclination to dismiss the hysterical reaction of some is mostly justified.
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Thanks, interesting video. I suppose when it's a Zebra crossing cars stop at both sides so the dog knows that it is then safe to cross and they will be taught on Zebra crossings when in training.
Many crossings are on one way streets.
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>> another point is Blind dogs waiting to cross the road...
I think you mean guide dogs :-)
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I think the new rules are having a positive effect, I run regularly and a few times now, cars have given way to me at road crossings when I wouldn't normally have expected it. So a thumbs up from me!
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My personal experience walking this am and trying to cross at a junction ( I was on side road) showed at least one local driver has no clue.
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My personal experience walking this am and trying to cross at a junction ( I was on side road) showed at least one local driver has no clue.
Works both ways, some drivers appear to know about it by stopping in the middle of a junction to let pedestrians across the road, others don`t and drive on, as pedestrians are doing, either waiting for traffic to stop, or walking across in front of moving traffic giving the drivers the hump (probably because they don`t know)
Be awhile yet before it sinks in with some drivers and pedestrians me thinks....could be arguments along the way I suspect!
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My personal experience walking this am and trying to cross at a junction ( I was on side road) showed at least one local driver has no clue.
I have noticed that some people are walking slow across a junction in the expectation that traffic will stop for them, but if they don`t they are running between cars when they get halfway across the road, risking being hit by the cars going past.
pedestrians were doing this before- but more are doing it now maybe through impatience at traffic not stopping for them?
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What the statistics show is that pretty much every time a pedestrian and car collide, the pedestrian comes off worse.
It seems reasonable that most pedestrians would be alert to the risks of coming into contact with a moving vehicle and behave accordingly and cautiously.
Wandering into the middle of the road assuming that the cars will stop would be a triumph of idiosy over common sense. I am sure some may try - contenders for the Darwin awards similarly try flawed strategies with predictable outcomes.
Just to add that IMHO common sense and courtesy should prevail in the relationship between motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.
If concerned - fit a dash cam so that you can demonstrate (if necessary) that you were driving reasonably, legally, etc and that any incident occurred due to the wilful stoopidity of others.
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Yes. Have front and rear dashcams.
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Just to add that IMHO common sense and courtesy should prevail in the relationship between motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.
Yes I agree. I was wondering if cyclists are expected to give way to pedestrians at junctions. as I cannot see this happening much!
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Just to add that IMHO common sense and courtesy should prevail in the relationship between motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.
Yes I agree. I was wondering if cyclists are expected to give way to pedestrians at junctions. as I cannot see this happening much!
A wonderful piece of self contradiction.
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Had my first experience of this yesterday. Safe to say it will take a while for anything to change!
I needed to turn right into residential street off main road, pedestrians waiting to cross road I was going in to.
I waited, they waited. There was no way they were going to cross and it was further complicated as a vehicle was waiting to turn right from the street into the main road. I was blocking his exit, he was blocking the route for the pedestrians.
I turned, he moved, they crossed,
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Had my first experience of this yesterday. Safe to say it will take a while for anything to change!
Sounds about right. I've bought several updated editions since I got my full licence nearly 50 years ago (honest!) but I don't imagine the majority of drivers have. I also have a copy of Roadcraft.
That's just drivers. How many non-driving pedestrians equip themselves with a HC and read it?
Unless there's some serious public information about this (the newspaper reports are nearly all written from a very negative POV and do the opposite of helping) then it won't really change much. Nobody believes there will be any attempt at enforcement because there's nobody to do it.
It's a good thing that not much has actually changed.
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<< A wonderful piece of self contradiction. >>
It looks like that, Bromp, but those two sentences were from different posters - the first one was an unmarked quote !
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