Attitude of the POPO!

[Ixion]

Oh dear . It seems its not just the cops that are confused.

[peasea]

It's you teaching all those people I get stuck behind is it ? The rule is you give way to pedestrians, once they have passed your vehicle and are walking away from you then you can move on. It is no different to giving way at an intersection. After the car has gone past you can go, you don't wait until it has reached the next intersection. I'd check that one out, as it bloody infuriates me when people do this, same as signaling right at roundabouts when going straight on.

I strike that shit on an almost daily basis. When are they going to video roundabouts ffs?

[peasea]

Oh dear . It seems its not just the cops that are confused.

In this (Nelson) region it seems to be anyone in a camper van is confused, closely followed by old codgers with hats. (Who are terminally confused.)

[peasea]

all of you guys.

'mermaid'.............................."guys"........

[rastuscat]

It's you teaching all those people I get stuck behind is it ? The rule is you give way to pedestrians, once they have passed your vehicle and are walking away from you then you can move on. It is no different to giving way at an intersection. After the car has gone past you can go, you don't wait until it has reached the next intersection. I'd check that one out, as it bloody infuriates me when people do this, same as signaling right at roundabouts when going straight on.

Ah, the give way conundrum.

Way has to be given to someone when the rules dictate. Once the right of way has been exercised, it no longer exists. Any more than you have to give way to a car which has driven past the give way you have been giving way in.

So there.

[miloking]

'mermaid'.............................."guys"........

Well i though, "he" is a guy ...correction then "all of you ladies"....

[rastuscat]

I am a Driver Trainer and am constantly explaining to students why that officer .....drove away at a pedestrian crossing before the person had exited the crossing (no it did not have the raised median),

Road User Rule 2004
10.1 Pedestrian crossings
(1) A driver approaching a pedestrian crossing must—
(a) give way to pedestrians, and to riders of wheeled recreational devices or mobility devices, on that pedestrian crossing; and
(b) if necessary, slow down and stop the driver’s vehicle for that purpose.

My my, and you are a Driver Trainer? Where does it say you have to remain stopped until the pedestrian who has already passed across the front of your car, has exited the crossing?

Cringe.

So there.

[peasea]

Road User Rule 2004
10.1 Pedestrian crossings
(1) A driver approaching a pedestrian crossing must—
(a) give way to pedestrians, and to riders of wheeled recreational devices or mobility devices, on that pedestrian crossing; and
(b) if necessary, slow down and stop the driver’s vehicle for that purpose.

My my, and you are a Driver Trainer? Where does it say you have to remain stopped until the pedestrian who has already passed across the front of your car, has exited the crossing?

Cringe.

So there.

So, according to (a) drivers must give way to me if I'm riding my bike over a pedestrian crossing?

[Ixion]

Ah, the give way conundrum.

Way has to be given to someone when the rules dictate. Once the right of way has been exercised, it no longer exists. Any more than you have to give way to a car which has driven past the give way you have been giving way in.

So there.

However, the Roiad Code (which, granted, has not the force of law) states

Pedestrian crossings

A pedestrian crossing is an area of road that has white stripes marked across it.
Some crossings have raised islands in the middle, creating a ‘refuge' where pedestrians can stop. These are helpful for pedestrians crossing wide, two-way roads or multi-lane roads, because they allow them to walk across one direction of traffic at a time.
As you drive towards a pedestrian crossing, you will see pedestrian crossing signs before the crossing and black and white poles at the crossing. The poles are mounted with fluorescent orange disks, or round yellow lights that flash at night. White diamonds are generally painted on the road before the crossing, and a white limit line shows you where to stop.
When coming up to pedestrian crossings:

• slow down and be ready to stop for any pedestrians on, or stepping onto, the crossing
• if there is no raised traffic island in the middle of the crossing, stop and give way to pedestrians on any part of the crossing
• if there is a raised traffic island in the middle of the crossing, stop and give way to pedestrians on your half of the road
• wait until the pedestrian has crossed in front of you and is clear of your vehicle before you proceed - see give way rules.

Since a driving instructor is concerned to have his pupils pass the test, I think it would be wise of him to instruct them to take heed of the highlighted section

Moreover, in practical reality, one significant danger to pedestrians is the pedestrian (often elderly) who passes in front of your vehicle , then, frightened by oncoming traffic from the other direction, steps backwards. Which is an issue that does not occur with a car. In fact, there is no legal prohibition on a pedestrian crossing in front of your vehicle , spinning on his or her heel and crossing back in front of you. Or , indeed, even walking backwards! We must give way to traffic (including foot traffic) coming from all directions. Bear in mind the requirement is to give way to pedestrians ON the crossing. Not pedestrians ENTERING the crossing. I do not think you are legally entitled to make assumptions about what direction the pedestrian will take.

So I think you cannot rely on the "she has passed me so I can go". Arguably, you need to give way so long as she is within "striking distance" . If a driver were to hit and kill a "stepping back" pedestrian on a crossing I suspect the courts would, quite rightly IMHO, be most unsympathetic.

Moreover, from a human POV, users of pedestrian crossings are often either elderly, or young. We should extend a degree of courtesy and circumspection. It does no harm to wait the second or so to allow them to reach a place of safety (though 'place of safety' is probably not always synonymous with 'exited the crossing')

[peasea]

"walking backwards" chucklefest.

[scumdog]

It's you teaching all those people I get stuck behind is it ? The rule is you give way to pedestrians, once they have passed your vehicle and are walking away from you then you can move on. It is no different to giving way at an intersection. After the car has gone past you can go, you don't wait until it has reached the next intersection. I'd check that one out, as it bloody infuriates me when people do this, same as signaling right at roundabouts when going straight on.

[rebyl]

Actually Berries you are totally wrong, well only part correct, if the pedestrian crossing is divided in the middle of the road by a raised median you only have to wait till they have stepped on to that part, if the pedestrian crossing has no raised median then you are obliged by law to wait until the pedestrian has completly left the crossing, you are NOT allowed to move off just because they have passed your vehicle....Go check the Road Code if you do not believe me...actually that is one reason that I believe that everyone should resit a Theory test at least every 5 to ten years....I also constantly have to point out to parents that they are teaching their children the wrong way to indicate at Roundabouts...Yes you can call me a know all, but then again it is my job to know it all.
Why not surprise yourself and go to the NZTA web site and click on Road Code and a whole new world will open to you....The real Rules...not just what people do because they want to and because they don't give a toss about the law and then BITCH like hell when it turns to custard....end of sermon
There is way more to driving than just the mechanics of moving a vehicle from one place to another

[rebyl]

Your Road Code quote is 6 years out of date

[Berries]

I won't quote the road code because it has no standing in law, but see Ixions post above for what it actually says. It is driving tips based on the Road User Rule, which is also quoted above (but see below). I used to work for the LTSA and LTNZ and it was me who people rang for clarification on the road rules, including the media and the police, so I think I have a pretty good grip on things. All the raised median issue did was clarify the situation where a white line had been painted through the crossing. Some thought this indicated separate crossings some didn't. So the rules were changed. If there is no raised median you consider it as one crossing and are required to give way to pedestrians in both directions.. But as rastuscat pointed out, once someone has passed you you are deemed to have given way. In no legislation does it say you then have to wait for them to reach the footpath on the other side. Although if you know different I am happy to be proved wrong as I have been out the game for a few years.

Edit - Clause 10.1(1)(a) of RUR above was replaced with this last year -
“(a) give way to pedestrians, and to riders of wheeled recreational devices or mobility devices,—
“(i) on the pedestrian crossing; or
“(ii) obviously waiting to cross it; and

The purpose of this was so that if someone was standing waiting to cross you had to stop, before then it was only if they were on the crossing. Doesn't change our argument though.

[Berries]

So, according to (a) drivers must give way to me if I'm riding my bike over a pedestrian crossing?

No. The same Rule defines wheeled recreation devices and I doubt Biggus Blockus falls in to that category.