Overwhelming support for new Seven Dials junction layout (From The Argus)

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  Crystal Ball wrote:
  

  KJA_Cooke wrote: The roundabout used to be wider in diameter and was reduced sometime around the 1980s. As for comments about 'another nail in the coffin for the motorist' - better that than a nail in the coffin for someones father, daughter etc. The motorist should be aware that pedestrians have priority when crossing the road and it should always be that way.

  Only if they are halfway or more across the road. And drivers are "obliged" to stop at a pedestrian crossing when a person is waiting but it is not a legal, and therefore prosecutable, requirement if they do not. The door swings both ways as pedestrians using the crossings should wait until cars have stopped rather than launching themselves into the road in the hope that they will anyway (see point above).

  Are you sure about what you state ie pedestrians only have right of way when they are half-way or more across a road?
  
  Highway Code 195 (zebra crossing) states "...you MUST give way when a pedestrian has moved onto a crossing."
  
  Nothing there about 'half-way across' or otherwise.
  
  Rule 195 further states "..look out for pedestrians waiting to cross and be ready to slow down or stop to let them cross." So there is a direct obligation on motorists to stop at such crossing to allow pedestrians to cross.
  
  
  Highway Code 196 (light-controlled crossing) states "...You MUST stop when the red light shows. When the amber light is flashing, you MUST give way to any pedestrians on the crossing. If the amber light is flashing and there are no pedestrians on the crossing, you may proceed with caution." Nothing there about half-way across either (expect the implied position of someone crossing regarding an amber light)
  
  Highway Code 198 states "Give way to anyone still crossing after the signal for vehicles has changed to green. This advice applies to all crossings."
  
  Highway code 170 clearly states "watch out for pedestrians crossing a road into which you are turning. If they have started to cross they have priority, so give way."
  
  So the implication is quite clear; at zebra crossing, the moment a pedestrian sets foot on the crossing, cars must stop. And if executing a turn, any pedestrians already crossing also have right of way. Indeed, nowhere in the Highway Code is it stated or implied that pedestrians only have right of way when 'half way or more' across a road.
  
  It appears that the bottom line is that once a pedestrain has begun to cross a crossing or a crossing a junction into which you wish to turn, they have right of way.
  
  Please tell me you're not one of those drivers who think its perfectly acceptable not to stop at a crossing or accelerate in order to avoid stopping to save 30 seconds on your journey time!"
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