Diamonds in the road before pedestrian crossings

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Diamonds in the road before pedestrian crossings

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

MikeB4
18775 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 12766

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#1009908 20-Mar-2014 15:00

Klipspringer:
KiwiNZ:
No its a warning

Do you want a sign, a diamond, lights, bells a man with a flag al at once.

But the article I just showed you proves something else

http://www.gw.govt.nz/assets/Transport/School-Travel-Plan-Images-and-Documents/Wairarapa-Road-Safety-Council-Road-Crossing-Safety-Sheet.pdf

Still only a warning.

Best practice; see a pedestrian crossing slowdown, see a person near a crossing prepare to stop, see a person motion to cross or crossing irrespective of what side of the road they are on stop.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

MurrayM

2502 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 742

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1009970 20-Mar-2014 16:10

KiwiNZ: I really cannot see the need for a diamond if there are lights. On uncontrolled crossing warning is prudent. We have a few things here that are different to overseas, like the side of the road we drive on, we don't have zig zag lines on the side of the road.

Yeah, why DO some countries have zig zag lines down their roads? I've noticed this in the UK but is it elsewhere too?

MurrayM

2502 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 742

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1009977 20-Mar-2014 16:18

blakamin: NZ pedestrians treat the crossing as if it were a magic carpet and they won't get hurt no matter what they do.
The amount of people I've had step out in front of my semi... I couldn't count. They get the idea when the air horn goes and the trailer locks up, tyres screeching, smoke billowing everywhere.

Or they step out in front of the car that's in front of the truck... mad.

It's my understanding, someone correct me if I'm wrong, that in Japan (and maybe in other countries) pedestrians have the right of way over cars. I've been with Japanese students who were staying with us and they just marched out into the road oblivious to any cars that were approaching, they seemed to just think that the cars had to stop for them.

Oblivian

7345 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2117

ID Verified

#1009979 20-Mar-2014 16:20

MurrayM:
KiwiNZ: I really cannot see the need for a diamond if there are lights. On uncontrolled crossing warning is prudent. We have a few things here that are different to overseas, like the side of the road we drive on, we don't have zig zag lines on the side of the road.

Yeah, why DO some countries have zig zag lines down their roads? I've noticed this in the UK but is it elsewhere too?

Same reason as our diamonds lol

These increase the warning to approaching drivers and also create a zone in which parking and overtaking (i.e. 'passing') are strictly forbidden.

Batman

Mad Scientist
30014 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6217

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1009981 20-Mar-2014 16:22

there used to be a pedestrian crossing about 5m from the double laned roundabout in Avondale Auckland that is super busy with I think 4 intersections.

in that case the city council is to blame. if you knew it existed you looked out and prepare to stop once you negotiate though the sea of cars all wanting to cut you off. if you didn't know ... well ...

scuwp

3927 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2510

#1009983 20-Mar-2014 16:22

MurrayM:
KiwiNZ: I really cannot see the need for a diamond if there are lights. On uncontrolled crossing warning is prudent. We have a few things here that are different to overseas, like the side of the road we drive on, we don't have zig zag lines on the side of the road.

Yeah, why DO some countries have zig zag lines down their roads? I've noticed this in the UK but is it elsewhere too?

It's all around creating visual cues, and sometimes an optical illusion to subliminally alter driving behavior (yip...Mind control!!!). The wiggly lines have been trialed in NZ but not widely adopted.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

scuwp

3927 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2510

#1009986 20-Mar-2014 16:29

Having a wizz through the older posts I can't see the actual law referred to. So how's this from the Road User Rule:

10.1Pedestrian crossings
(1)A driver approaching a pedestrian crossing must—
(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 who are not behind a school patrol sign; and
(b)if necessary, slow down and stop the driver's vehicle for that purpose.
(2)A driver approaching a pedestrian crossing must not enter the crossing if the driver's intended passage is blocked by stationary traffic.
(3)For the purposes of this clause, if a pedestrian crossing is interrupted by a raised traffic island, the parts of the crossing that are situated on different sides of that traffic island must be regarded as separate pedestrian crossings.
(4)This clause does not apply to a pedestrian crossing that is for the time being controlled by an enforcement officer.

Someone commented earlier that you don't have to give way to cyclists unless they are walking. Clearly that advise was incorrect.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

jeffnz

2870 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 666

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1010029 20-Mar-2014 16:55

Bung:
jeffnz:
so to sum up they are amongst the worst in the areas you travel, fine understand now

I don't know what pushed your pedant button. If you are a cyclist all you have to understand is you don't have any right of way on a crossing.

label me as you see fit suffice I don't like gross generalisations of any sort and post accordingly. Thanks for explaining the cyclists right of way but I wasn't in any doubt nor did I bring it up, in fac t apart from this one point I agreed with you.

Galaxy S10

Garmin Fenix 5

nzkiwiman

2585 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 390

Subscriber

#1010039 20-Mar-2014 17:32

MurrayM:
blakamin: NZ pedestrians treat the crossing as if it were a magic carpet and they won't get hurt no matter what they do.
The amount of people I've had step out in front of my semi... I couldn't count. They get the idea when the air horn goes and the trailer locks up, tyres screeching, smoke billowing everywhere.

Or they step out in front of the car that's in front of the truck... mad.

It's my understanding, someone correct me if I'm wrong, that in Japan (and maybe in other countries) pedestrians have the right of way over cars. I've been with Japanese students who were staying with us and they just marched out into the road oblivious to any cars that were approaching, they seemed to just think that the cars had to stop for them.

I noticed that in San Francisco that if I stepped onto the road, cars were stopping several hundred meters from where I was and telling me to cross. Probably scared I would sue them or something

Stu

Hammered
8743 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2409

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1010058 20-Mar-2014 18:07

KiwiNZ: "When coming up to pedestrian crossings:

slow down and be ready to stop for any pedestrians stepping onto, or on, the crossing – this also includes people obviously waiting to use 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"
Source= NZTA

This came in to effect in 2004 I think it was. Prior to that I'm sure the diamonds were there for the reasons suggested by the OP.

It was probably easier to change the road rules than to teach the rules of the time to, and develop common sense in, the unruly youths who insisted (still do) on just bowling out of a walkway or side street onto a badly placed crossing (from a drivers' perspective) in front of cars and expecting them to come to a complete stop in less than a metre. Once actually on a crossing, you'll notice how said youths will drop speed down to a crawling pace. The youth of today also seem to think the effective area of a pedestrian crossing begins and ends 5 to 10 metres before and after where the painted stripes actually are.

Bung

6733 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2926

Subscriber

#1010064 20-Mar-2014 18:29

scuwp: Having a wizz through the older posts I can't see the actual law referred to. So how's this from the Road User Rule:

10.1Pedestrian crossings
(1)A driver approaching a pedestrian crossing must—
(a)give way to pedestrians, and to riders of wheeled recreational devices
Someone commented earlier that you don't have to give way to cyclists unless they are walking. Clearly that advise was incorrect.

I'll put my hand up to that. If you check the definitions in the rules you'll find that cycles with wheels bigger than 300 and something mm are not included in the definition wheeled rec devices.

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

scuwp

3927 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2510

#1010068 20-Mar-2014 18:42

Bung:
scuwp: Having a wizz through the older posts I can't see the actual law referred to. So how's this from the Road User Rule:

10.1Pedestrian crossings
(1)A driver approaching a pedestrian crossing must—
(a)give way to pedestrians, and to riders of wheeled recreational devices
Someone commented earlier that you don't have to give way to cyclists unless they are walking. Clearly that advise was incorrect.

I'll put my hand up to that. If you check the definitions in the rules you'll find that cycles with wheels bigger than 300 and something mm are not included in the definition wheeled rec devices.

By joves your right! So you don't have to give way to me when I stupidly think that crossing the road on my bike is quicker and less inconvenience to a driver, but you do have to give way to my daughter on her little bike. Sillyness prevails.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

Bung

6733 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2926

Subscriber

#1010084 20-Mar-2014 19:23

scuwp:
By joves your right! So you don't have to give way to me when I stupidly think that crossing the road on my bike is quicker and less inconvenience to a driver, but you do have to give way to my daughter on her little bike. Sillyness prevails.

I think a cycle lobby is working on getting the law changed. My issue with cyclists is the speed that they can appear on the crossing. With the crossings I usually traverse there are road narrowing islands at the side and a pedestrian in that area is a warning to slow or stop. The cyclist that could arrive at the same time could be quite some distance away and just going in the same direction as you are. They should be prepared to almost stop before crossing. That would give both sides a chance.

Stu

Hammered
8743 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2409

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1010114 20-Mar-2014 19:55

They should get off their bikes and walk. It's a pedestrian crossing, not a cycle way. Considering you aren't allowed to ride on the footpath it really makes no sense that you can ride over a pedestrian crossing.

Bung

6733 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2926

Subscriber

#1010119 20-Mar-2014 20:12

The line has been blurred as far as footpaths go. Wellington has several wide footpaths that are shared cycle ways.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4