Pedestrian killed by lorry in Nottingham today

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
21

Born Idle:
RIP to the pedestrian. I once had an argument with a woman who asked me (because she knew I drove trucks for a living) that if she walked aggressively along a pavement towards, but not onto, a pedestrian crossing would I slow down & be prepared to stop if she then veered onto the crossing?
I thought about what she’d said, then said no, I would act if she was on or about to use the crossing, but could not be responsible for people walking “aggressively” (whatever the **** that means?) near a pedestrian crossing, explaining that I would never get out of 3rd gear if I had to consider the manner of every pedestrian.
She then said I was a dangerous driver, a disgrace to my profession and should stop driving for a living as I was obviously oblivious to other road users.
I pointed out that a pedestrian is not a road user…and got a load of abuse for my trouble.

Sheesh!

At the risk of going off topic, There were a spate of ‘aggressive’ employees at ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ in Hudds that used to walk straight out of the gate onto the crossing, After an e.stop I gave some abuse pointing out that the highway code specifies that you have to give way to persons WAITING to cross, not those that might cross or those that jump out, fortunately my full load of pickles in glass jars survived. It would seem the message got through, they now have a barrier (like outside schools) blocking the direct route from gate to crossing.

22

Born Idle:
RIP to the pedestrian. I once had an argument with a woman who asked me (because she knew I drove trucks for a living) that if she walked aggressively along a pavement towards, but not onto, a pedestrian crossing would I slow down & be prepared to stop if she then veered onto the crossing?
I thought about what she’d said, then said no, I would act if she was on or about to use the crossing, but could not be responsible for people walking “aggressively” (whatever the **** that means?) near a pedestrian crossing, explaining that I would never get out of 3rd gear if I had to consider the manner of every pedestrian.
She then said I was a dangerous driver, a disgrace to my profession and should stop driving for a living as I was obviously oblivious to other road users.
I pointed out that a pedestrian is not a road user…and got a load of abuse for my trouble.

Sheesh!

It’s hard to see what point she’s trying to make, but . . . everyone has the right to use the highway. The highway is defined by its boundary & this includes the pavement !

If I’m driving on a pavement, which I do regularly, I am not automatically to blame if I knock over a pedestrian. Likewise, they are not automatically at fault if they’re walking in the road on a dark night & I come round a blind bend . . . . !

If an incident like you describe were ever to happen, & I’m sure it has, then the incident would be judged on its own particular merit.

i.e. If she walked onto the pedestrian crossing & you had no chance to avoid her, is very differant legally to a similar incident where you did have a chance to avoid her.

Basically, no one has a right of way that is above all other considerations, just because you are driving a lorry on the road, it does not give you the right to plow into a pedestrian that steps into it.

English law, which has been developed over centuries & forms the basis of most civilised countries legal system, is based upon what a reasonable person thinks. This is why ignorance of the law is not considered to be a defence, if you are ignorant of the law, then you are not a reasonable person.

Did you know that legally there is no such thing as ‘right of way’?

23

The other Wilko driver arrived at the scene approx 5 minutes after the accident so there was no interaction between the two.The driver of the lorry involved in the accident has not worked or drove since,which includes driving a car.The man killed actually walked in front of the stationary bus at the side of the lorry,the bus driver sounded his horn to no avail.The man carried on and was hit by the lorry.

24

Clunk:
Before those front mirrors became standard fit, a friend ran over an elderly couple that decided to cross the road right in front of his Actros while he was in a queue of traffic stopped at lights.
The elderly chap was killed.
It is easily done. Not a nice thing to be involved with, but still an eye opener.

It is not easily done thank goodness.Some pedestrians are careless for sure but some drivers are very unobservant.
Remember a pedestrian has PRIORITY over any vehicle.

25

Slammer:
The other Wilko driver arrived at the scene approx 5 minutes after the accident so there was no interaction between the two.The driver of the lorry involved in the accident has not worked or drove since,which includes driving a car.The man killed actually walked in front of the stationary bus at the side of the lorry,the bus driver sounded his horn to no avail.The man carried on and was hit by the lorry.

Slammer, I feel for the driver, I had exactly the same thing happen to me ten years ago but as a bus driver, a young girl 16 years old ran across the crossing looking the other way, as she ran she hit the button but kept going I realised what was happening and hit the horn and brakes to no avail, she died there and then right in front of me.
I knew some of her family.
I never had any blame it was commented at the inquest how no passengers where injured in the short stopping distance and the car driver coming from the opposite direction said if I hadn’t hit the young girl she would have hit her with her car.

It nearly ruined my life even though not blameworthy and I would encourage any driver going through the same to message me as there is light at the end of the tunnel, it will hit you even years later.
Get help it does help :wink:

26

Chas - of you are driving on the footway watch out - first you are breaking the law which applies to all carriages - s.72 Highways Act 1835 (or s.129(5) Roads (Scotland) Act 1988) - most get bounced with a standard FPN, just like the cyclists who tend to be picked on specifically, but not exclusively, but additionally there is a specific law applied to vehicles over 7.5T GVW which I think is a level 3 offence - £1000 maximum fine. Careful what you admit to doing!

In a survey for RNIB 54% of UK drivers admitted to parking on a footway, a detail which especially hinders blind people and those in wheelchairs, and that is 54% admitting that they broke the law, as vehicles simply don’t jump off the road and park.

27

albion1971:

Clunk:
Before those front mirrors became standard fit, a friend ran over an elderly couple that decided to cross the road right in front of his Actros while he was in a queue of traffic stopped at lights.
The elderly chap was killed.
It is easily done. Not a nice thing to be involved with, but still an eye opener.

It is not easily done thank goodness.Some pedestrians are careless for sure but some drivers are very unobservant.
Remember a pedestrian has PRIORITY over any vehicle.

Not by you of course, must be wonderful being perfect all the time.

Clunk is quite right about the front mirrors, they’re a godsend in modern trucks where you tend to sit so far back and are restricted by the seat belt from craning forward to check in front of you.

I have to say that incidents like this make a strong case for a jaywalking law in cities as happens in the USA. Had the old boy crossed at a pedestrian crossing he’d still be alive today.

28

I stopped at the pedestrian lights near Waddesdon Fire Station a few weeks ago for an elderly chap. He waited, green man showed and he just stood there. I thought it was odd but experience told me he was probably confused and yes, once the red man showed across he walked. Didn’t look either way but made me wonder if I’d driven off and over him would I be blamed?

29

Drift:

Slammer:
The other Wilko driver arrived at the scene approx 5 minutes after the accident so there was no interaction between the two.The driver of the lorry involved in the accident has not worked or drove since,which includes driving a car.The man killed actually walked in front of the stationary bus at the side of the lorry,the bus driver sounded his horn to no avail.The man carried on and was hit by the lorry.

Slammer, I feel for the driver, I had exactly the same thing happen to me ten years ago but as a bus driver, a young girl 16 years old ran across the crossing looking the other way, as she ran she hit the button but kept going I realised what was happening and hit the horn and brakes to no avail, she died there and then right in front of me.
I knew some of her family.
I never had any blame it was commented at the inquest how no passengers where injured in the short stopping distance and the car driver coming from the opposite direction said if I hadn’t hit the young girl she would have hit her with her car.

It nearly ruined my life even though not blameworthy and I would encourage any driver going through the same to message me as there is light at the end of the tunnel, it will hit you even years later.
Get help it does help :wink:

I took redundancy from wilkos a few months ago and i am still in contact with some of the drivers ,but knowing the driver of the accident I know 100% he will never drive again.He still cannot even face coming on site.Is considered a great experienced driver who does not rush about,making me think this can happen to any of us. Thanks for the reply.

30

RIP.
Sorry for the family and the driver’s family.

There but for the grace of god go I.