Learn the rules...

[Peter Ward]

A quick perusal of Australian road rules will reveal motorists are required to give way to pedestrians.

The same applies in most other jurisdictions...in fact I was blown away by how courteous USA drivers are to pedestrians.

Yet, seems some drivers in Oz have a different idea.

While walking to my car parked at my local supermarket carpark, a female of the species (who apparently wanted to reverse onto a car space, the lack of indicators gave me zero clue to her intentions) was incensed by the fact I did not wait for her to literally get her ass into gear...and dared walk past the vacant space she had intended to reverse into.

Then there was the horn, the window down and some words from her...

OK I stopped. Thinking WTF?
We had words.

"You are kidding me!!" she says.
"Actually, I had not idea what you had intended, but you are actually supposed to giv....(I was interrupted)"

Could not get a word in. :rolleyes:

It was hopeless.

So I abruptly ended our chat with a quote from a favorite uncle of mine.

Madam! Shut up! I don't argue with Ladies or idiots....and you and no lady!!! :mad2:

[Redshift13]

I work in traffic control... and in our industry this kind of thing is a daily occurrence.
I usually just smile at the driver and just tell them that it's not me they need to argue with, it's the judge that needs to be convinced that they've done nothing wrong, after they've injured or killed a roadside worker (it does happen, sadly, more often that it should).
That tends to shut them up and send them on their way pretty smartly.

[glend]

I love the ones that send a co-conspirator to stand in a vacant spot until they can get their car around to it. I have seen a few confrontations in Sydney provoked by this sort of behaviour. Mostly seems to happen in large Westfield Centres. Have seen it at Carindale in Brisbane once as well.

[17particles]

That's when I miss my $1000 car. It was immune to retaliation.

[Ausrock]

Carnarvon St., Broome could be the exception........some pedestrian crossings are clearly signposted that cars have "right of way" :)

[multiweb]

Got knocked off balance by a reversing car out of car space years ago. Picked myself up walked to the window. I said didn't you see me back there only to get the death stare. :shrug: Some people are mongrels. That's all there is to it. Eyes up and watch your step.

[TrevorW]

On the other hand I've had pedestrians keep walking behind my car in shopping centers even while they could see I'm reversing expecting me to stop then give way to them, now if you see someone is reversing wouldn't the smart thing be to go around the front of the vehicle as you the pedestrian could end up being in a blind spot if you continue to walk behind a reversing vehcile :)

[multiweb]

:eyepop: I'll watch out for you too then Tevor :lol:

[Peter Ward]

Me too:)

Actually I'm not a fan of reverse parking (unless sign-posted).

It makes no sense to me having to carry/scrape your shopping past your door (and other people's cars ) to your boot, whereas, if you simply went nose in, no such drama.

[multiweb]

If you're in the right aisle that has a trolley return bay that is. The only system that works is costco with its oversized parking spots but then again the trolleys are huge so... same issue. :lol:

[FlashDrive]

Offer her a free ride in the A380 .....Toss her out at FL360 ....!!

[GrahamL]

If it makes you feel a little safer my old neighbour to this day will drive around the supermarket carpark to find a space she dosnt have to reverse out of because she still cant reverse a car , 30 years and counting .


liscences issued by the local police officer were the norm back then if you could drive the block without killing anything you got the nod .

[Renato1]

I have to agree with you, as my wife and I were amazed too.

I couldn't believe how courteous USA drivers on the west coast were to both pedestrians and to other drivers.

In terms of courtesy, driving in Australia lies between the genteel courtesy of the USA and the abuse and aggressiveness I regularly get in Italy.
Cheers,
Renato

[appiice]

I have almost run over a copper because he walked behind from the over side of the road whilst I reversed parked into a spot, I know I should give way to him but his death wish trumped his walking in a blind spot.
As an old white male ( of no use to society any longer - apparently ) my observation is that young woman have more testosterone in them than sense and have a disproportionate sense of nothing can hurt them, if I see a car reversing or on the road I watch them, they may have the right of way but that doesn't help you when your in hospital!

[Peter Ward]

What? No mirrors? No reversing camera?

We have an EV....it is almost silent when moving hence we rely on the reversing cameras a lot. I don't blame pedestrians for not realising the car is about to or actually is on the move. A little patience and courtesy is all that you need.

[appiice]

In Bathurst, we have useless 45 degree reverse in parking, so you have to stop in front of where you are going to park, a fair and reasonable person would see a pedestrian crossing the road towards you. A fair and reasonable pedestrian would see the car slow, stop and then start to reverse back, a fair and reasonable driver cannot possibly be expected to see a pedestrian come across a road and walk behind where you are in motion, in reverse.
I saw the copper in my right hand external mirror, I didn't see him waiting to cross the street or even crossing the street, I only saw him when he was about to walk in the space I was reversing into.
Would I be at fault if I had hit him? yes, but I wouldn't be lying on the road injured.
So, my point is, right is all and good but what good would it have done him if I had hit him and what good would it have done me to live with the knowledge I had injured or killed him - unlikely as I was moving at or below walking pace.
Ultimately we are responsible for minimising the risk to ourselves, road rules and all included.

[Peter Ward]

No cameras eh? That said, the all around visibility from a model-T is actually pretty good :D

While I wouldn't recommend stepping behind or in front of a moving vehicle, I also seriously doubt while reversing, typically at 5-10 km hr , that you are going to kill anyone..... well maybe...if he/she decided to also lie down on the road and end it all...

[astroron]

A little patience and courtesy is all that you need.[/QUOTE]

By both parties it would seem.;)
Cheers:thumbsup:

[xelasnave]

Pedestrian or a driver I always let a lady go first ...that was the rule I was taught to follow.
Alex

[astroron]

Good one Alex:thumbsup:

[TrevorW]

Yes, I would agree but that was it the day when ladies were taught to be ladies, which has now long past for most :question::D

[xelasnave]

Perhaps I should have added a foot note that the context was that lady referred to a group that included women, girls ... In general the human female and the rule did not allow exclusion for any reason whatsoever and addition I was taught to realise that one should accept personal responsibility for how any situation develops if one contributes in any way and to ask how one could deescalate a situation rather than inflame it ...too make kindness your goal and arrogance your enemy.

An interesting situation in the car park. As I walked to my car a young man pulled into the spare space along side my drivers side so close to my door it would have been difficult to get in...I felt like saying something but I resisted the urge...the young man got out walked around looked at the distance between the vehicles and got back in his car to relocate it. By this time I was level with him and said please don't worry but he said no he really needed to correct the situation.
I told him he was a gentleman and he was clearly happy and I thought how in the future such praise may cement his determination to do the right thing. One can imagine a different flow of events if as he got out of the car I yelled at him calling him an idiot and incapable of parking.

I think a great deal of aggression is driven by feelings of inadequacy and I think one could well question their behaviour if they find many of their encounters with other humans is predominately confrontational and ask if tolerance and kindness may produce better outcomes and perhaps remove that need to constantly prove one self.

If you encounter someone acting badly more often they are under stress and your choice is to decide if you can add to their suffering or by some act of kindness make their day a little better.
Alex

[astroron]

That could also be reversed to say when Men where taught to be Gentlemen,
which there aren't many of them either.
Cheers:thumbsup:

[astroron]

Just a thought. :question:
Would this thread even have been posted
if the Offence/Confrontation had been made by a male?
I doubt it very much:question:
That it was a woman was thought worthy of a post.
Males probably do this offence as much as women,
but normally no confrontation/conversation would
have occurred,just a few mutterings under ones breath
or louder with the windows shut.
Just another form of road rage, but at about 5kmh.
Have a nice day and save your ulcers. ;)
Cheers:thumbsup:

[TrevorW]

No not really I would hope Peter wasn't being sexist. Ride a bicycle then you'd find out how confrontational motorists can be for no good reason.



I had a recent incident where an old bugger in a FWD drive parked so close to my drivers side as I was putting shopping in the back of my car, that the only way I could get into the driver seat was from the passenger side. He parked got out of his car then dashed away before I even noticed what he done. I made sure he was left a note to say what a dick he been using my car keys to write it into his paintwork, I didn't have a pen and paper handy :)

[AndyG]

I swear some 4WD owners have no idea how to manage the bulk of the vehicle they're meant to be in control of.


#rekt

[xelasnave]

I think commiting a crime to make your point was acting rather foolishly.

Another thing I was taught was if I had a problem with anybody was to face them man to man ... Which I guess is just seen as old fashioned these days.

Further I was taught not to let little things annoy me or upset me and avoid being petty and lower myself to low standards.

And also when we are quick to judge others we can forget that we are perhaps not beyond making the odd mistake ourselves.. further many teachings include directions to respect others and always be ready to forgive...these teachings actually work as much in ones own favour as the other party because to follow those sorts of teachings leaves one less stressed.
Alex

[LostInSp_ce]

I was almost killed AGAIN yesterday by ANOTHER driver who let's say PASSIONATELY believes that cyclists don't belong on the road. Last I checked it was illegal for me to not ride on the road.

What I've learnt is to always drive defensively, ride defensively and walk extra defensively. Am I a scaredy-cat? On the race track no, But on the roads you betcha! I don't have nine lives and in my experience car vs car, both lose. Bike vs car, car wins. Pedestrian vs car, car wins again. Sometimes it's better to just swallow your pride, take a deep breath, contain any anger/road rage that wants out and be thankful that you're still breathing no matter who's right or wrong. Accidents happen and you never know but one day the shoe may be on the other foot.

[Peter Ward]

As they used to say in "Dragnet" when testimony got emotional : just the facts ma'm , just the facts. So to reiterate.

I stepped off curb, and crossed behind a stationary motor vehicle and in front of a vacant carpark space.

The vehicle did not have indicator lights or reverser lights illuminated when I did so.

I assume driver of that vehicle took offence, as they sounded the vehicle's horn, lowered the driver's window and yelled at me " are you kidding me?!" ( there may have been an adjective ahead of the word "kidding" starting with the letter "F"

Puzzled, I walked up the the driver and attempted to explain, as well as justify my actions.

After being unable to communicate with the driver in any meaningful way, I effectively called her an idiot and walked away (not wanting to inflame things further). I was not phased either way by the gender of the driver.

1) Re: Road rules
In NSW, within shared zones, pedestrians have right of way.

2) Re: Newton's laws of motion
Cars usually do better than humans after a transfer of momentum.

A general observation: while it the USA, I noted drivers would almost yield to pedestrians in shared zones. I often waved them on, but they would invariably stop and I suspect think my behaviour was bizarre and insist I cross.

My experience In Australia is car drivers dominate shared zones. Pedestrians stop and let cars go. This should not be the case, but given point 2, being right can have undesired consequences.

[Hemi]

I’ve always thought....it doesn’t matter who’s right or wrong or whose right of way. IF YOU'RE DEAD!

Hemi