We are probably all familiar with the pedestrian crossing. It is called a zebra, and in such a place the pedestrian has priority over vehicles, but not absolute. This means that if a pedestrian wants to cross an uncontrolled crossing, he must give sufficient indication that he wants to cross, and he is only allowed to cross if he is sure that the approaching vehicles are able to slow down/stop safely.
Flying into a crossing with a great desire to cross directly in front of the wheels and hood of the car is not a very good idea and is also a violation of the traffic law.
Where the pedestrian has no priority
In our country, however, there are also so-called places for pedestrians to cross, which, in the language of road graphics, are two dashed lines formed by white rectangles oriented vertically. And there is just that space between them.
Photo: Jan Majurník
Pedestrians have the right of way at a pedestrian crossing, but not absolute.
Attention, pedestrians do NOT have priority at the pedestrian crossing point, but if they are at this crossing point (i.e. crossing), drivers must not endanger them. However, there are also legal obligations for pedestrians.
“Before entering the road, the pedestrian must make sure that he can cross the road without endangering himself or other road users. A pedestrian may cross the road only if, taking into account the distance and speed of oncoming vehicles, they do not force their drivers to suddenly change direction or speed.”
Photo: Service centers for road transport
Pedestrians do NOT have the right of way at a pedestrian crossing, but drivers must not endanger them when crossing.
So, in practice, this means that a pedestrian does not have the right of way at a place for pedestrians to cross (i.e. the driver is not obliged to let him go) and he must not force it by simply walking onto the road as if there were no traffic.
This applies to uncontrolled crossing points, of course if there is a traffic light, traffic participants are guided by the light signalling. In addition, Pavel Greiner reminded us that, according to his experience, crossing points in neighboring Germany are usually controlled by traffic lights, however, this trend is not widespread in the Czech Republic.
Cycle crossing and advantages
The graphic design of the place for pedestrian crossing has one trick, namely a high similarity with the place marked as a crossing for cyclists. The latter also uses rectangular markings forming dashed lines, but rather shorter and wider.
In any case, a cyclist does NOT have priority at an uncontrolled crossing for cyclists. A similar wording of the law applies here as for pedestrians at a pedestrian crossing. Therefore, if a cyclist is at a crossing, the driver must not endanger him.
Photo: Jan Majurník, Bezpecnecesty.cz
A crossing for pedestrians can be combined with a crossing for cyclists. A cyclist does NOT have the right of way at a crossing, just like at a pedestrian crossing, unless he is fully off his bike.
On the other hand, a cyclist must not drive under the wheels of vehicles on the road. Again, let’s look at what the law says.
“Before entering a crossing for cyclists, the cyclist must make sure that he can cross the road without endangering himself and other road users, the cyclist is only allowed to cross the road if, taking into account the distance and speed of oncoming vehicles, they do not force their drivers to suddenly change of direction or speed of travel. At the crossing for cyclists, you ride on the right.”
So no hooray for crossing, no priority or immortality. Again, remember that this applies to uncontrolled crossings. Once the traffic light is in place, we follow its instructions.
Cyclist at the crossing
It is very important to remember the topic of a cyclist at a pedestrian crossing. It really applies here that if the cyclist (i.e. also the scooter rider) does not fully dismount from the bike (scooter), he is considered as a DRIVER and does NOT have the right of way. And this can then be taken into account if there is an accident between a cyclist crossing a pedestrian crossing and the driver of the vehicle that hit him.
Photo: Michal Jirák, Bezpecnecesty.cz
Czech legislation does not directly prohibit cyclists from crossing pedestrian crossings.
It should also be mentioned that a crossing cyclist or scooterist theoretically has nothing to do at the pedestrian crossing, as he is practically on the same level (he is also the driver) as other vehicles. Unfortunately, our legislation does not remember this and does not prohibit cyclists from crossing pedestrian crossings. And besides, cars or motorbikes don’t cross the crossing from left to right…
Trabant against a tank
We still want to appeal for mutual consideration, but also for pedestrians and cyclists to be aware of the right-of-way and how dangerous it is to jump under the wheels of cars. In other words, the legal right-of-way does not protect you from a physical collision, and in a pedestrian/cyclist versus car battle, the user of over a ton of steel still has the upper hand. It’s like driving a Trabant against a King Tiger tank.
Photo: Michal Sakař
In exposed areas such as pedestrian crossings, everyone must be extra careful, as a paper right-of-way does not always protect against a physical collision.
On the other hand, vehicle drivers must take into account that pedestrians and cyclists are more vulnerable, and therefore extra care must be taken at these exposed crossings/crossings. No one can guarantee you that even if you are not directly responsible for a pedestrian/cyclist collision, you will not receive partial complicity. Because nothing is usually black and white.
We don’t want to paint the devil or any other negative figure on the wall, but that’s the reality. For this, you have to take into account that many pedestrians, cyclists and drivers simply do not know the wording of the law regarding crossings and crossing places. However, ignorance is no excuse and often leads to misfortune. So keep reading so you don’t get into something problematic.
2024-02-21 04:00:00
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