Pictures Have we lost safety/common sense?

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Now this post isn’t about rights or what a person can and cannot do, it’s more a question about what a person should or shouldn’t do.

Right now we have a proper pea soup we where I am. Cannot seen clearly much more than 10-15ft in front. I am driving to and from the stables and so far I have been close to possibly hitting 12 pedestrians. I am driving slow so I am seeing them in time. I’m going about 30 on a 60 (just back driving so driving miss Daisy is my speed just now, especially in these conditions) but not one of there walkers have got a stitch of reflective or hi viz clothing on. Over half had ear buds/headphones in and a few weren’t even on the right side of the road. I passed a few drivers going way faster than me (I flashed them to warn) even my dad was clicking his tongue, There is no pavement.

I understand pedestrian have the most rights and I as a horse rider expect more consideration from vehicles but I wouldn’t take my horse out in this even hi viz’d up to the eyeballs with lights it’s that bad.

This is the view



now at that tree there is a wonky cross roads access to two farms, one in either side of the road, then just passed the tree is a very steep hill with hedges and no verges.

So rambling on lol my question is are we thinking more about our right to do something more than our safety? Not one of these people I met were below 50. A few had walking sticks but not one has anything that wanted a driver they were there until you were on top of them. I just don’t understand where coming sense has gone. They were all kitted out in walking gesr but nothing was reflective at all ?

 

[Barton Bounty]

They should defo wear reflective gear as should cyclists ?

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I know! I mean can you see that just beyond that house is a massive HGV lorry business? About 30/40 units and containers? I couldn’t if I didn’t know it’s there and only a short pavement in front of the couple of houses.



I just don’t understand the human race when it comes to personal safety over the right to do something, especially when the driver of any car that hit anyone would also be traumatised for life as well as blamed ?

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I have come to the conclusion that some people just expect other people to keep them safe and it just doesn't occur to them to help themselves. I pulled out of the track down to our field the other day, it was about 16.50 and a very overcast evening so visibility was poor. As I swung to the left my lights picked up something moving which turned out to be 3 largish horses single file against the hedge. Front and back riders had waistcoats with reflective strips which my lights picked up but nothing else on the front of the horses. My sister followed me out on foot and said they had yellow quarter sheets on but these don't show from the front. They were on a busy country road just at the time when traffic builds up and just crossing a junction that has a bad accident record. They no doubt thought they had done enough to keep themselves safe but they hadn't by a long shot.

 

[Caol Ila]

I think that's the definition of "rambling." Walking down roads in full hiking regalia, but in the darkest clothes, not the super bright stuff climbers and mountaineers wear (makes it easier for MRT to find your body).

 

[Barton Bounty]

If I am out cycling even in daylight, i have hi viz on, if someone is all in dark clothing into a wooded area , they cant be seen ?

 

[Barton Bounty]

And just to add, I would never ride or cycle in that, just asking for trouble ?

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

And just to add, I would never ride or cycle in that, just asking for trouble ?

Im the same even if I was fully fit.

 

[SEL]

My yard is down a single track road that lots of idiot drivers use as a short cut. They drive too fast. I fear for most of the dog walkers at dawn / dusk because they don't wear anything visible.

I drive slowly because I know there's a load of foot and bridle paths plus I know how big the water filled potholes are, so I have time to react when I spot movement in my lights, but most of the drivers doing 50/60mph will have hit something before they've clocked it's there

The younger crowd who run along there will usually be in bright colours but the dog walkers favour shades of "blend in with the hedgerows"

 

[Squeak]

I have come to the conclusion that some people just expect other people to keep them safe and it just doesn't occur to them to help themselves. I pulled out of the track down to our field the other day, it was about 16.50 and a very overcast evening so visibility was poor. As I swung to the left my lights picked up something moving which turned out to be 3 largish horses single file against the hedge. Front and back riders had waistcoats with reflective strips which my lights picked up but nothing else on the front of the horses. My sister followed me out on foot and said they had yellow quarter sheets on but these don't show from the front. They were on a busy country road just at the time when traffic builds up and just crossing a junction that has a bad accident record. They no doubt thought they had done enough to keep themselves safe but they hadn't by a long shot.

I've seen a few people caught out by this. They think they're doing the right thing as they have a bib and quarter sheet on but they don't realise that in low light there's not actually much at all for lights to pick up and as you've said, nothing at the front. A lot of the hi vis stuff really doesn't have much true reflective stuff on, usually a couple of strips.

 

[Burnttoast]

Totally agree that humans have no excuse for not making themselves visible but is there anyone who wasn't taught that they should drive at a speed that ensured they could stop in the distance seen to be clear?

 

[Barton Bounty]

I find that agains green backgrounds like trees and hedges , orange is the best and most visible

 

[SEL]

Totally agree that humans have no excuse for not making themselves visible but is there anyone who wasn't taught that they should drive at a speed that ensured they could stop in the distance seen to be clear?

We've got a load of blind bends and the amount of cars in hedgerows due to going too fast and then not being able to react is a joke. It's the route back from one of the main bridleways and I swear I don't breathe until I've finished that stretch.

Something was said on a local FB page the other week and one of the 'hot under the collar' types pointed out that the road was national speed limit and therefore 60mph. So some people do seem to think that so long as they're doing the speed limit then they're fine.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

We've got a load of blind bends and the amount of cars in hedgerows due to going too fast and then not being able to react is a joke. It's the route back from one of the main bridleways and I swear I don't breathe until I've finished that stretch.

Something was said on a local FB page the other week and one of the 'hot under the collar' types pointed out that the road was national speed limit and therefore 60mph. So some people do seem to think that so long as they're doing the speed limit then they're fine.

I’ve always said it’s a limit not a target, sometimes I don’t think people learn until they have either killed/nearly killed another person/themselves and that’s extremely sad

 

[Rowreach]

All road users should be making themselves as visible as possible in all conditions.

30mph is too fast to be driving in those conditions.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I live off a busy twisty country lane it's a 60 limit no pavement yet I see runners walkers and cyclists often with no high viz at dusk and some even have ear buds on they are bloody idiots, I wouldn't even walk or cycle along this road in daylight we get loads of accidents mainly on the corners where people are driving too fast, on many occasions I've seen cars that have been driven into one of the hedges or ditches that run along the road.

It's a highly dangerous road for motorists let alone anyone on foot or a bike yet they continue to use it.

 

[Fieldlife]

My best observation was someone with headphones in an a dog on a lead, in the middle of a designated horse track (that was a popular canter stretch) at a time of day when race horses are being exercised and there are warning signs up. I approached her from behind calling out. No response. I was right behind her, shouting that we were behind her (and eventually the dog pulled lead a bit) so she finally noticed us and moved out of the way. There was also no reason for her to be on the designated horse track as opposed to on of the many parallel paths that pedestrians can use (and horses cannot use).

 

[Peglo]

I used to meet a man dressed in all black walking a black lab in the pitch black at the back of 5 when everyone’s leaving work just outside town. One time he sprung out of nowhere and I was lucky nothing was coming the other way as I swerved him. OH had a near miss with him as well so goodness knows how many other folk did too. Thankfully he now has reflectors and lights when he walks but he was lucky to get away with it for so long.

we get a lot of fog coming in off the sea and I would never walk, cycle and definitely not ride in it. It was only when I started driving I realised the importance of being seen when out walking and always make the effort now.

 

[throwawayaccount]

i used to have to walk a lot to/from the yard before i passed my driving test, part of this walk was down a windy country lane. i'd always wear hi viz and carry a torch. i'd be scared walking on the other side of the road tho and walking into oncoming traffic as some drivers were just psychopaths, so i'd tend to climb up on the embankments instead if possible and not be in the road at all.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I posted a short video the other day of a farmer coming round a blind bend at 60 slowed to 40 past me but I was on Bb and just passed a couple of kids walking, they could have been wiped out if I hadnt warned them! Friggin idiots. The road is narrow and two or three just refuse to slow down and of it continues I will give the footage to police ?

 

[Landcruiser]

Everyone should show lights in those conditions. I ride my electric bike to work daily and ALWAYS have the front and back light on, even in full sun. Also wear hi viz jacket and gloves and helmet, plus in winter front and back lights on the helmet. If horse riding in the gloom, again, front and (red) rear lights on. Reflective as well of course, but that's not much use without enough visibility to reflect oncoming lights. As a pedestrian, high viz and torch as standard. I really think this should be added to the highway code at least as an advisory, it's not hard.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I always think similar, on a Sunday morning I work on a different yard further away and so am driving in the dark. There’s a stretch of road that two cars can pass but not at speed, however it is a fast road.
The amount of people jogging along it in the pitch dark is crazy!
No pavement or verge, I’ve scared myself a few times suddenly coming upon a runner last minute.

 

[Marnie]

When I am walking my pup I always wear some form of high viz, as a minimum the 'harness' type belt / over shoulder straps but usually a vest or coat, if it is dusk or dark I will wear my head torch which also has a rear light.

I'm not riding at the moment but when I did I always made sure my horse had reflective leg bands, tail guard, martingale and bridle bands and I would wear hat band and vest / coat. One thing I found when I had a small car was that in some circumstances you couldn't see a rider on a horse as they were too high up, the first thing I would see was legs. I also always made sure the horse was 'lit up' in case I fell off and they took off back home along the road.

 

[Trouper]

I'm convinced some people just have a death wish - which would, of course, be my fault!

 

[Cloball]

Got the fright of my life driving along a country lane when I saw a pedestrian at the last minute dressed all in black in the dark. Luckily they were on the verge but then only had to trip or try and cross!! I think all pedestrian, runners, cyclist etc. should wear hi viz. We have a cycle lane (white line on a 60mph non lit road) that people insist on running or cycling the wrong way down at night dressed all in black.

 

[splashgirl45]

Don’t you think that we, as horse riders, are aware of protecting our horses and so use hi viz . The general public don’t think about their visibility because it’s not natural to them. A tv ad showing the difference would make them more aware of the danger as I’m sure it ignorance not arrogance that is the reason

 

[Rowreach]

About 15 years ago, two school children walking home from the bus in the village were hit and killed by a local driver. They were in dark uniforms, on their phones, walking in the middle of the unlit narrow country lane.

Following this tragedy, the secondary schools in town were of a mind to add some reflective strips to their uniforms. It would have cost an extra £5 per new blazer, or a little more to retrofit the binding. In all but one of the schools, this move was vetoed, by the parents ??

You have to wonder what it takes to convince vulnerable road users to take basic steps to safeguard themselves.

 

[onemoretime]

I have come to the conclusion that some people just expect other people to keep them safe and it just doesn't occur to them to help themselves. I pulled out of the track down to our field the other day, it was about 16.50 and a very overcast evening so visibility was poor. As I swung to the left my lights picked up something moving which turned out to be 3 largish horses single file against the hedge. Front and back riders had waistcoats with reflective strips which my lights picked up but nothing else on the front of the horses. My sister followed me out on foot and said they had yellow quarter sheets on but these don't show from the front. They were on a busy country road just at the time when traffic builds up and just crossing a junction that has a bad accident record. They no doubt thought they had done enough to keep themselves safe but they hadn't by a long shot.

That is frightening just reading your post!

 

[Sealine]

I don't think people realise how difficult it is to see them and how dangerous it is to be walking on the road without hi-viz. To get to the stables I have to drive about a mile on a busy A road. A hotel on the A road is home to a number of young male migrants. These guys don't have cars and they walk or use push bikes or e-scooters on the A road early in the morning with no lights or hi viz and are dressed in dark colours. In summer it wasn't too bad but a few weeks ago one of them hit by a car and required an air ambulance. I've noticed a couple are now wearing hi-viz waistcoats so hopefully they've realised how dangerous it was and/or someone has donated some hi-viz.

 

[JackFrost]

I notice a difference between older and younger people. Neither group seems alert to the possibility of a car on a country lane, but young people don't take so long to notice when I am creeping along at 3 mph behind them.
I suspect a lot of older people don't realise that their hearing and general awareness have declined.
Country lanes now seem to be the go-to place to wander about and meditate with headphones on. May be a legacy of lockdown, but that ended long ago.