Jaywalking in London

[kelbillug]

A friend is visiting me in London (we're both from the States) and he is staying just off Trafalgar Square.  At about 07.00 on a Sunday, with not one car in sight, he crossed the street jaywalking.  A nearby police officer told him he shouldn't be doing that. 

I've lived in London for two years and have seen thousands of people jaywalk everywhere.  So it makes me wonder, is jaywalking illegal in London?

[luckystrike]

Well in Belfast about 10 years ago I received a �20 fixed penalty notice for jay-walking one Saturday night.  I was hammered, but I was at a set of traffic lights which just hadn't turned from the red to the green man, and there were not really any cars about.

So, I suppose that if I was given a fine, then I must have been breaking the law, so jay-walking certainly must have been illegal in 1995!

May I add, that this one incident is my only ever brush with the law!

[MargeB]

I believe it is illegal yes. I do it all the time, but as a motorist also, think it should be illegal. I was driving yesterday, a car was coming the other way, after it passed, I noticed two people walking at my car. It takes over my attention completely at that moment and must cause plenty of accidents.

Would be very shocked to be ticketed for it though.

[Rebecca611]

Apparently it is a level 3 offence to jaywalk, under road traffic law. ou can get fined up to �20 but not more.  The road is reserved for the motor vehicle, and there are designated crossing points on roads for pedestrians.  There's the argument that a jay walker can hold up traffic, so they should pay road tax? It seems silly but i'm always careful that I don't Jaywalk when there is a police car around.  I have Jay walked once in front of a police car once without noticing, and they didn't do anything.  So I guess it just depends how determined the police are.

[kelbillug]

Thanks for the responses!  I look forward to telling my friend about what you had to say.  My guess is that the officer could tell my friend was a tourist and the officer just wanted to mark his territory like a dog :)

[Lisax]

trying not to sound stupid here but whats jay walking??

[SteveD]

For Lisax:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaywalking

[kelbillug]

Jaywalking is crossing the street when you aren't in a crosswalk or zebra crossing.

Not a stupid question!! :)

[Buddy]

I apologise to anyone who agrees with this nonsensity but its utter pish.Guess why - I have witnessed people legitamately crossing the road and they have almost been mown down by car drivers who have no consequence for the pedestrian at all.I am at a loss there is a legit law in this country for this.         

[Grunty]

I have never heard of a jaywalking offence in the UK, and neither has the Highway Code, although there is an offence of loitering on a crossing.  Of course London does have bylaws that do not apply to the rest of the country.  It is more likely at 0700 on a Sunday that the officer was bored.

For an update on the US position, see here http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4591869.stm

[Oneeyedvic]

Going off subject for a second:

When I was 13 I went to an American based school in Sri Lanka - and my English teacher was American. One question I got wrong (which still bugs me 19 years on) was "is Jay Walking a serious offense". I (being English) said no (after getting an explanation as to what jaywalking was) - it was marked as incorrect

Hopefully, I can now put this incident behind me :-)

[kelbillug]

Wow, who knew that my one little quesiton could save you from potentially years of councelling, Oneeyedvic!!!  I can see why it might POTENIALLY be a serious offence, for fear of causing fatal accidents, but certainly not a reason to, say, put someone in jail.

[sarahbeanz]

You're joking aren't you? Jaywalking an offence in the UK?
Certainly not. Everyone crosses wherever they want.
The day they bring in laws about where you can cross the road is the day i die laughing.

[johnsmith]

Personally I have been on the receiving end of many many stupid people who believe that once they step foot on the road that they have right of way. They saunter across, not even picking up the pace at all. They have seen me but continue jabbering on on their mobile or whatever. Basically they are taking the ****. Personally I think it should be legal to mow these people down. It is an offence to "loiter" on a zebra crossing, and it is a criminal offence if you do not cross with "reasonable despatch". I think this law should be widened to the whole carriageway andmaybe then the stupid people among us will be educated that in a battle between car and body, the car will win every time. And that if they want to preserve there life, they should cross when it is sensible to do so like the vast majority. Sorry no, I forgot that the vast majority in this country ARE the stupid people to whom I refer, I mean the "reasonable minority". Rant mode over

.

[Phlip]

Jaywalking is not illegal in England. Indeed, it's a completely alien concept to most Brits (and one I'm personally uncomfortable with). The term "Jaywalking" is unknown to many of us and is never used (it's called "crossing the road"). You cross where ever you want and you do so at your own risk. Simple as that. If you stand at a marked crossing, waiting for the green man to come on when there's no traffic coming and it's safe then expect to be pushed aside.

At school English children are taught how to cross the road safely - it's called the "Green Cross Code" and it can be found in The Highway Code (the highway code is NOT law). Remember: Pedestrians never have right of way unless they are explicitly given it (eg. by a green man on a marked crossing).

Northern Ireland and Scotland are subject to different laws.

[gigo_lo2000]

a friend of mine with a kid crossed the street. the kid got hit by a car but they weren't in the zebra or whatever line it is. who will be liable? the driver?

[gigo_lo2000]

hi, a friend of mine with a 9 year old kid crossed the street but were not in the zebra lane (or whatever you call it). the kid crossed the street first then she followed, unfortunately, the kid was hit by a fast moving car. luckily, the kid survived with minor injuries. who will be liable?

[Drei]

Well jaywalking is wrong, and as yesterday I hit a pedestrian crossing a busy 4 lane road on the phone not looking at all... I would say DON'T Fluffing DO IT!!!!

So is jaywalking worth your life? when zebra crossings and traffic lights are all over the palce in the UK?

gigo_lo2000 I would say the idiot parent/guardian is to blame... why should the driver have to watch out for pedestrians crossing all over the place considering all the other crap they have to watch out for, cyclists, motorbike, other drivers...

If the driver of the car DID NOT stop then he is liable... hitting person and not stopping makes you liable no matter if the person was crossing on the wrong part. So yeah your friend would win the case... IF the driver did not stop and your friends has his details, and you have soem witnesses would help also.

If the driver did stop and assisted, if an ambulance was present, if the police arrived and took statements, if teh driver has witnesses to say youe friend and teh kid crossed a busy road without assurance not on a zebra crossing... than your friend's kid might... might get something, or they might not get anything and the adult present with the kid would get the blame... get your friend to consult a lawyer.