DO you think motorists should slow down and give way to pedestrians who want to cross the road?

Browsing road rules in the Highway Code suggests the answer is no.

For stretches of road, pedestrians are told to use a designated crossing where one is available or otherwise follow the Green Cross Code, making sure there is a safe gap in the traffic before stepping out.

At junctions, pedestrians appear to only have priority if they have already started to cross when a vehicle approaches and wants to turn.

So motorists have the advantage, and therefore when a driver spots a person on foot who clearly wants to get across a road he or she isn’t obligated to let them. But should they just do it anyway out of common courtesy? Should motorists just be nice by very briefly slowing and allowing pedestrians across?

Is it fair drivers are held up by pedestrians, albeit only momentarily, or should people on foot just be patient and wait for traffic to clear? Whether you’re predominantly a pedestrian or motorist, add your views below to say how you think this everyday occurrence should be handled.

This Is Local London: Burning Questions

The Burning Questions feature aims to resolve some of the oddities of social etiquette, settle some of life’s perennial arguments and crack some of those tricky questions with readers’ collective knowledge.

If there is an issue you’re always squabbling about with workmates or friends or something that makes you go hmmm, email me with your suggestions for future burning questions to ask.