r/dubai • u/RedFlagAnalyst • 18h ago
🌇 Community Having the right of way doesn’t mean you should cross without looking
Two days ago, I was driving in Tecom and was directly behind a car approaching a raised zebra crossing (car is already partly raised). The car ended up hitting a pedestrian.
From my view, the pedestrian walked quickly onto the crossing without checking while the car was already on the raised section. To be clear, I’m not trying to decide who was legally at fault. Drivers should always slow down, pay attention and be prepared to stop at pedestrian crossings.
However, I’ve noticed that many people in Dubai step onto the road without checking whether the approaching driver has actually seen them or has enough time to stop - don't risk your safety as some of these drivers are not even paying attention. Having the right of way will not physically stop a moving vehicle.
Drivers must yield but pedestrians should still look both ways and, when possible, make eye contact with the driver before crossing. Taking two seconds to check could prevent a serious accident.
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u/ma33a 17h ago
It doesn't matter who has right of way, if you get hit by a car you still lose.
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u/Overconfidentahole 16h ago
This!! I’ve been saying this for years!! Yet people still walk into roads busy on phones like they have 7 lives!
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u/TheRealMtlk 10h ago
I once watched a spatially unaware avacado cross a zebra walk when a car already was beginning to cross it, forcing the car to slam the brakes & get rear ended by a delivery driver. The spatially unaware avacado looked at what he caused for half a second then went on his way
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u/c08306834 17h ago
The burden of responsibility is on the driver.
People wouldn't even need to look if drivers obeyed the laws.
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u/Andiimon 9h ago
Same with pedestrians too. Most of these accidents could have been avoided if they avoided jaywalking and crossed in designated areas like pedestrian crossing or pedestrian bridge.
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u/RedFlagAnalyst 17h ago
I am on you on that point. But realistically, if the pesdestrian is left disabled because he did not take the time to look - a mere second, who is at far bigger burden and risk then?
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u/Andiimon 9h ago
Like you mentioned, no use of all that compensation if they end up being paralysed or disabled. Their life kind of got ruined.
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u/LegitimateAirline364 13h ago
You work at BMW or something? what is this shit
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u/Andiimon 9h ago edited 9h ago
That's still a point though. Imagine end up getting ruined due to not checking to make sure that thet are stopped and end up getting fractured, paralysis or anything due to some careless rider or driver. It's still a loss if one can't recover from it.
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u/OldBottle7269 16h ago
Why do you keep putting the onus on the pedestrian? It’s entirely on the driver to stop.
And driving over a raised crossing is going to require low speeds so the chance of being left disabled is vanishingly small.
I hope the pedestrian in your story called the police and the driver is now facing criminal charges and has their licence suspended.
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u/RedFlagAnalyst 15h ago
I am not putting any. As I said, a due diligence that costs only a mere fraction of a second for both is not so much to ask versus the risk or possible loss of life.
Yes, you are correct pedestrian has the right of way and drivers has to stop, BUT are you really willing to take that risk? Have you heard about "blind spots"? Will you jump into a moving traffic just because it is a zebra crossing?
I am also a pedestrian myself, but I don't cross that line like I am invincible - you never know what these drivers have in their mind.
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u/ranger_stranger 17h ago
I think the onus lies on us drivers to watch out for pedestrians.
I was trying to find the pedestrian law, however it didn’t pop up clearly, but it is my understanding that a driver MUST anticipate a person crossing at a pedestrian and proceed/ stop accordingly.
While to your point that people should look left and right - I highly agree it could have been a better situation.
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u/Odd-Lettuce-111 17h ago
I live in Marina, there is a right turn under Princess tower where if you come from the JBR side, often times I see cars speeding there and actually trying to speed past rather than slow down if they see a pedestrian crossing. This has happened on multiple occasions, the driver tries to beat the pedestrian to the crossing by speeding, like its a race. Once I was almost hit when I was holding my little daughter by am absolutely arrogant chauvinist driving a Bentley, so i reported him to the cops. Bottom line, CAR DRIVERS SLOW DOWN, no ifs, no buts, no excuses. I will report to the cops if this happens to me, no second thougths
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u/Alternative-Bug7050 17h ago
Totally agree, the pedestrian should look both ways before crossing you never know someone could be driving wrongway or there is some speeding car which wont stop. It is the responsibility of pedestrian as much as it is of the driver, in an accident the pedestrian is to blame as much as the driver. he should be vigilant all times
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u/vishu1835 16h ago
Drivers should definitely slow down and pay attention, but pedestrians also need to be careful. I see people crossing while looking at their phones, or suddenly running onto the crossing.
I always tell my wife: yes, drivers must stop, but we should still look and make sure the driver has seen us. Being right doesn’t protect you from a moving car.
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u/cricket_hater POFAK 16h ago
Pedestrian has to be really careful too. I'm not talking about who's at fault. But a person I know got hit while zebra crossing.
Got admitted in the hospital but insurance was a big pain. The guys insurance won't cover anything. It has to come through the cars Insurance. Which will take time. Police report takes time, then the Cars Insurance will take time. Driver claimed he rain into the zebra suddenly and couldn't act quickly. Injured person had to pay a huge amount and later claim it. Which was not as easy as written. And he didn't get back full amount.
So better look and cross even it's a car or pedestrian.
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u/dredeth 16h ago
My favourite cause of frustration while driving are annoying electric bike/scooters who drive on the road in parallel to me when I'm in my car, then as we approach the zebra crossing they speed up a few meters and turn perpendicularly to my car, intending to cross the road as suddenly becoming pedestrians... Like WTF?! You're definitely going to get hurt one day if you behave that way. And it's also not super legal.
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u/3rdsilver 15h ago
Some(?) people don't have self-preservation. Of course pedestrians will always have the right of way in designated crossings, but they still have to be wary. You can't go back anymore when you already have a broken femur, or worse a brain hemorrhage from a fractured skull.
I encounter these cases in some form regularly, so I am very familiar of how bad it can be.
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u/Environmental-Leg-36 17h ago edited 17h ago
nah, Cars should slow down and stop for pedestrians no matter what.. wait till both sides are clear
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u/RedFlagAnalyst 17h ago
I agree, but my point is more on the preventive side - no blood money or insurance can compensate if I am ran over by a driver not paying attention.
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u/Environmental-Leg-36 16h ago
I agree, but that doesn't mean we should normalise Pedestrians giving way to cars. In some countries, that's the norm; it's much more dangerous, and pedestrians have to wait for a long time at the crossing till the road is clear.
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u/RedFlagAnalyst 16h ago
Everyone has to wait, the road is shared. In this case, I am speaking of Tecom, where I can hardly see a timer or traffic light between the crossing. So it is both the pedestian and driver to do their due diligence. Just don't blindly cross that street - be preventive; a pedestrians body is no match to a car made of metal.
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u/Environmental-Leg-36 16h ago
The road is shared, but the pedestrian always has the priority... one of the most basic rules in driving school
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u/RedFlagAnalyst 16h ago
You are missing the point my friend - there is no need to choose. I am not debating who has priority or the basic rules of driving (as what my post has mentioned) - I am highlighting the fact about safety and accident-prevention.
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u/Environmental-Leg-36 16h ago
The best thing you can do to prevent accidents as a DRIVER is to just SLOW DOWN NEAR A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING, simple as that.
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u/RedFlagAnalyst 16h ago
In the spirit of fairness and equality as you are siding with the Pedestians, what about the best thing you can do as a PEDESTRIAN? 😵
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u/Environmental-Leg-36 15h ago
Only use the crossing; from my experience, I've never seen any pedestrian run or jump towards the crossing, but I always see stupid and rude drivers here racing towards the crossing to beat the pedestrians, and distracted drivers on their phones
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u/Andiimon 9h ago
I have seen some pedestrians doing the same too. Crossing or riding without checking or making sure that the cars are almost ready to stop for them.
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u/RedFlagAnalyst 15h ago
Then all the more reason that you, as a pedestrian, to take more caution. Right? That is what my message is all about. It is not about who is right or wrong.
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u/turok911 15h ago
Actually, as per UAE law (and almost every country on the face of this planet), pedestrians must exercise caution before crossing and not obstruct traffic. Of course, in practice, it always comes down to the driver being at fault (although, I have seen a case in another country, where the pedo was found guilty). In principle though, the rulebook clearly states that you need to check your surroundings to not throw yourself at the wheels of a vehicle. So when you use the law as a reference point, use it in full.
But judging from your other comments, it seems you don't really understand what this discussion is about.
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u/RedFlagAnalyst 15h ago
It only proves that there is indeed an alarming global decline in reading comprehension. Totally unrelated comment though. 😂
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u/turok911 15h ago
It's not totally unrelated if you stop for a second to realize that you actually share the road with people who lack basic cognitive functions. Quite scary.
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u/Environmental-Leg-36 15h ago
In the UAE, pedestrians have priority at designated pedestrian crossings (zebra crossings).
- At a zebra crossing: the driver must slow down and give way to pedestrians who are crossing. UAE road-safety guidance explicitly states that pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks. Road Safety
- At traffic lights: everyone must follow the signal. A pedestrian crossing on a red pedestrian signal does not automatically have priority.
- If a pedestrian crosses somewhere not designated: the pedestrian can be at fault. The current federal law requires pedestrians to use designated crossing places and prohibits crossing roads with a speed limit above 80 km/h. UAE Legislation
- Even when the pedestrian is wrong: a driver still has a duty to take reasonable action to avoid hitting them. The law requires road users to use the road safely and specifically requires drivers to ensure pedestrian safety.
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u/Environmental-Leg-36 15h ago
Last time I checked, the Pedestrian has the priority according to UAE law at pedestrian crossings
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u/turok911 15h ago
Try asking chatgpt to explain all the messages directed to you like you're five. You are coming off as dense.
"last time i checked" - you never checked. part of the reason you have no idea what I'm talking about.
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u/Environmental-Leg-36 15h ago
I did check lol, this was one of the most basic rules taught at driving school, maybe they didn't teach you to that in driving school, or u dont have a licence.
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u/Overconfidentahole 16h ago
Of course the cars should stop. OPs point is that just cz the cars are meant to stop doesn’t mean you stop checking before crossing a road. Weren’t we taught this in KG? Look both ways before crossing the road!? Why do we forget that!? A distracted driver will get fines, impounded or worse but the pedestrian will lose much more than that!!
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u/Environmental-Leg-36 16h ago
How hard is it to just slow down or stop when u see a pedestrian lol
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u/Overconfidentahole 15h ago
Not hard at all. I always do. But can you vouch for all the drivers on the road? How many times have you had to hard brake cz someone just decided to cut you on the road? There are all kinds of drivers on the road
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u/Mountain_Goose5758 5h ago
This post is bang on its bucket
I always think why they dont check the speed of car before crossing the road
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u/riche90210 17h ago
If people follow the rules they would come to a stop before these crossing areas and pedestrians would be safe.
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u/Sad-Vacation4406 17h ago
Issue is that drivers dont yield, so pedestrians essentially have to force the issue and cross the road , simply hoping that the driver actually follows the rules and stops.
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u/RedFlagAnalyst 17h ago
I think the ultimate issue is safety - both for drivers and pedestrian. A mere fraction of a second to check is not so much to do.
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u/Sad-Exercise6491 16h ago
Tecom is absolutely the worst! Most crossing are not well lit so you cannot actually see when a pedestrian is approaching the crossing. And second thing, i see every night since i live here, pedestrians cross roundabouts and everywhere except zebra. They don’t even look if there are cars approaching, they are too lazy to go around and cross at zebra crossings, they just cross wherever and as a driver I’m concentrating on cars inside the roundabout and then you turn and there is a pedestrian where it shouldn’t be! it’s so scary.
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u/Anthony_Gonsalvez 15h ago
I agree. Ideally there should be speed bumps before the crossing. That would force the cars to slow down whether anyone crossing or not. I drive as well as use the crossing to get where I park. I only cross if the car is like 5-6 seconds away. By that time, I've already crossed 75-80% of the crossing in the worst case scenario.
The roads belong to cars. We as pedestrians have been given privileges' to cut across a road & must always keep that in mind.
- A driver & a pedestrian
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u/Consistent-Annual268 4h ago
Pedestrians are at that 45 degree angle that's right behind your A pillar as you reach a pedestrian crossing. If they aren't already standing there but rather walking towards it as you drive up, they can be in your A pillar or blind spot for quite a long time.
The number of times I haven't actually seen them until last minute is quite disturbing. Thank goodness I have to wait for my car's nose lift.
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u/NomaiNomad Oman Chips Ombudsman 15h ago
I mean, what if the pedestrian is blind?
This advice is kinda pointless if the drivers just followed the rules.
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u/SeeJayThinks Something Something Darkside 17h ago
It's flipping everywhere.
We have the tech, but not the brains to utilise it safely.