Question:
Good day. Is there any law to pedestrians and their allowed proximity to an intersection (robot)? My questions pertains to hawkers, beggars and also companies using 2+ up to 15 people at a time at busy intersections to do their marketing. Such actions clearly create distractions for motorists and i have seen accidents resulting from motorists being distracted by the above. My question specifically: Which aspects of our law governs this (if any)?
Answer:
I copy the regulations on pedestrian rights and duties for you from the National Road Traffic Regulations.
Reg 315. Pedestrian’s right of way in pedestrian crossing
(1) Where a pedestrian crossing is situated in conjunction with a traffic signal, a pedestrian shall not enter such crossing except in accordance with the indications of such traffic signal as prescribed in these regulations.
(2) In circumstances not referred to in subregulation (1), the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a pedestrian crossing when the pedestrian is upon that half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is travelling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.
(3) No pedestrian shall suddenly enter a pedestrian crossing and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield as contemplated in subregulation (2).
(4) Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a pedestrian crossing to permit pedestrians to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not pass such stopped vehicle.
Reg 316. Duties of pedestrians
(1) Whenever a sidewalk or footpath abuts on the roadway of a public road, a pedestrian shall not walk on such roadway except for the purpose of crossing from one side of such roadway to the other or for some other sufficient reason.
(2) A pedestrian on a public road which has no sidewalk or footpath abutting on the roadway, shall walk as near as is practicable to the edge of the roadway on his or her right hand side so as to face oncoming traffic on such roadway, except where the presence of pedestrians on the roadway is prohibited by a prescribed road traffic sign.
(3) No pedestrian shall cross a public road without satisfying himself or herself that the roadway is sufficiently free from oncoming traffic to permit him or her to cross the road in safety.
(4) A pedestrian, when crossing a public road by means of a pedestrian crossing or in any other manner, shall not linger on such road but shall proceed with due despatch.
(5) No pedestrian on a public road shall conduct himself or herself in such a manner as to or as is likely to constitute a source of danger to himself or herself or to other traffic which is or may be on such road.
(6) A pedestrian may cross a public road only at a pedestrian crossing or an intersection or at a distance further than 50 metres from such pedestrian crossing or intersection.
Regards
Alta
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