Crosswalks: Drivers should avoid these mistakes – it can get expensive
Created: 05/11/2022 13:51
By: Julia Cuprakova
Time and again, serious or even fatal accidents occur at zebra crossings because road users behave incorrectly.
What exactly applies to pedestrian crossings for drivers?
Around 20 pedestrians die on EU roads every day, a total of 7,000 a year.
One in four of these accidents happens at pedestrian crossings.
In 2017, 483 pedestrians were killed in Germany alone, according to the latest Dekra statistics.
But why is it that so many pedestrians have accidents at zebra crossings?
Are the drivers inattentive or is it the pedestrians themselves?
Misunderstandings between drivers and pedestrians occur time and again at zebra crossings.
These arise because road users do not behave correctly or do not know their rights and obligations, as
echo24.de
reports.
Incidentally, this not only applies to zebra crossings, but also to various traffic signs on German roads.
A white sign with two or three arrows and circles puzzles drivers.
In addition, new signs are constantly being introduced - such as the green arrow for cyclists, or a yellow-orange traffic sign with arrows and numbers near bridges.
Crosswalks: Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians have rights and obligations
According to the
German Automobile Club ADAC
, there have been zebra crossings in Germany for 65 years.
Zebra crossings enable pedestrians to cross the roadway where there is no traffic light - for example on busy streets where crossing is otherwise difficult or impossible.
According to acv.de
, the design of zebra crossings is by
no means accidental: They clearly show that special caution is required at this point.
However, contrary to popular belief, drivers are not always obliged to stop at the zebra crossing.
This is only the case if pedestrians, wheelchair users and users of wheelchairs actually want to cross the street there.
Only then does absolute priority apply.
Zebra crossings: Drivers must pay particular attention to this
Vehicles – with the exception of rail vehicles such as trams – must enable the above-mentioned road users to cross safely on the zebra crossing.
This rule applies to drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists.
If a pedestrian wants to cross the street, the following rules apply:
Approach at moderate speed and hold if necessary.
From sign 350 (pedestrian crossing) overtaking is no longer allowed.
It is forbidden to stop or park within five meters of the zebra crossing.
If traffic is slow, vehicles must stop in front of the crossing.
(
Source: ADAC
)
In the event of misconduct, the driver faces a fine of 80 euros.
The pedestrian must clearly want to use the crossing, which drivers should always assume when in doubt when a pedestrian approaches a zebra crossing.
If a car driver even tries to overtake at a zebra crossing, there is also a risk of a fine of 80 euros.
If there is an additional threat, it will even be 100 euros and one point in Flensburg.
Cyclists and pedestrians also have a few things to watch out for at zebra crossings
However, if a cyclist wants to cross the street, other rules apply to motorists and anyway to cyclists:
Cyclists only have priority on the crosswalk if they dismount and push the bike.
Then they are considered pedestrians and have corresponding rights.
This also applies to children under the age of seven, although they are allowed to ride on the sidewalk.
If the cyclist does not follow the rules and drives over the zebra crossing, he risks a fine for an avoidable disability.
If an accident occurs, the cyclist is partly to blame.
Pedestrians should also pay attention to other road users and not automatically assume that a car will stop in front of a zebra crossing.
The following can therefore be stated: All road users have their obligations at the zebra crossing, but they also have rights.
If motorists adhere to the above rules, some accidents can certainly be avoided.
The same is of course true for cyclists and the pedestrians themselves.
