5 ms·

I thought jaywalking is only a thing in the US? I'm not sure who's less informed, you or me, I have no idea about the prevalence of the idea in other countries.

I thought jaywalking is only a thing in the US? I'm not sure who's less informed, you or me, I have no idea about the prevalence of the idea in other countries. It's not a crime to "jaywalk" in the UK, and I quote it as the concept simply doesn't exist here. Also, in the UK, if you are crossing a side street and a car wants to turn into it, officially speaking, the pedestrian has the right of way[1]. [1]https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/using-the-road-159-to-203#rule170 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/using-the-road-... Edit: Seems it's a real mix, some there are none, others have it, some have it but it's never enforced and some countries have laws that only apply within a certain distance of designated crossings: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaywalking https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaywalking

hellweaver666 9y ago
It exists in the Netherlands (although I've never seen anyone fined for it)
- contravariant 9y ago
  As far as I know no such crime exists in the Netherlands. Pedestrians are strongly encouraged to cross carefully, but there are no fines for crossing wherever you want. It is illegal to ignore a red light, although I can't figure out if there's a law forcing you to use that crossing. And there is probably some kind of law against creating dangerous situations, but that's not exactly a law against jaywalking.
  - jacquesm 9y ago
    You can get fined but you won't. The rule is that you have to cross using the crosswalk if there is one within 30 meters, any further than that and you are in the clear.
rb808 9y ago
Europe is more strict esp Germany. I heard a story that if you get hit by a car they'll come to your hospital bed to give you the bill to repair the car damage, though I'm not sure how accurate that is.
- Mo3 9y ago
  That's nonsense. Jaywalking is not a crime or offence here. You cause an accident, you're paying. //Edit, I stand corrected. It's a very minor offence, costing you 10€ if there's no signal, if there's a signal 5€ if traffic is endangered and 10€ if an accident was caused. 10€ for crossing the Autobahn (or, more likely, your life)
  - bwood 9y ago
    Anecdotally, I once crossed an empty street in Munich when the crosswalk said not to and was promptly chastised by a police officer.
    - deleted 9y ago
      [deleted]
  - mrec 9y ago
    I thought you could get points on your driving license, and potentially lose it with enough violations?
    - Mo3 9y ago
      That's true, but not for crossing a street on foot. This isn't Naz.. you know what, nevermind.
      - mrec 9y ago
        Hmm, apparently I was misinformed while living there. (About the points, not about being Naz...)
  - Xylakant 9y ago
    If you’re caught as a repeat offender you may get points or even loose your license. I’ve yet to hear of a case where a pedestrian lost his license yet, though. The line of reasoning, however, is that if you’re incapable of respecting the rules and regulations, you’re not fit to operate a vehicle. This argument has been tested in court and multiple people lost their drivers license for parking tickets, an offense in the same (price) category.
dingaling 9y ago
> It's not a crime to "jaywalk" in the UK It is if on a designated motorway, motorway slipway or any other highway designated as a 'special road' under the Road Traffic Act 1984. If a person uses a special road in contravention of this section or of regulations under subsection (2) above, he shall be guilty of an offence.
- kristofferR 9y ago
  Nobody is having a problem with walking on motorways being banned - we're talking about this kind of jaywalking (walking across non-busy regular city streets, especially while black): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJFqvRwOiis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJFqvRwOiis
- thinkingemote 9y ago
  That would be walking not jaywalking. A pedestrian cannot be on the motorway let alone cross it.
- andrewaylett 9y ago
  I never really thought of that as "jaywalking" -- it's illegal to even be beside a motorway; you can't easily legally get into a position to walk across the road.
eloisant 9y ago
In France you could get fined for walking outside of a crosswalk, only if there is one within 50 meters. Not sure it happens often. When a pedestrian gets hit by a car, the driver is responsible, crosswalk or not, unless the pedestrian was drunk, or actively trying to commit suicide (but good luck proving that).
GuB-42 9y ago
In France, it is illegal to jaywalk, however is almost never punished, and if it is, the fine is ridiculously small (4 euros). Pedestrians still have right of way in almost every situation. Also note that bicycles are vehicles just like cars, and they must obey the same rules.

hellweaver666 9y ago

It exists in the Netherlands (although I've never seen anyone fined for it)

contravariant 9y ago
As far as I know no such crime exists in the Netherlands. Pedestrians are strongly encouraged to cross carefully, but there are no fines for crossing wherever you want. It is illegal to ignore a red light, although I can't figure out if there's a law forcing you to use that crossing. And there is probably some kind of law against creating dangerous situations, but that's not exactly a law against jaywalking.
- jacquesm 9y ago
  You can get fined but you won't. The rule is that you have to cross using the crosswalk if there is one within 30 meters, any further than that and you are in the clear.

rb808 9y ago

Europe is more strict esp Germany. I heard a story that if you get hit by a car they'll come to your hospital bed to give you the bill to repair the car damage, though I'm not sure how accurate that is.

Mo3 9y ago
That's nonsense. Jaywalking is not a crime or offence here. You cause an accident, you're paying. //Edit, I stand corrected. It's a very minor offence, costing you 10€ if there's no signal, if there's a signal 5€ if traffic is endangered and 10€ if an accident was caused. 10€ for crossing the Autobahn (or, more likely, your life)
- bwood 9y ago
  Anecdotally, I once crossed an empty street in Munich when the crosswalk said not to and was promptly chastised by a police officer.
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]
- mrec 9y ago
  I thought you could get points on your driving license, and potentially lose it with enough violations?
  - Mo3 9y ago
    That's true, but not for crossing a street on foot. This isn't Naz.. you know what, nevermind.
    - mrec 9y ago
      Hmm, apparently I was misinformed while living there. (About the points, not about being Naz...)
- Xylakant 9y ago
  If you’re caught as a repeat offender you may get points or even loose your license. I’ve yet to hear of a case where a pedestrian lost his license yet, though. The line of reasoning, however, is that if you’re incapable of respecting the rules and regulations, you’re not fit to operate a vehicle. This argument has been tested in court and multiple people lost their drivers license for parking tickets, an offense in the same (price) category.

dingaling 9y ago

> It's not a crime to "jaywalk" in the UK It is if on a designated motorway, motorway slipway or any other highway designated as a 'special road' under the Road Traffic Act 1984. If a person uses a special road in contravention of this section or of regulations under subsection (2) above, he shall be guilty of an offence.

kristofferR 9y ago
Nobody is having a problem with walking on motorways being banned - we're talking about this kind of jaywalking (walking across non-busy regular city streets, especially while black): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJFqvRwOiis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJFqvRwOiis
thinkingemote 9y ago
That would be walking not jaywalking. A pedestrian cannot be on the motorway let alone cross it.
andrewaylett 9y ago
I never really thought of that as "jaywalking" -- it's illegal to even be beside a motorway; you can't easily legally get into a position to walk across the road.

eloisant 9y ago

In France you could get fined for walking outside of a crosswalk, only if there is one within 50 meters. Not sure it happens often. When a pedestrian gets hit by a car, the driver is responsible, crosswalk or not, unless the pedestrian was drunk, or actively trying to commit suicide (but good luck proving that).

GuB-42 9y ago

In France, it is illegal to jaywalk, however is almost never punished, and if it is, the fine is ridiculously small (4 euros). Pedestrians still have right of way in almost every situation. Also note that bicycles are vehicles just like cars, and they must obey the same rules.