Originally Posted by Alistair
I agree re the DashCam - going to be critical to insurance in the future I suspect. Mine has shutdown a number of loud fools who claimed I cut them up and have been shown the video that proves otherwise. A few really bad clips have been sent to the police - https://www.nextbase.com/en-gb/national-dash-cam-safety-portal/ Turning on the audio and doing the "voice summary" can also be very useful to the clip, unless the boss is in the car in which case it usually gets the defeat button pushed pretty quickly...ouch.

This car/pedestrian(bike) relationship has long been the case in the US as I observe it. However there is a different approach to crossing in the US, if you don't do it on the correct crossing you can be prosecuted for jaywalking. I could be wrong and am always happy to be corrected. I do not see that being added at the same time as the rule change here? The issue is when both sides are not aware which is often during a change over not really seriously announced.

Perhaps there will be a new youtoob channel start to appear showing the worst pedestrian/cyclist/moron actions a bit like those wonderful Russian car accident channels.

On a positive note I had to renew my driving licence today. I needed my current licence, NI number, passport and a credit/debit card (£14) and it took about 10 mins on-line. It used my passport photo and was great. None of the old post office two step. I do believe there is light at the end of the IT tunnel in .gov!


The main street I live by, in Madrid, is large: four lanes. Two each direction, separated by a wide green alley with tall tress and dense bushes in some areas.

It's very common to be driving and suddenly see a head popping out from the bushes looking if any vehicle is coming. Lazy-stupid pedestrians cross through the bushes to avoid walking 20 meters to the appropriate crossing with its traffic light.

About ten years ago, one of these stupid pedestrians popped out from the bushes and crossed in front of a car. He was obviously hit and badly injured. The scared driver crashed against parked cars on the other side of the lanes trying to avoid running over the pedestrian.

Then magic happened. And it was a "scandal" for those baboons, because for the first time in Spain a judge said that the pedestrian was in clear fault, so he had no right for any compensation and on the top of that he had to pay the car's repair. Fantastic!

Now in Spain, I can tell you that pedestrian pay very much attention and think twice before crossing like wild pigs anywhere! They still misbehave, but at least the law really investigates who is faulty, and they don't hesitate to blame on the pedestrians!

However, and as per Alistair's comment, I installed dashcams (front and rear) in the brand new beast we just bought (a massive new Land Rover Defender 110), just in case. Not only for pedestrians. I also believe the dashcams will be soon mandatory to be insured!

Javier - Madrid, Spain - Commander of Speedy Marmots Bomb Squadron
www.speedymarmots.com